California voters will have a chance to overturn the recent state Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage just five months from now.

As expected, the secretary of state today certified a measure for the November ballot that would amend the constitution to define marriage as “between a man and a woman”.

Proponents of the measure submitted more than 1.1 million signatures to qualify for the general election ballot.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen says a random check of signatures submitted by the measure’s sponsors showed that they had gathered more than the 694,354 valid signatures needed for it to be put to voters.

If it is approved by a majority of voters on Nov. 4, the measure would probably overturn the recent California Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

In 2000, more than 61 percent of voters approved Proposition 22, which defined marriage in state law as only “between a man and a woman.” But in mid-May, the California Supreme Court ruled that measure was unconstitutional because it discriminates against same-sex couples who don’t the same rights as straight couples.

The new measure would insert the sentence, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” into the state constitution, thereby overruling the court’s decision, unless the amendment is itself challenged.

The measure’s official certification sets up a fall ballot campaign that is expected to cost millions of dollars and draw national attention.

Source: Sacramento Bee, Associated Press

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