Measure D: D - Changes to Ballot Measure Process
San Francisco County · San Francisco County · November 3, 2026
The question on your ballot
Shall the City amend the Charter to increase the requirements for signature initiatives from 2% to 8% of registered voters in San Francisco (currently from about 10,600 to about 42,500 signatures), increase the requirements for calling special elections, allow signature initiatives to be withdrawn before an election, and remove the ability of a minority of Board of Supervisors members or the Mayor to place measures on the ballot?
In plain language
Measure D would change the rules for putting measures on San Francisco's ballot. A YES vote raises the signatures needed for a voter initiative from 2% to about 8% of registered voters. That is about 10,600 to about 42,500 signatures. It makes it harder to call special elections. It lets initiative sponsors withdraw their measure before an election. It also stops a minority of the Board of Supervisors, or the Mayor alone, from placing measures on the ballot. A NO vote keeps the current rules.
Impartial analysis
The Way It Is Now: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors (Board) has 11 members. A measure can be either an ordinance to change the law or a declaration of policy. Under the City Charter, measures can be placed on the ballot in several ways, including: • By a majority vote of the Board; • By four or more Board members without a Board vote; • By the Mayor without a Board vote; or • By a signature initiative (petition) signed by at least 2% of the registered voters in San Francisco, currently about 10,600 signatures. Currently San Francisco has over 530,000 registered voters. Signature initiatives usually appear on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election. Signature initiatives may call for an earlier “special” election on an ordinance if the petition is signed by at least 10% of the votes cast for all candidates for Mayor in the last election. Currently, this is about 39,000 signatures. Once a signature initiative is submitted to the Department of Elections, it cannot be withdrawn. The Proposal: Proposition D would amend the Charter to increase the requirements to put measures on the ballot by: • Increasing the number of signatures required to place a signature initiative on the ballot from 2% to 8% (currently from about 10,600 to about 42,500 signatures) of the registered voters in San Francisco. • Increasing the number of signatures required to call a special election on an ordinance from 10% of the votes cast for Mayor in the last election to 10% of the registered voters in San Francisco. Currently, this is about 53,100 signatures. Proposition D would allow signature initiatives to be withdrawn up to 102 days before the election. Proposition D would also change the requirements to put measures on the ballot by: • Removing the ability of four or more Board members to place a measure on the ballot without a Board vote; • Removing the ability of the Mayor to independently place a measure on the ballot; The Board could still place measures on the ballot by a majority vote. A “YES” Vote Means: If you vote “yes,” you want to increase the requirements for signature initiatives from 2% to 8% of registered voters (currently from about 10,600 to about 42,500 signatures), increase the requirements for special elections, allow signature initiatives to be withdrawn, and remove the ability of a minority of Board members or the Mayor to place measures on the ballot. A “NO” Vote Means: If you vote “no,” you do not want to make these changes.
Official ballot arguments
Filed for the official voter guide by each side, printed as submitted.
Argument in favor
Clean Up City Hall is a package of Props A, D, E and F to improve neighborhood services, speed up permitting and reduce wasteful spending so we can invest in our great city. PROPOSITION D GIVES MORE VOTERS A VOICE ON WHAT APPEARS ON BALLOTS. Currently a minority of supervisors, just 2% of voters or the mayor acting alone, can throw anything on the ballot without public input, transparency or proven community support. “Even well-intentioned ideas can include mistakes and unintended consequences.” - Ben Hur, former SF Ethics Chair. San Francisco is the only city in California that allows these low thresholds — and that’s why we have the longest and most confusing ballots in the state. PROP D REQUIRES MORE TRANSPARENCY, COMPROMISE & COMMUNITY INPUT. Proposition D requires a public vote of the majority of supervisors or signatures from 8% of voters. It removes the mayor’s sole authority to place measures on the ballot to ensure a fair balance of power. The signature requirement remains below the state standard of 10% and neighboring cities like Oakland. THE RESULT OF THESE MODEST REFORMS WILL BE MORE OPEN DEBATE AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION BEFORE MEASURES ARE ON THE BALLOT. San Francisco works best when we work in coalitions together. Please join the citywide coalition to make the system accountable to all! Mayor Daniel Lurie Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi Nancy Tung, San Francisco Democratic Party Former SF Ethics Chair Ben Hur Former Deputy City Attorney Jim Lazarus SFSU Associate Professor of Political Science Jason McDaniel Former City Controller Ben Rosenfield Former Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White Dan Calamuci, Carpenters Local 22* Anthony Travis Jr., Laborers Local 261* Charles Lavery, Operating Engineers Local 3* Teamsters Local 665 Council of District Merchant Associations Chinatown History and Culture Association *For identification purposes only; author is signing as an individual and not on behalf of an organization.
No on D: It silences San Francisco voters Proponents call it “modest reform.” A fourfold increase is not modest. It’s extreme. Quadrupling signature requirements from 10,600 to 42,500 will require hiring paid signature firms to qualify and cost one million dollars or more. That extreme cost will price out neighborhood groups, unions and community advocates from participating in the initiative process. Proponents have raised $8.6 million, collected from a small number of billionaires and venture capitalists. They can afford the higher costs. But the rest of us can’t. Ending citizen initiatives won’t move San Francisco forwards. Instead, it takes us back to 1898, when San Francisco became one of the first California cities to win this right. If this passes, San Francisco will have the highest signature requirement of any California county. Higher than Los Angeles and San Jose. Over three times higher than statewide measures which require 2.4%. Proponents want you to believe that raising the threshold from 2% to 8% is modest. But that’s like raising your rent from $2000 to $8000. It’s extreme – and extremely harmful. Don’t be fooled. Don’t rob our right to vote. Vote NO on D. San Francisco Labor Council San Francisco Senior & Disability Action United Educators of San Francisco San Francisco Women’s Political Committee San Francisco Tenants Union Indivisible SF Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth San Francisco Rising Action Fund — San Francisco Labor Council; San Francisco Senior & Disability Action; United Educators of San Francisco; San Francisco Women’s Political Committee; San Francisco Tenants Union; Indivisible SF; Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth; San Francisco Rising Action Fund
Argument against
NO ON D: DON’T ROB OUR RIGHT TO VOTE. Don’t be fooled. This isn’t about streamlining or state standards. Prop D takes away rights San Franciscans have held for 125 years: to put citizen initiatives on the ballot. Robbing it away. San Francisco was the first California city to have this right. Now, wealthy tech billionaires are spending millions to take it away. They would quadruple the signatures required from 10,600 to 42,500, a limit so high only the very wealthy can reach it. Follow the money. Wealthy interests can afford to pay one million dollars to collect 42,500 signatures. Neighborhood groups, labor unions and community advocates will be priced out. We’ll lose our voice in the democratic process. 10,600 signatures is tough and fair. Since 1932, around 10,600 signatures have been required to qualify a measure. It’s not easy: citizen-initiatives are only 15% of all ballot measures. But when City Hall ignores us, citizens have the power to act. A check and balance. 42,500 signatures is out of reach. It will be impossible for citizen-led, grassroots organizations to qualify a measure. After 125 years, it will silence the voices of some San Franciscans forever. Citizens’ initiatives make a difference. They have increased the minimum wage, ensured large corporations pay their fair share of taxes, provided legal aid for renters facing eviction, banned corrupt contributions to politicians, passed Sunshine laws, established rent control, and funded schools, childcare and affordable housing. After 125 years of direct democracy, don’t let them rob it away. Vote NO on D. San Francisco Labor Council San Francisco Senior & Disability Action United Educators of San Francisco San Francisco Women’s Political Committee San Francisco Tenants Union Indivisible SF Community Tenants Association Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth San Francisco Rising Action Fund — San Francisco Labor Council; San Francisco Senior & Disability Action; United Educators of San Francisco; San Francisco Women’s Political Committee; San Francisco Tenants Union; Indivisible SF; Community Tenants Association; Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth; San Francisco Rising Action Fund
D ENDS THE INSIDER MONOPOLY ON POWER AT THE BALLOT The insiders are misleading voters because their monopoly on power is being challenged. They think the system works great. San Franciscans know the system is broken: keeping us in a constant state of confusion, dividing neighbors, and producing bad outcomes. D is a set of modest reforms requiring transparency, compromise, and community input before issues get on the ballot so that voters can weigh in on well thought-out measures. None of these reforms add a financial cost. D REBALANCES POWER TO VOTERS Currently a minority of supervisors, just 2% of voters, or the mayor acting alone can throw anything on the ballot without public input, transparency, or proven community support. Political insiders exploit these rules regularly. That is why San Francisco has the longest and most confusing ballots in the state. D REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY, COMPROMISE AND COMMUNITY INPUT. With D, placing a measure on the ballot requires a public vote of a majority of the Supervisors or a modest amount of signatures. D also removes the mayor’s sole authority to place measures on the ballot, ensuring a fair balance of power. Opponents claim today’s rules date to 1932. The Controller’s report confirms the current threshold was set in 2022, requiring approximately 9,000 fewer signatures than before. San Francisco will still have one of the lowest signature thresholds in California, including other large cities like Oakland, San Diego, and Long Beach. Mayor Daniel Lurie Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman Former Controller Ben Rosenfield — Mayor Daniel Lurie; Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman; Former Controller Ben Rosenfield
What supporters and opponents say — outside sources (not official ballot arguments)
Statements by campaigns, officials and news coverage, quoted with attribution and linked to the original. VoterDecoder did not write them and does not endorse either side.
Supporters say
No public statements in favor were found.
Opponents say
No public statements against were found.