Solano County lays out California Forever initiative ballot qualification process and timelines

May 28, 2024

SOLANO COUNTY – County officials are issuing this alert to inform the public of the ballot qualification process and timeline ahead, as set forth under state elections law, for the “REZONING OF 17,500 ACRES OF LAND IN EAST SOLANO COUNTY TO ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW COMMUNITY” Initiative (also known as “California Forever” or “East Solano Plan”). 

“This initiative to redesignate a large tract of land in eastern Solano County from agriculture to urban land uses has and will continue to generate a robust debate about the future of Solano County if it qualifies for the November ballot,” said Bill Emlen, Solano County Administrator. “The Board of Supervisors (Board) wants to ensure the community understands the process and the Board’s role in the weeks and months ahead.”  

April 30 – June 12, 2024
Solano County Registrar of Voters has 30 business days, not including holidays or weekends, to conduct a random sample of 3 percent of signatures submitted to see if it can be projected that there are at least 14,369 valid signatures (110 percent of the total required). 

By June 12, 2024
The Registrar of Voters will announce if the random sample of signatures does or does not meet the threshold to qualify the initiative to be placed on the November 2024 ballot. If it does not meet the threshold, the Registrar may take an additional 60 business days to count and verify all signatures. If it does meet the threshold, the Registrar will present it at the next regularly scheduled Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 25, 2024.  

June 25, 2024
At the Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Registrar will present the results of its initiative signature sampling count. (The agenda for this meeting will be available on June 21, 2024 here). At this meeting, the Board would have three options: 1) adopt the initiative (i.e., change the County’s land use as outlined in the initiative), 2) place the initiative on the November ballot, or 3) order a report assessing impacts of the initiative before placing it on the ballot. Should the Board order the report, that report would need to be presented to the Board within 30 days.  

July 23, 2024
At the Board meeting, the impact report would be presented. Following consideration of the report, the Board may adopt the initiative or place the initiative on the November ballot. (The agenda for this meeting will be available on July 19, 2024 here).