By SAJE Staff
March 19, 2026
The time is again upon us: everywhere in Los Angeles, people with clipboards are asking registered voters to sign their names below initiatives they hope will be on the ballot this fall. It can be kind of annoying, but three of them are actually pretty important to sign.
Why Do We Have All These Petitions?
California’s ballot initiative process gives citizens a way to propose laws and constitutional amendments (referred to as measures or propositions) without the help of the governor or state or local representatives. Rather than make their way through the city council or state assembly processes, these measures are directly approved or rejected by voters on election day.
To get your measure on the ballot, you’ll need a specific number of registered voters to sign on. For state and county elections, that number typically is based on a percentage of the number of votes cast for the governor in the preceding election. For city elections, the number typically is based on a percentage of the votes cast for mayor in the previous election. Petitioners have just a few months to get thousands of signatures before the deadline for verification. If signatures cannot be verified, the measure won’t make it to the ballot.
Here are some things you can and should ask if you are approached by a signature gatherer:
- Who’s sponsoring this measure? This can tell you a lot about who will benefit from the measure, and who won’t.
- Who’s endorsed this measure? Same as above.
- Do you have more information? They should be able to point you to a website or place where the petition has been published.
- Are you a paid signature gatherer, or are you a volunteer? This can also give you good intel about what kind of organizations or institutions are invested in the measure. You can ask the petitioner who is sponsoring their work that day, and they should have documentation to show you.
Remember: Don’t double sign! This will make your signature invalid.
Also: You cannot accept payment for your signature! If someone offers you money to sign a petition, you can report them to your state or local registrar-recorder or election clerk.
Make a Signature Gatherer’s Day: The Ones You Should Stop For
For the State of California: The 2026 Billionaire Tax Act—Sign It!
Due to the Trump administration’s federal cuts, California stands to lose $100 billion in healthcare funding over the next five years. If we don’t do something, insurance premiums will go up for everyone, and millions of Californians will lose their coverage. You know who’s going to be fine, though? California’s billionaires. There are about 200 people in California who together hold $2 trillion in wealth, most of which will never be taxed in their lifetimes due to loopholes in state and federal tax laws. Now it’s time they pay their fair share. This proposed one-time tax of 5% would apply only to them, and it will save our state from a healthcare collapse that hurts California families. This act is sponsored by Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), and supporters include Teamsters California, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, and SAJE.
For the City of Los Angeles: The Overpaid CEO Tax—Sign It!
Did you know that Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol makes more than 2,651 times the median wage of baristas in L.A.? Before you tell me it’s because he works so much harder, try being a barista in L.A. Now try and support your family by being a barista in L.A. It’s time to start leveling the playing field so that every job in our city is a good job. The Overpaid CEO Tax would progressively tax large businesses whose CEOs make more than 50 times what their median worker makes—with higher taxes as the CEO-to-Worker gap grows more extreme. The tax would generate more than $500 million for things the city needs, including affordable housing, sidewalk repair, after-school programs, and healthier neighborhoods. It is sponsored by UNITE HERE Local 11, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, and a coalition of local unions and nonprofits and endorsed by SAJE.
For the City of Long Beach: The Block the Cuts and Build Long Beach Tax—Sign It!
This special parcel tax would raise $70 million for public safety, affordable housing and street repairs. A tax of 15 cents per square foot would apply to Long Beach home and condo owners whose households make more than $250,000 a year. A tax of 45 cents per square foot would apply to businesses operating large commercial spaces like warehouses or studios. This tax would not apply to renters, and protections are in place to prevent landlords from passing on the costs. It is sponsored by the Long Beach Firefighters Association and endorsed by SAJE.
Keep Walking: Do NOT Sign Any “Building a Better California” Petitions
Building a Better California is a coalition funded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Atherton CEO Eric Schmidt, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, and other tech and finance billionaires. They are unhappy about the proposed 2026 Billionaire Tax Act, and so they are using millions of their own dollars to advance three ballot measures intended to weaken or neutralize efforts to tax them.
DO NOT SIGN: The Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act
This would prohibit new state personal property taxes.
DO NOT SIGN: The Improving Transparency, Effectiveness & Efficiency in California Government Act
This would make it harder to use the billionaire tax to fund healthcare and related programs.
DO NOT SIGN: Protect Schools and Taxpayers Act
This would also make it harder to use the billionaire tax to fund healthcare and related programs.
These billionaires would rather spend millions to avoid a one-time tax then millions to ensure Californians have basic medical coverage. It’s certainly a choice! But it’s one we do not endorse. If someone approaches you from Building a Better California, please keep walking.
SAJE(StrategicActionsforaJustEconomy)isacommunity-basedorganizationinSouth Central Los Angeles that builds community power and leadership for economic justice. Our positions on these state and city measures are offered in the spirit of advancing a more just economy for all. Note that because of our 501(c)(3) status, we are unable to endorse political candidates. Paid for by SAJE.
