Politics
Mentone Raises Referendum Bar to 8 Percent of Registered Voters
Under the updated election code, Mentone petitioners must collect signatures equal to 8 percent of registered voters to place a measure on the ballot, exceeding thresholds in several surrounding municipalities.
How we reported this
The Mentone City Clerk's office began enforcing revised rules for citizen-initiated ballot measures on July 1, requiring petitions to reach 8 percent of registered voters rather than the previous 6 percent. This change directly affects residents seeking to place questions about local taxes or land use before voters.
City documents show the adjustment aligns Mentone with stricter standards already in place across parts of the region. Local advocates note the shift comes as several communities review how often measures reach the ballot amid rising administrative costs for verification.
Effects on residents seeking changes to services
Residents who want to propose alterations to public transit routes or park maintenance funding now face a longer collection period. Groups must verify each signature against voter rolls maintained by the county elections department, adding steps before any measure advances to the November or March ballot.
The legislation states that once qualified, approved measures still require a simple majority for passage unless they involve bond issuance. This process determines whether new fees appear on property tax statements mailed to households each December.
Policy analysts say the higher threshold has reduced the number of measures appearing on ballots in cities that adopted similar rules two years earlier. Mentone's 2026 municipal budget lists $142,000 for petition processing, an amount unchanged from last year despite the added workload.
Next steps for the November cycle
Petitioners have until August 15 to submit signatures for measures they hope to place before voters this fall. The city clerk will begin random sampling of signatures within five business days of submission, with final certification expected by September 1.
Residents can review the full text of each qualified measure at the city clerk's counter or on the municipal website starting September 15. Sample ballots will include arguments for and against each item as required under the local election ordinance.