San Francisco · Charter amendment · Nov 3, 2026
Proposition D: Changes to ballot measure process
Proposition D is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot in San Francisco. This page summarizes the official documents; every statement links to its source, and we take no position on how you should vote.
The question on your ballot
“Shall the City amend the Charter to increase the requirements for signature initiatives from 2% to 8% of registered voters in San Francisco (currently from about 10,600 to about 42,500 signatures), increase the requirements for calling special elections, allow signature initiatives to be withdrawn before an election, and remove the ability of a minority of Board of Supervisors members or the Mayor to place measures on the ballot?”City Attorney letter to the Director of Elections: November 3, 2026 Ballot Questions · Aug 7, 2026
A YES vote means
A YES vote raises initiative signature requirements from 2% to 8% of registered voters and special-election requirements, allows initiatives to be withdrawn, and removes the Mayor's and a Board minority's ability to place measures.
What it takes to pass
This measure requires 50%+1 affirmative votes to pass.
The money
The Controller's statement says the amendment would have a minimal impact on the cost of government.
The Controller's statement says that on average, each page in the voter information pamphlet costs $11,400 to prepare, print, and distribute to all registered voters.
The Controller's statement says the estimated minimum cost for a citywide special election is $5 million with a one-card ballot and less than 50-page voter information pamphlet.
How it got on the ballot
On July 23, 2026, the Department of Elections certified that the initiative petition calling for Proposition D to be placed on the ballot had a sufficient number of valid signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.
The official arguments
These are the arguments filed with the county for the official voter guide. They are written by their authors, not by the city or by us. We summarize what each says, not whether it is accurate.
Argument in favor
Says Proposition D requires a majority vote of supervisors or signatures from 8% of voters to place a measure, removes the mayor's sole authority to do so, and describes the changes as modest reforms adding transparency and community input.
Signed by Mayor Daniel Lurie; Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman; Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi; Nancy Tung, San Francisco Democratic Party; Former SF Ethics Chair Ben Hur; Former Deputy City Attorney Jim Lazarus; SFSU Associate Professor of Political Science Jason McDaniel; Former City Controller Ben Rosenfield; Former Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White; Dan Calamuci, Carpenters Local 22*; Anthony Travis Jr., Laborers Local 261*; Charles Lavery, Operating Engineers Local 3*; Teamsters Local 665; Council of District Merchant Associations; Chinatown History and Culture Association
Argument against
Says Proposition D quadruples the signatures needed for citizen initiatives from 10,600 to 42,500, which the argument says would cost about one million dollars to collect and price out neighborhood groups, unions and community advocates.
Signed by San Francisco Labor Council; San Francisco Senior & Disability Action; United Educators of San Francisco; San Francisco Women's Political Committee; San Francisco Tenants Union; Indivisible SF; Community Tenants Association; Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth; San Francisco Rising Action Fund
Read the official documents
Neighbor opinions
Where do you stand on Changes to ballot measure process?
Opinions from people who signed in. Not a poll, not a vote, and not our endorsement. We don't check where anyone lives. Your name is never shown.
Keep going on your San Francisco ballot
- Board of Supervisors, District 2: 4 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 4: 3 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 6: 2 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 8: 4 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 10: 10 candidates
- Proposition A: Charter changes affecting various city departments and commissions
- Proposition B: Municipal finance corporation and public bank
- Proposition C: Contributions to the Housing Trust Fund
- Proposition E: City Administrator's authority and changes to city contracting
- Proposition F: Changes to Executive Branch Management
- Proposition G: Allowing Private Vehicles on the Upper Great Highway in Sunset Dunes Park
- Proposition H: Parcel Tax to Fund Muni Operations
- Proposition I: Changes to Real Property Transfer Tax
- Proposition J: Removal of Foreclosure Exemption for Real Property Transfer Tax
- Take the 2-minute match quiz
- See my ballot plan
Did this help?
PlayPotus is a small independent site: no ads, no campaign or party money. A few dollars from readers keeps local voter guides free.
Chip in $5This supports the site, not any candidate or party. Not tax-deductible.
Every claim here links to its source. See something wrong? Report an errorand we'll check it against the source.
Back to the San Francisco guideSee something wrong? Report an error
Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.