California 2009 ballot propositions

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Six statewide ballot propositions were on the May 19, 2009, special election ballot in California. Five were defeated and one was approved.

Six statewide ballot propositions concerning the California state budget were referred to the May 2009 ballot by the California State Legislature. The six measures were designed to close a $42 billion gap between state spending and expected revenues. The measures were supported by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Five of the six measures (Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E), were defeated with an average of 65% of voters voting against each measure. Proposition 1F, which was designed to prohibit pay raises for state legislators in years when there is a state budget deficit, was approved by a vote of 74% in favor to 26% opposed.

On the ballot

See also: May 19, 2009 ballot measures in California

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1A	Taxes	Extends tax increases passed under the February 2009 budget bill for one to two years resulting in an expected increase to state tax revenue by $16 billion	d
LRCA	Proposition 1B	Budget	Makes supplemental appropriations for K-12 schools and community colleges annually beginning in 2011-12 until reaching a total of $9.3 billion; dependent on approval of Proposition 1A	d
LRCA	Proposition 1C	Budget	Authorizes borrowing against future lottery proceeds; repeals the requirement that lottery revenue be used only for education; revises lottery management details	d
LRSS	Proposition 1D	Budget	Redirects $268 million in annual tobacco tax revenue currently earmarked for First Five early childhood development programs under the terms of Proposition 10 (1998) to other health programs for children aged five and under	d
LRSS	Proposition 1E	Budget	Redirects funds from Proposition 63 of 2004 for a two-year period ($226.7 million in 2009-10 and between $226.7 million and $234 million in 2010-11) to support mental health programs through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program	d
LRCA	Proposition 1F	Budget	Prohibits pay increases for state legislators and certain state executive officials in years that the state is experiencing a budget deficit	a

Getting measures on the ballot

Legislative referrals

The California State Legislature may refer constitutional amendments to the ballot with a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in each chamber.

The legislature can refer statutes and bond issues with a simple majority vote, but the governor's signature is also required.

In California, changes to voter-approved ballot initiatives need to be referred to voters for approval or rejection unless the changes further the initiative's purpose.

Initiatives

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in California

The number of valid signatures for citizen-initiated measures in California are based on the votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election, which are held every four years. Initiated constitutional amendments require 8% of that total while initiated state statutes and veto referendums require 5%. The requirements for each type in 2009 were as follows:

• Initiated constitutional amendment (ICA): 694,354
• Initiated state statute (ISS): 433,971
• Veto referendum (VR): 433,971

Public opinion polling

Poll results for the measures are detailed below. Click [show] to expand the charts.

May 2009 ballot proposition polls

Proposition 1A Date of Poll Pollster In favor Opposed Undecided February 20-March 1 Field 57 percent 21 percent 22 percent March 10-17 PPIC 39 percent 46 percent 15 percent March 11-12 SurveyUSA 27 percent 29 percent 44 percent April 20-21 SurveyUSA 29 percent 42 percent 29 percent April 16-26 Field 40 percent 49 percent 11 percent April 27 - May 4 PPIC 35 percent 52 percent 13 percent May 8-10 SurveyUSA 38 percent 51 percent 11 percent May 15-17 SurveyUSA 32 percent 57 percent 10 percent Proposition 1B Date of Poll Pollster In favor Opposed Undecided February 20-March 1 Field 53 percent 30 percent 17 percent March 10-17 PPIC 44 percent 41 percent 15 percent March 11-12 SurveyUSA 38 percent 30 percent 32 percent April 20-21 SurveyUSA 37 percent 42 percent 22 percent April 16-26 Field 40 percent 49 percent 11 percent April 27 - May 4 PPIC 40 percent 47 percent 13 percent May 8-10 SurveyUSA 41 percent 50 percent 10 percent May 15-17 SurveyUSA 37 percent 54 percent 9 percent Proposition 1C Date of Poll Pollster In favor Opposed Undecided February 20-March 1 Field 47 percent 39 percent 14 percent March 10-17 PPIC 37 percent 50 percent 11 percent March 11-12 SurveyUSA 28 percent 29 percent 43 percent April 20-21 SurveyUSA 23 percent 41 percent 35 percent April 16-26 Field 32 percent 59 percent 9 percent April 27 - May 4 PPIC 32 percent 58 percent 10 percent May 8-10 SurveyUSA 29 percent 52 percent 19 percent May 15-17 SurveyUSA 29 percent 56 percent 16 percent Proposition 1D Date of Poll Pollster In favor Opposed Undecided February 20-March 1 Field 54 percent 24 percent 22 percent March 10-17 PPIC 48 percent 36 percent 16 percent March 11-12 SurveyUSA 40 percent 28 percent 32 percent April 16-26 Field 40 percent 49 percent 11 percent April 20-21 SurveyUSA 37 percent 39 percent 24 percent April 27 - May 4 PPIC 43 percent 45 percent 12 percent May 8-10 SurveyUSA 37 percent 50 percent 13 percent May 15-17 SurveyUSA 35 percent 54 percent 11 percent Proposition 1E Date of Poll Pollster In favor Opposed Undecided February 20-March 1 Field 57 percent 23 percent 20 percent March 10-17 PPIC 47 percent 37 percent 16 percent March 11-12 SurveyUSA 36 percent 30 percent 34 percent April 16-26 Field 40 percent 51 percent 9 percent April 20-21 SurveyUSA 32 percent 41 percent 27 percent April 27 - May 4 PPIC 41 percent 48 percent 11 percent May 8-10 SurveyUSA 35 percent 51 percent 14 percent May 15-17 SurveyUSA 33 percent 55 percent 11 percent Proposition 1F Date of Poll Pollster In favor Opposed Undecided February 20-March 1 Field 77 percent 13 percent 10 percent March 10-17 PPIC 81 percent 13 percent 6 percent March 11-12 SurveyUSA 27 percent 31 percent 42 percent April 16-26 Field 71 percent 24 percent 5 percent April 20-21 SurveyUSA 32 percent 34 percent 33 percent April 27 - May 4 PPIC 73 percent 24 percent 3 percent May 8-10 SurveyUSA 45 percent 35 percent 20 percent May 15-17 SurveyUSA 48 percent 38 percent 14 percent

Not on the ballot

The following measures were considered in the state legislature but were not put on the 2009 ballot:

• California Senate Constitutional Amendment 13 (2009)
• California Assembly Bill 583 (2009)
• California End the Two-Thirds Requirement Amendment (2010)
• California Assembly Bill 220 (2009)

See also

• 2009 ballot measures
• List of California ballot measures
• Laws governing ballot measures in California

External links

• California Secretary of State
• California State Legislature
• May 2009 Official Voter Guide
• Secretary of State's list of the 7 ballot measures
• California Secretary of State's announcement about May 19 ballot measures