The following is a list of California ballot propositions broken down by decade. Propositions can be placed on the ballot either through the initiative process or by a vote of the state legislature.

Prior to the November 1982 general election, proposition numbers started with "1" for each election. After November 1982, subsequent propositions received higher and higher numbers until November 1998 when the count was reset. Starting with November 1998, the count is reset in 10-year cycles.

• List of California ballot propositions 1911-1919
• List of California ballot propositions 1920-1929
• List of California ballot propositions 1930-1939
• List of California ballot propositions 1940-1949
• List of California ballot propositions 1950-1959
• List of California ballot propositions 1960-1969
• List of California ballot propositions 1970-1979
• List of California ballot propositions 1980-1989
• List of California ballot propositions 1990-1999
• List of California ballot propositions 2000-present

Propositions which have received a great deal of attention include Proposition 13, Proposition 98 , Proposition 187, and Proposition 209.