From American Faith A California ballot initiative to secede from the United States has been approved for signature gathering.
According to a statement from California Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office, the measure would ask the November 2028 ballot: “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?”
If at least 50% of registered voters participate in the election, and 55% vote “yes,” it would “constitute ‘a vote of no confidence in the United States of America’ and ‘expression of the will of the people of California’ to become an independent country, but would not change California’s current government or relationship with the United States,” Weber’s office said.
The state would be required to create a 20-member commission on California’s sovereignty and independence. The U.S. flag would also be removed from state buildings and properties.
The effort would cost an estimated $10 million in one-time election-related costs to create the commission and $2 million in annual state costs to operate the commission.
Marcus Ruiz Evans, a leader behind “Calexit,” told The San Francisco Standard that he believes the secession movement will gain ground due to President Donald Trump’s electoral victory. Evans claimed that “Republicans now hate us in California more than ever. The hate was palpable in 2016. But now it’s palpable and focused.”
According to the 1869 Supreme Court case Texas v. White, no state can unilaterally secede from the United States.
Rural areas of liberal states have also considered seceding. A group called the New Illinois State drafted its own state constitution and announced plans to “Leave Illinois Without Moving.”
As part of their November ballots, seven Illinois counties voted on: “Shall the board of (the county) correspond with the boards of other counties of Illinois, outside of Cook County, about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and to seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people?”
72.85% of voters said “yes” to the initiative.
