Californians to vote on gay marriage

California’s Secretary of State confirmed an initiative that would again outlaw gay marriage in the state has qualified for the November ballot.

Debra Bowen said a random check of signatures submitted by the measure’s sponsors showed that they had gathered enough for it to be put to voters.

The measure would amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union “between a man and a woman”.

It would overturn the recent California Supreme Court ruling that legalised same-sex marriage in the state if it is approved by a majority of voters on November 4.

California public health officials already have amended marriage license applications and told local officials to start issuing them to same-sex couples on June 17.