FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
January 23, 2025
 

Proposed Initiative Enters Circulation

Requires Future Vote on Whether California 
Should Become Independent Country. Initiative Statute

Sacramento, Calif. – Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber announced that the proponent of a new initiative was cleared to begin collecting petition signatures on January 23, 2025.
 
The Attorney General prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on initiative petitions. When the official language is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent and to the Secretary of State, and the initiative may be circulated for signatures. The Secretary of State then provides a calendar of deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials. The Attorney General’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows:

REQUIRES FUTURE VOTE ON WHETHER CALIFORNIA SHOULD BECOME INDEPENDENT COUNTRY. INITIATIVE STATUTE. If enacted, this measure places the following question on November 2028 ballot: “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?” If at least 50% of registered voters participate in that election, and at least 55% vote “yes”, it would constitute “a vote of no confidence in the United States of America” and “expression of the will of the people of California” to become an independent country, but would not change California’s current government or relationship with the United States. Creates commission to report on California’s viability as independent country. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Around $10 million dollars in one-time election-related costs and to form the new commission on national sovereignty and independence. Around $2 million in annual state costs to operate the commission. (24-0001A2.)

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1977 and the Attorney General's tracking number is 24-0001A2.

The proponent of the measure, Marcus Evans, must collect signatures of 546,651 registered voters (five percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the November 2022 general election) in order for the measure to become eligible for the ballot. The proponent has 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than July 22, 2025. The address for the proponent is 6083 N. Figarden Drive, #201, Fresno, CA 93722. The proponent may also be contacted at Marcus.Ruiz.Evans@gmail.com and (415) 595-3394.

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