Ballot Measures

California is a state rich in direct democracy at both the state and local levels. Reed & Davidson draws on decades of experience drafting ballot measures, helping clients with the legal and compliance aspects of ballot measure campaigns, challenging or defending ballot measures, and challenging or defending arguments supporting or opposing ballot measures. We also advise local jurisdictions, such as cities, counties, and special districts, on ballot measure campaigns to make sure they properly facilitate those elections. There are three main avenues for citizens to place measures on a ballot:

Initiatives
The initiative process allows concerned citizens to place state or local legislation directly in front of voters. Reed & Davidson helps its clients:

Draft initiative statutes, ordinances, constitutional amendments, and charter amendments
Form committees to support or oppose the qualification of initiatives and provide legal and compliance advice to campaigns supporting or opposing initiatives
Comply with petition drafting, signature gathering, and filing requirements
Defend legal challenges to initiative measures and ballot arguments supporting them
Challenge other groups’ initiative measures and ballot arguments supporting them
In the case of a local jurisdiction, provide ongoing advice during the course of a campaign to ensure full compliance with applicable laws

Referenda
The referendum process allows citizens to collect signatures to put a newly-enacted law on hold and either: have the legislative body that adopted the law repeal or place it before voters for repeal. Reed & Davidson helps its clients:

Form committees to support or oppose the qualification of referenda and provide legal and compliance advice to campaigns supporting or opposing referenda
Comply with petition drafting, signature gathering, and filing requirements
Defend legal challenges to referendum measures and ballot arguments supporting them
Challenge other groups’ referendum measures and ballot arguments supporting them
In the case of a local jurisdiction, provide ongoing advice during the course of a campaign to ensure full compliance with applicable laws

Recall Efforts
California law allows concerned citizens to remove elected officials from office through a recall campaign. Reed & Davidson helps its clients:

Form committees to support or oppose the qualification of recall efforts and provide legal and compliance advice to campaigns supporting or opposing a recall
Comply with petition drafting, signature gathering, and filing requirements
Defend legal challenges to recall efforts
Challenge other groups’ recall efforts
In the case of a local jurisdiction, provide ongoing advice during the course of a campaign to ensure full compliance with applicable laws