Oct 9, 2026 · 29 min · 11 segments
Make sense of the numerous November 2026 San Francisco and California ballot measures, with these one-minute explanations by reporters from the San Francisco Public Press and CalMatters. Visit…
Kristin WongMel BakerLyla Shmadal PermanaCalMatters ReporterMichael Zinshteyn
Alejandra Reyes Velarde
Madison AlvaradoCarolyn Jones
Ana IbarraTroy SambajonCalMatters Reporter
Nadia Lathan
Yue Stella YuSan Francisco Public Press Reporter
Sylvie SturmProposition A is a grab bag of 110 changes to the city charter, San Francisco's constitution.
Lyla Shmadal Permana explains.
The proposal backed by Mayor Lurie would increase the number of signatures needed to get a measure on the ballot from just over ten thousand to more than forty thousand, or eight percent of city voters.
San Francisco currently has the lowest signature requirements in the state, which has historically led to more measures on the ballot.
Some think the proposed change will improve voter engagement and force the local government to make more decisions instead of punting issues to voters.
But in a city with increasingly expensive elections, critics argue that raising signature requirements will make it impossible for everyday people to get a measure on the ballot.
On average, attaining one ballot signature costs fifteen dollars in California, often collected by paid signature gatherers.
Raising signature requirements could further raise the price of getting a measure on the ballot.
Proposition B asks voters to take a first step towards creating a city-owned public bank.
It would let San Francisco establish a nonprofit lending institution called a municipal finance corporation.
After three years, the corporation could seek regulatory approval to become a public bank.
Supervisor Cheyenne Chen promoted Prop B at a June Board of Supervisors meeting.
A public bank would open the doors to build an engine for affordable housing, a lifeline for struggling small business, and the financial backbone for our climate goals.
But Supervisor Alan Wong opposed the idea over questions he felt were unresolved.
A commitment of the scale calls for a clear picture of how it would be funded, how it would operate, and how it would be held accountable.
That picture is not there yet.
According to the city controller, getting a public bank up and running could cost up to five hundred million dollars over eight years.
Proposition C would dramatically increase funding for affordable housing.
Elected officials, housing advocates, and community groups are rallying behind Proposition C, which would more than double the amount of money San Francisco dedicates to building affordable housing each year if passed.
Proposition C expands the voter-created housing trust fund, which was approved in twenty twelve to address the housing crisis.
Proposition A is a grab bag of 110 changes to the city charter, San Francisco's constitution.
Lyla Shmadal Permana explains.
The proposal backed by Mayor Lurie would increase the number of signatures needed to get a measure on the ballot from just over ten thousand to more than forty thousand, or eight percent of city voters.
San Francisco currently has the lowest signature requirements in the state, which has historically led to more measures on the ballot.
Some think the proposed change will improve voter engagement and force the local government to make more decisions instead of punting issues to voters.
But in a city with increasingly expensive elections, critics argue that raising signature requirements will make it impossible for everyday people to get a measure on the ballot.
On average, attaining one ballot signature costs fifteen dollars in California, often collected by paid signature gatherers.
Raising signature requirements could further raise the price of getting a measure on the ballot.
Proposition B asks voters to take a first step towards creating a city-owned public bank.
It would let San Francisco establish a nonprofit lending institution called a municipal finance corporation.
After three years, the corporation could seek regulatory approval to become a public bank.
Supervisor Cheyenne Chen promoted Prop B at a June Board of Supervisors meeting.
A public bank would open the doors to build an engine for affordable housing, a lifeline for struggling small business, and the financial backbone for our climate goals.
But Supervisor Alan Wong opposed the idea over questions he felt were unresolved.
A commitment of the scale calls for a clear picture of how it would be funded, how it would operate, and how it would be held accountable.
That picture is not there yet.
According to the city controller, getting a public bank up and running could cost up to five hundred million dollars over eight years.
Proposition C would dramatically increase funding for affordable housing.
Elected officials, housing advocates, and community groups are rallying behind Proposition C, which would more than double the amount of money San Francisco dedicates to building affordable housing each year if passed.
Proposition C expands the voter-created housing trust fund, which was approved in twenty twelve to address the housing crisis.
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