Proposition 3, titled Constitutional Right to Marry, was a California ballot proposition that passed by vote in the 2024 general election on November 5, 2024. The proposition repealed Proposition 8, passed during the 2008 general election, and amended the state constitution to protect same-sex marriage. It also ensured that same-sex couples would have the right to marry in California in case the United States Supreme Court ever overturns Obergefell v. Hodges, thus making it a symbolic gesture until then.

Text The proposition amended Article I, Section 7.5 of the Constitution of California to read:"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

(a) The right to marry is a fundamental right. (b) This section is in furtherance of both of the following: (1) The inalienable rights to enjoy life and liberty and to pursue and obtain safety, happiness, and privacy guaranteed by Section 1. (2) The rights to due process and equal protection guaranteed by Section 7."

Support In the state voter guide, supporters of the proposition argued that "although marriage equality for same-sex couples has been the law of the land in the United States for years, California’s Constitution still says that same-sex couples are not allowed to marry [and that] recent threats against fundamental rights have made it clear California must be proactive in protecting the freedom to marry regardless of gender or race."

Opposition In the state voter guide, opponents of the proposition argued that it "removes ALL protections on marriage, including limits on children, close relatives, and three or more people marrying each other" as well as "[overriding] all laws on marriage [and a] 'fundamental right' to marry [meaning] it would remove protections against child marriages, incest, and polygamy" and that "changing the definition of marriage, this measure also suggests that children don’t need both a mom and a dad [as Prop 3] goes against years of research showing that kids do best when raised by their mother and father in a stable, married home [and that] children without a mother or father are more likely to have emotional issues, take part in risky behaviors, struggle in school, and face financial problems."

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Support Oppose UndecidedPublic Policy Institute of CaliforniaOctober 7–15, 20241,137 (LV)± 3.7%67%32%1%USC/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly PomonaSeptember 12–25, 20241,685 (LV)± 2.4%66%24%10%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaAugust 29 – September 11, 20241,071 (LV)± 3.7%68%31%1%USC/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly PomonaJanuary 21–29, 20241,416 (LV)± 2.6%73%20%7%

Results On November 5, 2024, at 8:00 PM PT, polls in California closed. With 62.6% in favor, Proposition 3 was approved.

Results by county

YES NOTotal votesCounty#%#%# Alameda 484,349 74.9% 162,389 25.1% 646,738 Alpine 521 72.0% 203 28.0% 724 Amador 9,728 45.4% 11,687 54.6% 21,415 Butte 51,240 56.3% 39,753 43.7% 90,993 Calaveras 11,429 44.9% 14,014 55.1% 25,443 Colusa 2,841 42.9% 3,786 57.1% 6,627 Contra Costa 354,545 69.8% 153,595 30.2% 508,140 Del Norte 4,819 47.0% 5,432 53.0% 10,251 El Dorado 56,464 52.7% 50,746 47.3% 107,210 Fresno 155,136 49.3% 159,795 50.7% 314,931 Glenn 4,149 41.6% 5,835 58.4% 9,984 Humboldt 44,423 71.3% 17,921 28.7% 62,344 Imperial 25,454 48.7% 26,829 51.3% 52,283 Inyo 4,658 54.2% 3,940 45.8% 8,598 Kern 119,523 43.4% 155,599 56.6% 275,122 Kings 18,283 45.0% 22,335 55.0% 40,618 Lake 14,540 57.0% 10,949 43.0% 25,489 Lassen 3,766 34.3% 7,224 65.7% 10,990 Los Angeles 2,277,244 65.7% 1,188,271 34.3% 3,465,515 Madera 22,497 42.7% 30,145 57.3% 52,642 Marin 119,254 86.0% 19,470 14.0% 138,724 Mariposa 4,153 45.6% 4,963 54.4% 9,116 Mendocino 25,895 68.6% 11,856 31.4% 37,751 Merced 40,741 49.8% 40,996 50.2% 81,737 Modoc 1,387 35.6% 2,506 64.4% 3,893 Mono 3,926 67.2% 1,918 32.8% 5,844 Monterey 93,834 66.2% 48,009 33.8% 141,843 Napa 43,574 69.7% 18,975 30.3% 62,549 Nevada 37,848 63.1% 22,179 36.9% 60,027 Orange 767,402 57.5% 566,501 42.5% 1,333,903 Placer 121,006 53.4% 105,599 46.6% 226,605 Plumas 4,870 49.5% 4,968 50.5% 9,838 Riverside 488,115 53.8% 418,428 46.2% 906,543 Sacramento 393,738 62.7% 234,223 37.3% 627,961 San Benito 15,863 59.1% 10,987 40.9% 26,850 San Bernardino 368,109 50.1% 365,924 49.9% 734,033 San Diego 929,477 65.6% 488,011 34.4% 1,417,488 San Francisco 327,877 84.7% 59,058 15.3% 386,935 San Joaquin 130,128 51.8% 120,858 48.2% 250,986 San Luis Obispo 87,056 59.7% 58,764 40.3% 145,820 San Mateo 236,724 75.3% 77,562 24.7% 314,286 Santa Barbara 117,376 66.1% 60,284 33.9% 177,660 Santa Clara 505,248 69.8% 218,403 30.2% 723,651 Santa Cruz 103,970 79.9% 26,174 20.1% 130,144 Shasta 34,720 40.9% 50,161 59.1% 84,881 Sierra 763 45.0% 932 55.0% 1,695 Siskiyou 9,955 48.1% 10,762 51.9% 20,717 Solano 111,727 61.2% 70,800 38.8% 182,527 Sonoma 184,233 76.0% 58,225 24.0% 242,458 Stanislaus 93,352 49.4% 95,431 50.6% 188,783 Sutter 16,028 42.8% 21,457 57.2% 37,485 Tehama 9,735 38.0% 15,865 62.0% 25,600 Trinity 2,873 52.6% 2,594 47.4% 5,467 Tulare 58,504 43.8% 75,000 56.2% 133,504 Tuolumne 12,935 46.3% 15,010 53.7% 27,945 Ventura 232,949 62.0% 142,671 38.0% 375,620 Yolo 63,657 70.4% 26,736 29.6% 90,393 Yuba 12,824 45.3% 15,479 54.7% 28,303 Totals9,477,43562.6%5,658,18737.4%15,135,622

Results by city