What's the Deal with Propositions?

October 26, 2008

With the election right around the corner on Tuesday, November 4, most CMCers have probably decided by this point who they plan to vote for for president, but this fall’s ballot has much more on it than just the presidential election. Depending on where you are registered you will also have votes for a variety of state and local propositions and offices on your ballot. Many of you, myself included, are not well educated on what the various propositions are that will appear on our ballot in a few weeks. Well, it is time to do our civic duty and study up, so that we can be good educated voters!

Courtesy of the California Voter Foundation, here is the short and dirty version of the California state propositions you will see on your ballot if you are registered in California, as a pretty good percentage of students are.

• Proposition 1A - provides for a bond issue of $9.95 billion to establish high-speed train service

• Proposition 2 - standards for confining farm animals

• Proposition 3 - authorizes $980 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction and financing of children’s hospitals

• Proposition 4 - would change the California Constitution to prohibit abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent or legal guardian

• Proposition 5 - would expand treatment programs for persons convicted of drug and other offenses, and changes sentencing and parole policies

• Proposition 6 - would require minimum annual funding for police and law enforcement, and amend laws and penalties for certain gang, methamphetamine, and car-theft crimes

• Proposition 7 - requires utilities to generate 20% of their power from renewable energy by 2010

• Proposition 8 - changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California

• Proposition 9 - requires notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process

• Proposition 10 - provides for $5 billion in general obligation bonds for the purchase and development of renewable energy resources

• Proposition 11 - changes authority for establishing Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization district boundaries from elected representatives to a 14 member commission

• Proposition 12 - provides for a bond issue of $900 million to provide loans to California veterans to purchase farms and homes

For a more detailed look at the propositions, and other aspects of the California electoral ballot, you can visit the non-partisan, California Voter Foundation’s online voting guide

OR the somewhat more confusing (advanced?) government-produced voter guide

Good luck at the ballots Tuesday, November 4, don’t forget to vote!