Governor Payne Issues Executive Order Officially Declaring Six Statewide Ballot Measures Approved by San Andreas Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 6, 2026

Contact: Office of the Governor, Communications Department, State of San Andreas Press@sa.gov  | (555) 0100-GOV

Governor Payne Issues Executive Order Officially Declaring Six Statewide Ballot Measures Approved by San Andreas Voters

LOS SANTOS, SA — Governor Isabel Payne today issued Executive Order D 26 003, formally proclaiming the results of six statewide ballot measures approved by voters during the November 3, 2026, biennial regular election.

The proclamation follows the official canvass and certification of election results by Secretary of State Smith on November 5, 2026.

Under Article V, Section 1(4)(a) of the San Andreas Constitution, voter-approved initiated and referred measures become law following the Governor's official declaration of the vote. The issuance of today's proclamation establishes November 6, 2026, as the effective date of the approved measures under that constitutional provision.

"The people of San Andreas have spoken, and today we formally recognize their decisions," said Governor Payne. "Whether voters supported or opposed these measures, the results reflect the will of the electorate. Our responsibility now is to ensure that the laws approved by the people are faithfully and responsibly implemented."

Six Measures Officially Declared Approved

The Governor's proclamation recognizes the following measures:

Initiative #223 — Increased Penalties for Reckless Driving

• YES: 1,876,705 votes (50.7%)

• NO: 1,821,547 votes (49.3%)

Approved by a narrow majority, Initiative #223 increases criminal penalties for reckless driving and establishes aggravated reckless driving as a Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days in jail.

The measure also establishes felony penalties for reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury or death, strengthens penalties for repeat offenders, and authorizes vehicle impoundment.

Initiative #312 — District Court Magistrates

• YES: 2,043,027 votes (55.2%)

• NO: 1,656,968 votes (44.8%)

Initiative #312 establishes the office of District Court Magistrate in each judicial district.

Magistrates appointed by the Chief Justice of the San Andreas Supreme Court will be authorized to conduct certain preliminary criminal proceedings, including initial appearances, probable cause hearings, bond hearings, and warrant proceedings.

The measure preserves restrictions on magistrates conducting trials, sentencing hearings, and other specified judicial proceedings.

Referendum C — Election Integrity Accountability Act (HB26-005)

• YES: 2,271,589 votes (61.4%)

• NO: 1,428,388 votes (38.6%)

Referendum C authorizes the implementation of the Election Integrity Accountability Act, establishing new procedures governing election-related testimony and certain public allegations of election fraud.

The legislation authorizes courts to compel testimony under specified circumstances, establishes requirements for individuals claiming to possess verifiable evidence of election fraud, and creates civil liability for knowingly false allegations made with actual malice that cause demonstrable harm.

The law expressly preserves protections for political opinions, rhetoric, and good-faith statements.

Referendum E — Adult Prostitution Legalization Act (HB26-024)

• YES: 2,129,634 votes (57.6%)

• NO: 1,565,015 votes (42.4%)

Referendum E approves the legalization and regulation of consensual prostitution between adults 18 years of age or older.

The legislation repeals the existing criminal offense of prostitution while allowing local governments to establish licensing, zoning, and regulatory requirements for commercial sexual establishments.

The measure maintains criminal prohibitions involving minors, human trafficking, and coercion, and establishes requirements intended to protect workers and prevent exploitation.

Referendum F — San Andreas Free Elections Act (HB26-034)

• YES: 2,097,488 votes (56.7%)

• NO: 1,600,885 votes (43.3%)

Referendum F approves changes to voter registration, identification, and election administration procedures.

Among its provisions, the measure establishes new voter registration documentation requirements, automatic voter registration through the Department of Revenue, same-day registration, expanded mail ballot return provisions, digital voting requirements, and Election Day as a state holiday.

The legislation also establishes election administration and recordkeeping requirements.

Referendum H — Police Civil Liability Act (HB26-020)

• YES: 2,284,928 votes (61.8%)

• NO: 1,412,244 votes (38.2%)

Referendum H authorizes the Police Civil Liability Act, eliminating qualified immunity as a defense in civil actions brought under state law against law enforcement officers for violations of constitutional or statutory rights.

The legislation establishes a state-law cause of action for injured individuals while preserving certain defenses for objectively reasonable conduct and good-faith reliance on established legal authority.

It also establishes indemnification provisions, limits on certain personal financial liabilities, annual training requirements, and public reporting obligations.

Governor Emphasizes Respect for the Electoral Process

Governor Payne acknowledged that several of the approved measures generated significant public debate during the election campaign.

"Some of these questions were decided by comfortable margins, while others were extraordinarily close," Payne said. "Initiative 223, for example, was decided by fewer than 56,000 votes out of nearly 3.7 million cast. Every vote matters, and the certification process ensures that every lawful vote is reflected in the final result."

The Governor further emphasized that the proclamation is a constitutional responsibility rather than an opportunity for the executive branch to reconsider the merits of measures approved by voters.

"The Governor does not get to pick and choose which election results to recognize," Payne said. "Our Constitution establishes a process, and that process has been completed. The voters made their decisions, the Secretary of State certified those decisions, and today I have fulfilled my constitutional duty to declare them."

State Agencies to Begin Implementation

With the issuance of Executive Order D 26 003, the approved measures take effect under the constitutional proclamation process.

The Governor's Office expects affected state agencies, judicial officials, election administrators, and local governments to review the applicable statutory changes and take the necessary steps to implement the new laws.

Implementation responsibilities will vary depending on the measure and may require administrative procedures, training, regulatory development, or coordination between state and local authorities.

"Passing a measure at the ballot box is one step. Putting that measure into practice is another," Payne said. "My administration will work with the General Assembly, the judiciary, local governments, and relevant agencies to carry out the law consistent with the Constitution."

Constitutional Proclamation

Executive Order D 26 003 was signed by Governor Payne on November 6, 2026, under the Executive Seal of the State of San Andreas.

The proclamation was issued pursuant to Article V, Section 1(4)(a) of the San Andreas Constitution, which requires the Governor to officially declare the vote on approved initiated or referred measures following the canvass of election results.

The order contains the official ballot descriptions and certified vote totals for all six approved measures.

Executive Order: D 26 003

Date Issued: November 6, 2026

Effective Date: November 6, 2026

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