California to vote on proposal to split state into three parts

An initiative that seeks to split California into three states is projected to qualify for the state’s November ballot.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said late Tuesday the initiative needed 365,880 valid petition signatures to qualify and random sampling projects a number of valid signatures greater than 110 per cent of the requirement.

The latest proposal for splitting up the Golden State is promoted by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Timothy Draper. It would create the states of Northern California, Southern California and a narrow central coast strip retaining the name California.

Even if voters approve the initiative an actual split would still require the approval of the state Legislature and Congress.

Certification that the initiative has qualified for the ballot will come on June 28.

Draper’s original plan had been to split California into six smaller states, but that campaign failed to collect enough signatures and died in 2014.