City of Orange Measure K — Proposed Charter for the City of Orange (Orange County)

What it does

Shall the proposed Charter for the City of Orange, establishing the City as a charter city under the California Constitution and providing the City’s governing document for municipal affairs, be adopted?

A YES vote means

The City of Orange would adopt a charter and become a charter city, with the charter as its governing document for municipal affairs.

A NO vote means

The City of Orange would not adopt this charter and would not become a charter city.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Orange City Council submitted Measure K to voters; it would adopt a City Charter, changing Orange from a general law city, governed mainly by state law, to a charter city with authority over municipal affairs, according to the City Attorney's impartial analysis.

The proposed Charter keeps the Council-Manager form of government and an elected Mayor and Council, and sets lifetime limits of two four-year terms for Mayor and three four-year terms for Council Members, counting only terms served after it takes effect.

It would also let the city use charter-city authority over contracting and procurement, create an Open Space Reserve of City-owned properties that could not be removed or repurposed without voter approval, and include provisions on eminent domain, balanced budgets and annual audits; it requires a simple majority.

Put on the ballot by Orange City Council (2026).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Orange County ballots

• City of Costa Mesa Measure C — The Costa Mesa Fair Business License Reform, Small Business Protection Measure
• City of Irvine Measure D — Measure Directing the Use of Ranked Choice Voting for City Council Member and Mayoral Elections after January 1, 2028
• City of Laguna Beach Measure E — An Ordinance of the People of the City of Laguna Beach, California, Adding Section 2.04.080 to the Laguna Beach Municipal Code to Establish Term Limits for City Council Members
• City of Lake Forest Measure F — Lake Forest Election Reform and Voter Choice Measure
• City of Los Alamitos Measure G — Los Alamitos Hotel Tax (TOT Measure)
• City of Newport Beach Measure H — City of Newport Beach General Plan – Amendment
• City of Orange Measure I — City of Orange Public Safety/Essential Services Measure
• City of Orange Measure J — City of Orange Hotel Guest Tax Modification Measure
• City of Placentia Measure L — Placentia Hotel Tax Measure
• City of San Clemente Measure M — San Clemente Natural Hazards Sales Tax Citizens Initiative
• City of Santa Ana Measure N — Santa Ana Streets, Public Safety, Essential City Services Measure
• City of Westminster Measure O — Westminster City Services Measure

All Orange County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Orange Measure K mean?

The City of Orange would adopt a charter and become a charter city, with the charter as its governing document for municipal affairs.

What does a NO vote on City of Orange Measure K mean?

The City of Orange would not adopt this charter and would not become a charter city.

How many votes does City of Orange Measure K need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Orange Measure K?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.