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09/11/2026
I think this initiative has great merit as it represents the choices of the voters more accurately than the current system. I support it 100% and feel that the voters deserve to understand this alternative which improves their chances if representation that is more closely aligned with their own preferences and beliefs.
09/16/2026
I come in support of Approval Voting; It gives Californians the choice to best select which representative represents them the best. Our current Top 2 Blanket primary system doesn’t work for California, we need the change.
09/17/2026
There's so many things this reform does, it's hard to pick what the best thing is.
This is why I support the reform:
- Reveals where we agree instead of where we're divided. Better represents all the people and can give us winners really broadly liked.
- Costs basically nothing but practically guaranteed to bring improvement across all issues
- Incentivizes candidates to go after the broadest base possible
- Allows voters to show support for candidates even if they aren't considered "electable" by the establishment
- Depolarizes stabilizes, and makes governance more functional by reducing the pendulum swing. Better for business here.
- Bolsters faith in democracy because we get representatives we actually like instead of "lesser evils". Reduces political apathy by increasing the chances that any given person voted for the winner.
- We become a better torch bearer for democracy worldwide.
- Aligns with US values of "all people deserve equal representation before the law"
09/17/2026
California desperately needs this election reform, and June's gubernatorial primary made that glaringly obvious. This simple but crucial change would reduce vote splitting, curb extremist candidates, and weaken two-party dominance over our democracy. It would empower third-party candidates and reward those who seek broad consensus. The result? Leaders in Sacramento and Washington who truly reflect the will of the people. The reform is easy and inexpensive to implement, with benefits that far outweigh any minor adjustments. Some may argue that change is risky, but the upside here is enormous, and the downside, nonexistent. California should adopt it without delay.
09/18/2026
Approval Voting is the best bet for us to improve representation and voter confidence in our elections while not spoiling the well on voting reform like other voting alternatives. Approval Voting will allow for voters to express themselves in a way that is easy to understand, with winners being truly representative of the will of the people. There has never been a more important time than now to have voters feel heard and that their votes truly count and represent them. The state of democracy on California will be much-improved if voters can truly speak their mind.
09/21/2026
Approval Voting has been known to decrease polarization and gives independent candidates an actual shot (mainly on more localized races), while being packaged into a system that is easy for voters to understand. These qualities are especially needed in an environment where voters are increasingly dissatisfied with both parties combined with party loyalty.
09/24/2026
So excited for this! Too much of our elections revolve around who's "electable" rather than who has the best of ideas. Using Approval Voting in the primary is the simplest way to bring honesty back to our elections, and to elect politicians that actually represent the people. - Arend Peter Castelein
09/28/2026
I appreciate efforts to improve voter participation and representation in California elections. Approval voting may provide voters with greater flexibility by allowing them to support more than one acceptable candidate rather than being forced to choose only one.
However, before making a significant change to California's primary election system, I encourage careful consideration of voter education, implementation costs, and potential voter confusion. Any new voting method should be easy to understand, transparent, and accessible to all voters regardless of age, language, or educational background.
I respectfully request that policymakers thoroughly evaluate how approval voting would affect election outcomes, voter confidence, and public trust in the electoral process. Changes to the voting system should be supported by clear evidence that they will improve voter representation while maintaining election integrity and simplicity.
Thank you for considering public input on this proposal.
09/29/2026
I want to express my wholehearted support of 26-0006 to bring approval voting to the primary elections here in California. The city of St. Louis (MissourI) has been using the same system described in 26-0006 since 2021, and it is overwhelmingly popular there. It eliminates vote splitting in the primary, and makes it so that there's a sane, two-person race in the general with candidates that have high approval ratings (since the election doubles as a state-sponsored poll to determine the approval rating for each candidate). We should move away from our dumb choose-one system, and choose the system that the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, and the American Statistical Association use for their elections. We should use approval voting. --- Rob Lanphier, founder of electorama.com and member of CaliforniaApproves.org.
10/04/2026
I full support improving our voting method to using Approval Voting in the primaries. I find it very frustrating to have to choose only one candidate out of the huge list of candidates. There are often multiple candidates for which I want to show my support and yet, I end up needing to choose the "safe" candidate. It's really an unsatisfying way to vote. With Approval Voting in the primaries, I would be much more enthused about voting because I could express my preferences and voting would be fulfilling! Please enact Initiative 26-0006!
Colter Cederlof
10/05/2026
have reviewed Initiative No. 26-0005 and respectfully request that decision-makers carefully consider its potential impacts on California residents, businesses, and communities. Transparency, fairness, and clear implementation guidelines are important to ensure the measure achieves its intended purpose while minimizing unintended consequences. Debra Williams
10/05/2026
Equal Vote endorses the Approval Voting for Primary Elections Act. Approval Voting is the simplest top-shelf voting method out there, and we're proudly partnering with California Approves to advance this proposal! Our full statement is attached.
10/07/2026
My name is Sara Wolk and I'm proud to support the California Approves statewide initiative. Approval Voting is a common sense upgrade for our elections that will allow voters to easily support the candidates they support and oppose the ones they don't. It prevents vote-splitting, eliminates 'spoilers', ensures that it's always safe to vote for your favorite, regardless of electability, and it is science-backed and proven to elect more representative winners who better represent the will of the people. Please vote YES on Approval Voting for California!
10/10/2026
I would like to write in support of this initiative to amend the Elections Code. The reason for support of these changes is that I believe that it would amplify the voices of voters and create a more equal system in consideration of smaller candidates and third party constituents. Amending the Elections Code in this way would also come at very little cost to taxpayers since the changes made would be simple and not add additional burden to the current systems of vote processing. Approval voting where voters can express approval for multiple candidates on the ballot would be beneficial considering that we had in this recent primary 61 candidates running to be governor. As a voter, it is easy to see that among this many candidates there can be multiple good choices but we are forced to weigh the fact that voting for candidates who are not the strong front runner may harm our own interest strategically. An approval voting process instead would provide voters with more freedom to express their opinion through their vote and would address the spoiler effect that voters currently must consider as a factor. In a Science journal article titled “The Science of Elections” written by social theorists Steven Brahams and Dudley Herschbach, it is additionally found that approval voting can reduce negative campaigning. This is important to voters since negative campaigning can be polarizing and pushing people further from each other instead of building community. Implementing approval voting with this measure in order to reduce negative campaigning would be in the best interest of everyone. A negative and divisive political climate discourages voters from engaging civically and weakens trust in candidates when all voters see is them tearing each other down and publishing attack ads. I hope this initiative is considered seriously in wake of the political climate of the last several years. Thank you.
10/10/2026
Approval voting is a reform with minimal burden on election administrators and voters. It costs essentially nothing to implement, works on existing machines, and only requires wording changes on the ballot to explain that voters can vote for one or more. Compared to the minimal cost, the positive ramifications of implementing this reform are enormous.
This specific initiative is also particularly well-formed, and would be compatible with any other reform to the general election (such as an expansion to three or more candidates, instead of the current two). Even so, a top two runoff based on an Approval voting primary is already a particularly robust, accurate, and easy-to-use and understand system, which is being used right now successfully in St. Louis.
Approval voting has strong incentives for candidates to represent and be accountable to all voters, rather than a small and vocal minority. It would also show the full depth of a candidate's support, and exactly how appealing they really are to the whole electorate. With Approval, voters can support all the candidates they find acceptable, without fear they have to choose between who can win, and who they genuinely support. This will naturally elevate strong candidates and provide voters with a meaningful choice in November, which is not currently guaranteed.
10/10/2026
It’s time to stop picking between the lesser of two evils when we vote. Politicians should listen to the people. Maybe making elections more competitive will force them to actually do what we ask instead of just paying lip service.
10/10/2026
I support Initiative No. 26-0006A1 because I want a voting system that prioritizes the wants of the people, not a system that encourages mudslinging and disparaging their opponents. I want my vote to truly reflect that candidates that I support, rather than just the one I feel pressured to vote for because their momentum is the highest. Approval voting does exactly what ita called. It allows people to vote for all of their apporved candidates, guarenteeing a larger population of people will approve of who takes office. This also paves the way for more candidates to compete for a chance at office and more choices for the people is never a bad thing.
10/10/2026
We should be able to vote for every candidate we approve of
10/11/2026
Under the current system, there can be dozens of candidates running in one race, as we saw this year with the governor's race. Multiple candidates with similar platforms can split the vote, and voters often have to choose a candidate based on "can they win" rather than choosing the candidate they like the most. Approval voting will allow voters to support the candidates they align with the most and make sure that they are truly represented in our democracy, and I urge you to support this initiative and make sure it gets added to the ballot.
10/11/2026
Picking 1 candidate out of 61 or more is absurd. An approval-voting measure, where voters can vote for as many candidates as they agree with, would be better.
10/12/2026
Restricting people to approving only one candidate makes about as much sense as restricting yourself to liking only one genre of music.
If we want candidates with high approval ratings, then we should elect them based on who has the highest level of approval. This is common sense. Who do the most people approve of doing the job? That should be our representative.
This initiative is a grassroots effort by Californians to bring that common sense to our elections. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Amanda for being the proponent, and to the volunteers of California Approves and the Equal Vote Coalition who have helped make it happen so far.
If you're interested in getting involved or learning more, please check out https://californiaapproves.org/our-reforms/approval-primary/
Alan Savage
alan@californiaapproves.org
Founder, California Approves
10/12/2026
Approval voting is the simplest way to alleviate vote-splitting. Every candidate gets an equal opportunity to gain support, voters never need to abandon their favorite candidates, and winners have a stronger mandate. There's no reason not to adopt this low-cost improvement. Thank you to California Approves and the many volunteers who worked to bring this sensible proposal forward.
I think this initiative has great merit as it represents the choices of the voters more accurately than the current system. I support it 100% and feel that the voters deserve to understand this alternative which improves their chances if representation that is more closely aligned with their own preferences and beliefs.
I come in support of Approval Voting; It gives Californians the choice to best select which representative represents them the best. Our current Top 2 Blanket primary system doesn’t work for California, we need the change.
There's so many things this reform does, it's hard to pick what the best thing is. This is why I support the reform: - Reveals where we agree instead of where we're divided. Better represents all the people and can give us winners really broadly liked. - Costs basically nothing but practically guaranteed to bring improvement across all issues - Incentivizes candidates to go after the broadest base possible - Allows voters to show support for candidates even if they aren't considered "electable" by the establishment - Depolarizes stabilizes, and makes governance more functional by reducing the pendulum swing. Better for business here. - Bolsters faith in democracy because we get representatives we actually like instead of "lesser evils". Reduces political apathy by increasing the chances that any given person voted for the winner. - We become a better torch bearer for democracy worldwide. - Aligns with US values of "all people deserve equal representation before the law"
California desperately needs this election reform, and June's gubernatorial primary made that glaringly obvious. This simple but crucial change would reduce vote splitting, curb extremist candidates, and weaken two-party dominance over our democracy. It would empower third-party candidates and reward those who seek broad consensus. The result? Leaders in Sacramento and Washington who truly reflect the will of the people. The reform is easy and inexpensive to implement, with benefits that far outweigh any minor adjustments. Some may argue that change is risky, but the upside here is enormous, and the downside, nonexistent. California should adopt it without delay.
Approval Voting is the best bet for us to improve representation and voter confidence in our elections while not spoiling the well on voting reform like other voting alternatives. Approval Voting will allow for voters to express themselves in a way that is easy to understand, with winners being truly representative of the will of the people. There has never been a more important time than now to have voters feel heard and that their votes truly count and represent them. The state of democracy on California will be much-improved if voters can truly speak their mind.
Approval Voting has been known to decrease polarization and gives independent candidates an actual shot (mainly on more localized races), while being packaged into a system that is easy for voters to understand. These qualities are especially needed in an environment where voters are increasingly dissatisfied with both parties combined with party loyalty.
So excited for this! Too much of our elections revolve around who's "electable" rather than who has the best of ideas. Using Approval Voting in the primary is the simplest way to bring honesty back to our elections, and to elect politicians that actually represent the people. - Arend Peter Castelein
I appreciate efforts to improve voter participation and representation in California elections. Approval voting may provide voters with greater flexibility by allowing them to support more than one acceptable candidate rather than being forced to choose only one. However, before making a significant change to California's primary election system, I encourage careful consideration of voter education, implementation costs, and potential voter confusion. Any new voting method should be easy to understand, transparent, and accessible to all voters regardless of age, language, or educational background. I respectfully request that policymakers thoroughly evaluate how approval voting would affect election outcomes, voter confidence, and public trust in the electoral process. Changes to the voting system should be supported by clear evidence that they will improve voter representation while maintaining election integrity and simplicity. Thank you for considering public input on this proposal.
I want to express my wholehearted support of 26-0006 to bring approval voting to the primary elections here in California. The city of St. Louis (MissourI) has been using the same system described in 26-0006 since 2021, and it is overwhelmingly popular there. It eliminates vote splitting in the primary, and makes it so that there's a sane, two-person race in the general with candidates that have high approval ratings (since the election doubles as a state-sponsored poll to determine the approval rating for each candidate). We should move away from our dumb choose-one system, and choose the system that the American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of America, and the American Statistical Association use for their elections. We should use approval voting. --- Rob Lanphier, founder of electorama.com and member of CaliforniaApproves.org.
I full support improving our voting method to using Approval Voting in the primaries. I find it very frustrating to have to choose only one candidate out of the huge list of candidates. There are often multiple candidates for which I want to show my support and yet, I end up needing to choose the "safe" candidate. It's really an unsatisfying way to vote. With Approval Voting in the primaries, I would be much more enthused about voting because I could express my preferences and voting would be fulfilling! Please enact Initiative 26-0006! Colter Cederlof
have reviewed Initiative No. 26-0005 and respectfully request that decision-makers carefully consider its potential impacts on California residents, businesses, and communities. Transparency, fairness, and clear implementation guidelines are important to ensure the measure achieves its intended purpose while minimizing unintended consequences. Debra Williams
Equal Vote endorses the Approval Voting for Primary Elections Act. Approval Voting is the simplest top-shelf voting method out there, and we're proudly partnering with California Approves to advance this proposal! Our full statement is attached.
My name is Sara Wolk and I'm proud to support the California Approves statewide initiative. Approval Voting is a common sense upgrade for our elections that will allow voters to easily support the candidates they support and oppose the ones they don't. It prevents vote-splitting, eliminates 'spoilers', ensures that it's always safe to vote for your favorite, regardless of electability, and it is science-backed and proven to elect more representative winners who better represent the will of the people. Please vote YES on Approval Voting for California!
I would like to write in support of this initiative to amend the Elections Code. The reason for support of these changes is that I believe that it would amplify the voices of voters and create a more equal system in consideration of smaller candidates and third party constituents. Amending the Elections Code in this way would also come at very little cost to taxpayers since the changes made would be simple and not add additional burden to the current systems of vote processing. Approval voting where voters can express approval for multiple candidates on the ballot would be beneficial considering that we had in this recent primary 61 candidates running to be governor. As a voter, it is easy to see that among this many candidates there can be multiple good choices but we are forced to weigh the fact that voting for candidates who are not the strong front runner may harm our own interest strategically. An approval voting process instead would provide voters with more freedom to express their opinion through their vote and would address the spoiler effect that voters currently must consider as a factor. In a Science journal article titled “The Science of Elections” written by social theorists Steven Brahams and Dudley Herschbach, it is additionally found that approval voting can reduce negative campaigning. This is important to voters since negative campaigning can be polarizing and pushing people further from each other instead of building community. Implementing approval voting with this measure in order to reduce negative campaigning would be in the best interest of everyone. A negative and divisive political climate discourages voters from engaging civically and weakens trust in candidates when all voters see is them tearing each other down and publishing attack ads. I hope this initiative is considered seriously in wake of the political climate of the last several years. Thank you.
Approval voting is a reform with minimal burden on election administrators and voters. It costs essentially nothing to implement, works on existing machines, and only requires wording changes on the ballot to explain that voters can vote for one or more. Compared to the minimal cost, the positive ramifications of implementing this reform are enormous. This specific initiative is also particularly well-formed, and would be compatible with any other reform to the general election (such as an expansion to three or more candidates, instead of the current two). Even so, a top two runoff based on an Approval voting primary is already a particularly robust, accurate, and easy-to-use and understand system, which is being used right now successfully in St. Louis. Approval voting has strong incentives for candidates to represent and be accountable to all voters, rather than a small and vocal minority. It would also show the full depth of a candidate's support, and exactly how appealing they really are to the whole electorate. With Approval, voters can support all the candidates they find acceptable, without fear they have to choose between who can win, and who they genuinely support. This will naturally elevate strong candidates and provide voters with a meaningful choice in November, which is not currently guaranteed.
It’s time to stop picking between the lesser of two evils when we vote. Politicians should listen to the people. Maybe making elections more competitive will force them to actually do what we ask instead of just paying lip service.
I support Initiative No. 26-0006A1 because I want a voting system that prioritizes the wants of the people, not a system that encourages mudslinging and disparaging their opponents. I want my vote to truly reflect that candidates that I support, rather than just the one I feel pressured to vote for because their momentum is the highest. Approval voting does exactly what ita called. It allows people to vote for all of their apporved candidates, guarenteeing a larger population of people will approve of who takes office. This also paves the way for more candidates to compete for a chance at office and more choices for the people is never a bad thing.
We should be able to vote for every candidate we approve of
Under the current system, there can be dozens of candidates running in one race, as we saw this year with the governor's race. Multiple candidates with similar platforms can split the vote, and voters often have to choose a candidate based on "can they win" rather than choosing the candidate they like the most. Approval voting will allow voters to support the candidates they align with the most and make sure that they are truly represented in our democracy, and I urge you to support this initiative and make sure it gets added to the ballot.
Picking 1 candidate out of 61 or more is absurd. An approval-voting measure, where voters can vote for as many candidates as they agree with, would be better.
Restricting people to approving only one candidate makes about as much sense as restricting yourself to liking only one genre of music. If we want candidates with high approval ratings, then we should elect them based on who has the highest level of approval. This is common sense. Who do the most people approve of doing the job? That should be our representative. This initiative is a grassroots effort by Californians to bring that common sense to our elections. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Amanda for being the proponent, and to the volunteers of California Approves and the Equal Vote Coalition who have helped make it happen so far. If you're interested in getting involved or learning more, please check out https://californiaapproves.org/our-reforms/approval-primary/ Alan Savage alan@californiaapproves.org Founder, California Approves
Approval voting is the simplest way to alleviate vote-splitting. Every candidate gets an equal opportunity to gain support, voters never need to abandon their favorite candidates, and winners have a stronger mandate. There's no reason not to adopt this low-cost improvement. Thank you to California Approves and the many volunteers who worked to bring this sensible proposal forward.