This General Measure Information page contains general information only, does not have the force and effect of law, and is not intended to be used as a substitute for legal counsel. Employees of the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters are not permitted to answer questions of a legal nature.

• Submittal of local ballot measures:
  • Measures can be placed on the ballot by:
    • The Board of Supervisors or the legislative body of a jurisdiction which has the authority to place measures before voters on the ballot, or
    • Initiative petition
      • A registered voter can file an initiative petition with the elections official of the governing board for their County, City, School District, or Special District.
      • The petition must be signed by the required number of eligible registered voters.
• Impartial Analysis:
  • If a measure qualifies to appear on the ballot, the election official of the County, City, School District, or Special District provides a copy of the measure to appropriate legal counsel. Legal counsel will prepare an impartial analysis of the measure showing the effect of the measure on existing law and the operation of the measure.
  • The impartial analysis is printed in the Voter Information Guide.
• Arguments For or Against Measures:
  • Submitting Arguments:
    • The governing board of a jurisdiction, a registered voter eligible to vote on the measure, and bona fide associations of citizens may file written arguments for or against measures.
    • The text of the Arguments shall not exceed 300 words in length.
    • Arguments must be submitted along with a signed Statement by Proponents/Authors of Arguments. (Cal. Elec. Code section 9600)
    • The planned measure deadlines for submitting arguments are found in the table below. Actual deadline dates are provided on the local measure pages.
  • Selecting Arguments:
    • If more than one argument for or against the proposed measure is submitted, the elections official selects one of the arguments for and one of the arguments against the measure for publication in the Voter Information Guide, pursuant to Elections Code.
• Rebuttals to Arguments For or Against Measures:
  • Submitting Rebuttals:
    • The authors of the arguments may submit rebuttal arguments.
    • The text of the Rebuttals shall not exceed 250 words in length.
    • Rebuttals must be submitted along with a signed Statement by Proponents/Authors of Arguments. (Cal. Elec. Code section 9600)
    • The planned measure deadlines for submitting rebuttals are found in the table below. Actual deadline dates are provided on the local measure pages.
• Public examination period:
  • A ten-day public examination period immediately follows the submittal deadline of the impartial analysis, arguments for and against measures, and rebuttal arguments.
  • The Registrar of Voters will provide any requesting person with copies of these documents.
• Assignment of measure letters:
  • The election official will assign a letter to each qualifying measure pursuant to County policy. View the Policy for Identification of Local Ballot Measures.
• Election Day:
  • The qualifying measures appear on the ballot for consideration by registered voters.
  • If the required number of voters on a proposed measure votes in its favor, the measure is approved.