California residents may have the chance to vote on whether the state should break off from the rest of the country and become its own nation.
RELATED: California Exit Group Files A Petition Asking Voters To Leave
An initiative that would give voters the chance to weigh in on whether California should secede the U.S. has been cleared by the Secretary of State’s office for signature gathering. But it’s not clear that the initiative would have any legal effect if it passes.
Experts have argued the only way to legally secede from the U.S. would be to change the federal Constitution, which requires the approval of Congress and 38 states.
The Yes California Independence Campaign proposed the secession idea more than two years ago, but the so-called "CalExit" movement became more popular after President Donald Trump won the election in November.
Proponents need to collect the signatures of 585,000 registered voters by late July for it to qualify for the 2018 ballot.
