What the statewide propositions on your Nov. 3 ballot would do, per the state voter guide
Mission Viejo voters will see statewide Propositions 1 to 5 and 37 to 45 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Each entry below follows the Secretary of State's Official Voter Information Guide: what the measure does, the official fiscal estimate, and what a yes or no vote means. This guide takes no side. Each proposition number links to its official page, which also lists the arguments for and against. On Election Day, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Prop 1: Housing bonds. Authorizes $11.25 billion in state general obligation bonds for housing affordability programs. Official fiscal estimate: increased state cost of $500 million to $600 million annually for about 25 years to repay the bond. A yes vote means the state could borrow the money to support veterans and affordable housing. A no vote means it could not.
Prop 2: Rainy Day Fund. Increases the Rainy Day Fund approved by voters in 2014, to provide funding during economic downturns. Official fiscal estimate: state budget reserves would be higher. A yes vote means the rules for building state budget reserves and paying down extra state debts would change. A no vote means they would not.
Prop 3: Income tax on high earners. Makes permanent existing voter-approved tax rates for individuals earning over $371,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) and allocates the revenue to public education. Official fiscal estimate: maintains $5 billion to $15 billion of annual state income tax revenue by making a temporary tax increase permanent instead of letting it expire in 2031. A yes vote makes the increase permanent. A no vote means it would expire in 2031.
Prop 4: Public funding of campaigns. Repeals the prohibition on state and local governments offering public funding of candidate election campaigns. Public funding programs may not use funds earmarked for education, transportation, or public safety. Official fiscal estimate: ongoing state costs of a few hundred thousand dollars each year. A yes vote means state and local governments could create public campaign financing programs, with limits. A no vote means most would remain unable to.
Prop 5: Statewide recall elections. Under current law, voters elect replacement candidates at the same time as the recall election. This measure instead fills recall vacancies by a later special election or appointment. Official fiscal estimate: net fiscal effect unknown, with savings or costs of millions of dollars depending on the office recalled. A yes vote means recall elections would no longer ask who should fill the vacancy. A no vote means voters would still be asked.
Prop 37: Loans for new-home buyers. Authorizes $25 billion in bonds to offer eligible buyers fixed-rate mortgages for up to 17% of the purchase price of a newly constructed home priced below about $1.5 million. Borrowers must be California residents, occupy the home, meet income limits, and pay at least 3% down. Official fiscal estimate: no direct state or local costs. A yes vote means the state would create the homebuying assistance program. A no vote means the state would not be required to.
Prop 38: Immunology research bonds. Authorizes $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research, half to a single University of California-affiliated nonprofit medical research institute and half to research grants. Official fiscal estimate: increased state cost of $500 million to $600 million annually for about 20 years to repay the bond, with some or all of the cost offset if the funded research generates revenue. A yes vote means the state could borrow the money. A no vote means it could not.
Prop 39: Government-issued identification to vote. Invalidates mail ballots that do not have the last four digits of a designated government-issued identification number written on the envelope, and prohibits in-person voting without presenting government-issued identification. Official fiscal estimate: costs of between tens of millions of dollars and low hundreds of millions of dollars each year. A yes vote means voters would present additional identifying information each time they vote. A no vote means identity would continue to be established with the voter signature.
Prop 40: One-time tax on billionaires. Imposes a 5% tax on certain taxpayers with assets over $1 billion, with revenue primarily for health care. Official fiscal estimate: a temporary revenue increase of tens of billions of dollars spread over several years, and a possible ongoing decrease of less than $1 billion per year in income tax revenue from billionaires. A yes vote means the state would collect a one-time tax from billionaires equal to 5 percent of their wealth. A no vote means it would not.
Prop 41: State spending limit and audits. Nullifies state taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that exempt their revenues from the voter-approved state spending limit, and requires pre-election and recurring audits of programs funded by new special taxes. Official fiscal estimate: the net fiscal effect is unknown because it depends on future decisions by voters, the Legislature, and other policymakers. A yes vote means the California State Auditor would review programs funded by special taxes, and the state might not be able to exclude any new special tax spending from its spending limit. A no vote means the audit responsibilities and spending limit requirements would not change.
Prop 42: New personal property taxes. Prohibits any new state tax imposed on the ownership of personal property (all things people own other than real estate) or that applies retroactively based on past activities, and nullifies taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that conflict with the measure. Official fiscal estimate: tax revenues might not go up as much in the future. A yes vote means the state could not establish new taxes on the ownership of financial assets or other personal property. A no vote means the state would continue to have that option.
Prop 43: Vote threshold for local special taxes. Raises the share of votes needed to pass voter-proposed local special taxes from a majority (over 50%) to two-thirds, beginning January 1, 2027. Official fiscal estimate: local government tax revenues might not go up as much in the future because of the higher threshold. A yes vote means certain local government taxes would require two-thirds approval by voters. A no vote means they could continue to pass with a majority vote.
Prop 44: Community clinic spending. Imposes penalties on nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers, community clinics providing primary care to medically underserved areas and populations, that spend less than 90% of revenue on program services. Official fiscal estimate: increased state costs in the low tens of millions of dollars per year, covered by fees. A yes vote means certain nonprofit clinics would have to spend at least 90 percent of their revenue each year on providing health care services. A no vote means the requirement would not go into effect.
Prop 45: Environmental review rules. Amends the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to expedite environmental review for certain projects, including most housing, transportation, water, and health projects, by setting deadlines to complete review and resolve lawsuits challenging project approvals. Official fiscal estimate: initial costs for state and local governments, likely in the high tens of millions of dollars and potentially exceeding $100 million annually, partly covered by fees, with uncertain longer-term effects. A yes vote means certain projects would use new project review and court challenge procedures. A no vote means existing procedures would continue.
Sources: Official Voter Information Guide; Prop 1; Prop 2; Prop 3; Prop 4; Prop 5; Prop 37; Prop 38; Prop 39; Prop 40; Prop 41; Prop 42; Prop 43; Prop 44; Prop 45. Facts last checked Oct 21, 2026.
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