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California 2010 ballot propositions
14 statewide ballot propositions were on California ballots in 2010, including nine statewide initiatives on the November 2, 2010 ballot and five statewide measures on the June 8, 2010 ballot. Altogether, six propositions were approved and eight were defeated.
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More than 90 proposed statewide ballot initiatives had been filed with California election officials or proposed in the California State Legislature as possible contenders for either the June 8, 2010 and November 2, 2010 ballots.[1]
To qualify for the ballot, proposed initiated state statutes needed 433,971 signatures and proposed initiated constitutional amendments needed 694,354 signatures.
Of the 184 ballot measures on statewide ballots nationally in 2010, the 8 of the 10 ballot propositions that attracted the most spending were from California.
On the ballot
| 2010 propositions |
|---|
 |
| June 8 |
| Proposition 13 |
| Proposition 14 • Text |
| Proposition 15 • Text |
| Proposition 16 • Text |
| Proposition 17 • Text |
| November 2 |
| Proposition 19 • Text |
| Proposition 20 • Text |
| Proposition 21 • Text |
| Proposition 22 • Text |
| Proposition 23 • Text |
| Proposition 24 • Text |
| Proposition 25 • Text |
| Proposition 26 • Text |
| Proposition 27 • Text |
| Donations • Vendors |
| Endorsements |
| Local measures |
June 8
Through June 2, a cumulative total of $70 million was spent advocating for and against the 5 propositions on the June ballot.[2]
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposition 13 | Taxes | Seismic retrofitting should not add to property's tax assessed value | 
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| LRCA | Proposition 14 | Elections | Top two primary vote getters move to general regardless of party affiliation |
|
| LRSS | Proposition 15 | Elections | Public funding of politician's campaigns | 
|
| CICA | Proposition 16 | Elections | New two-thirds vote requirement for local public electricity providers |
|
| CISS | Proposition 17 | Regulation | Discount for those who have had continuous auto insurance coverage |
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November 2
A combined $147 million was spent by proposition supporters and opponents on their campaigns for and against the nine ballot initiatives on the November 2 California ballot.[3]
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Proposition 19 | Marijuana | Legalize and tax marijuana |
|
| CICA | Proposition 20 | Elections | Congressional district lines to be re-drawn by a committee |
|
| CISS | Proposition 21 | Taxes | Increase vehicle license fees by $18 a year to fund state parks |
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| CICA | Proposition 22 | State spending | State government prohibited from taking designated types of local funds |
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| CISS | Proposition 23 | Environment | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5% for a year |
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| CISS | Proposition 24 | Taxes | Eliminates three business tax breaks |
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| CICA | Proposition 25 | State spending | Budget and related legislation can be passed with simple majority, rather than current 2/3rds requirement |
|
| CICA | Proposition 26 | Taxes | Requires a 2/3 supermajority vote in the legislature to pass certain state and local fees |
|
| CICA | Proposition 27 | Elections | Return task of redistricting to the California State Legislature (repealing Prop 11) |
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Note: On August 9, Proposition 18, the Water Bond, was removed from the November 2, 2010 ballot. It will appear on the November 6, 2012 ballot instead.
Campaign spending
72 campaign committees registered with the California Secretary of State's office, as per the guidelines set out in campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures, as taking a pro or con position on one or more of the state's 2010 statewide ballot propositions.
Of the 72 registered campaign committees, nine committees registered as having a position on two propositions. One committee registered as having a position on 3 propositions, and two committees registered as having a position on four propositions.
31 "yes" positions were registered by the campaign committees, while 59 "no" positions were registered.
17 of the 72 registered committees reported that they received no contributions.
The top 5 donors to the propositions that were on the November 2, 2010 ballot were:[4]
| Donor | Amount | Proposition(s) |
|---|---|---|
| California Teachers Association and its parent, the NEA | $13,703,624 | 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 |
| Charles T. Munger, Jr. & Charlotte A. Lowell | $12,633,523 | 20, 27 |
| Thomas Steyer & Kathryn Taylor | $6,099,000 | 23, 26 |
| California & American Federations of Teachers | $5,387,240 | 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 |
| Valero Services, Inc. | $5,075,315 | 23 |
Cost of signatures
| Ballot measure | Subject | Signature collection company | Cost | Signatures required | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 16 | Elections | Arno Political Consultants | $2,199,794 | 694,354 | $3.17 |
| Proposition 17 | Regulation | National Petition Management | $2,273,745 | 433,971 | $5.23 |
| Proposition 19 | Marijuana | Masterson & Wright | $987,833 | 433,971 | $2.27 |
| Proposition 20 | Elections | National Petition Management | $1,937,380 | 694,354 | $2.79 |
| Proposition 21 | Taxes | Masterson & Wright | $1,144,515 | 433,971 | $2.64 |
| Proposition 22 | State spending | Progressive Campaigns | $1,646,596 | 694,354 | $2.37 |
| Proposition 23 | Environment | National Petition Management | $2,222,312 | 433,971 | $5.12 |
| Proposition 24 | Taxes | Kimball Petition Management | $1,587,363 | 433,971 | $3.65 |
| Proposition 25 | State spending | Kimball Petition Management | $2,626,808 | 694,354 | $3.78 |
| Proposition 26 | Taxes | National Petition Management | $2,341,023 | 694,354 | $3.37 |
| Proposition 27 | Elections | Kimball Petition Management | $3,031,085 | 694,354 | $4.37 |
| TOTAL: | $21,998,454 |
Local ballot measures
- See also: California 2010 local ballot measures
Californians voted on local ballot measures, including local recall measures, on 15 dates throughout 2010. 479 local ballot measures (not including recall measures) were presented to voters in 52 of California's 58 counties.
- February 2 • February 23 • March 2 • March 9 (recall only) • April 13 • May 4 • May 25 • June 8 • June 15 • June 22 • July 13 • August 24 • August 31 • September 21 • November 2
The six counties that had no local measures in 2010 were Alpine, Calaveras, Lake, Mariposa, Tehama and Trinity.
From 2010 to 2012
- See also: California 2012 ballot propositions
Dozens of initiatives whose sponsors filed their measures with election officials in early 2010 did not qualify for the November 2, 2010 ballot but might still qualify for a statewide election in 2012.
This is because when a proposed initiative is given its official ballot title and summary, it is also given a 150-day window for collection of signatures. If initiative sponsors collect sufficient signatures within their 150-day window and turn them in too late to qualify for the November 2010 bllot, their initiative will go on the ballot in a future year.
Not on the ballot
Initiatives
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Photo ID to Vote (5) | Elections | Must present government-issued photo ID to vote | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Wealth Tax | Taxes | Increase taxes on wealthy, create Environmental Superfund | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Human Trafficking | Law enforcement | Tougher penalties for human trafficking | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Lotteries/Schools | Education | Increase allocation of lottery proceeds to schools | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Re-Write Constitution | Constitution | A re-write of the California Constitution | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Ballot Title Reform | Elections | Change the way that ballot titles are written for California's initiatives | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Voter Information Guide | Elections | Voter Information Guides for ballot propositions should be online and more informative | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Alcohol Tax | Taxes | Impose a new surtax on alcohol sold in California | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Auto Insurance | Regulations | Repeal mandatory auto insurance laws | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Congressional Redistricting | Redistricting | Transfer redistricting authority to a commission | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Environmental Reports | Tort law | Only the Attorney General of California can challenge an Environmental Impact Report | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Taxpayer Protection (Lomax) | Taxes | Changes state tax laws | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CISS | Flood Insurance | Insurance | Flood insurance | Missed 2010 deadline |
| CICA | Community Hospitals (7) | Taxes | State not allowed to tax community hospitals unless certain requirements are met | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Corporate Property Tax Increase | Taxes | Re-assess commercial property every three years | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Funds for Public Schools | Education | Higher taxes on real estate owned by corporations | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Public Pension Reform (2) | Labor | Different pension benefits for newly-hired public employees versus existing public employees | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Pension Limits | Labor | Limits pension payments new government employees will receive when they retire | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Corporate Donations (2) | Elections | Corporations can't give money to political campaigns unless corporate shareholders approve | Missed deadline |
| CICA | School Choice for Foster Children | Education | School vouchers for California's approximately 50,000 foster children | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Spending Limits (2) | State spending | A Taxpayer Bill of Rights-style limitation on government spending growth | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Local Control (2) | Taxes | Required vote on parcel tax 55%, not 67%. 09-0052 and 09-0068. | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Parental Notification | Abortion | Notify parents prior to minor daughter having an abortion | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Tax Reform | Taxes | Change many features of California's tax laws | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Legislator Recusal | State legislature | State legislators would not be allowed to vote on bills that impact their campaign donors | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Right to Call Convention | Constitution | California's electors shall have right to petition for a constitutional convention | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Convention Call | Constitution | Shall California hold a constitutional convention? | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Ban on Political Deductions | Labor | A ban on deducting money for political activities from public employee paychecks | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Paycheck Protection | Labor | Can't deduct union dues from public employee paychecks without written consent | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Taxes End at Age 55 | Taxes | Exempt those over 55 from state income and property taxes | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Education Tax Relief | Taxes | No property, sales or income taxes for Article 9, Section 5 schools | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Parental Protection | Education | Parents are final authority over the education of their children | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Grassroots Initiative Reform | Direct democracy measures | Variety of changes to laws governing the initiative process in California 09-0038 | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Illegal to Lie when Campaigning | Elections | Impose criminal penalties on those who lie in the course of campaigning, 09-0049 | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Insurance Discrimination | Regulation | New rules about what insurance companies can do with their rates, 09-0050 | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Definition of Person | Abortion | "Person" applies to all living human organisms from the beginning of their development | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Exercise of Religion (2) | Religion | Individuals can freely advocate for opinions they draw from their reading of the Bible | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Stop Insurance Overcharges | Regulation | Insurance customers can't be charged more if they pay on an installment basis | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Marriage Equality | Marriage | Repeal of Proposition 8 | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Divest from Israel | Admin of gov't | Public fund investments prohibited in businesses that do business with Israel | Withdrawn |
| CICA | No Divorces Amendment | Marriage | No divorces | Aiming for 2012 ballot |
| CICA | Citizen Legislature | Legislature | State legislature to be part-time rather than full-time | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Christmas Songs Sung in Schools | Education | Public schools can allow students to sing Christmas songs | Missed deadline |
| CISS | If Undocumented, No Benefits | Immigration | Applicants for government aid must be documented residents | Withdrawn |
| CICA | Budget Reform | Taxes | Budget approved by 60% supermajority rather than 2/3rds supermajority | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Legislative honor | Legislature | State legislators required to read laws before voting on them | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Drug Testing for Legislators | Legislature | Drug and alcohol testing for state legislators | Missed deadline |
| CISS | Life Insurance Tax | Taxes | Tax on employer-beneficiary life insurance benefits | Missed deadline |
| CICA | End Two-Thirds Requirement | Taxes | Eliminate requirement that budgets be approved by 2/3rds vote of legislature | Withdrawn |
| CICA | Sales Tax Increase | Taxes | Add 1% to state sales tax, funds go to education | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Penalties for No Budget | Gov't admin | Governor and legislature removed from office if no budget | Missed deadline |
| CICA | Repeal of Prop 8 | Marriage | Several proposals to repeal Proposition 8 | Missed deadline |
Referrals
These ballot measures were proposed in the California State Legislature, which ultimately did not vote any of them onto the November ballot. See Amending the California Constitution for an outline of how the California legislature can begin the process of amending the state's constitution through the legislative referral process.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | ACA 13 | Direct democracy measures | Give state legislature right to change initiated constitutional amendments after signatures are collected |
| LRCA | ACA 20 | Direct democracy measures | California Legislative Analyst's Office would write ballot titles instead of the attorney general |
| LRCA | ACA 21 | Direct democracy measures | To be approved, a ballot initiative would require a 2/3rds vote rather than the current simple majority |
| LRCA | SCA 16 | Direct democracy measures | Fewer signatures needed for initiatives if first reviewed by legislature |
| LRCA | SCA 2 | State legislature | Split legislative sessions with one year for budgeting and one year for new legislation |
| LRCA | Prison, University Funding | Spending | Guarantee 10% of budget for California universities, scale back prison funding |
| Budget Best Practices | Spending | Goals and performance measurements specified for programs in governor's budget proposals | |
| LRCA | Expensive Initiatives | Spending | Ballot initiatives that propose to spend government funds must specify a revenue source |
| LRCA | Revenues for Bond Proposals | Spending | Initiative bond proposals over $1 billion must specify a revenue source |
Cost of ballot titles
The Office of the Attorney General of California estimated that it cost them about $6,800 to prepare a ballot title and summary for each potential ballot proposition submitted to their office, which means that the state incurred costs of over $600,000 preparing titles and summaries for the nearly 100 initiatives whose sponsors filed initiative language with the state.[5]
See also
External links
- Current California initiatives as listed on the website of the California Secretary of State
- List of active California initiatives as listed by the California Attorney General
- Initiative sponsors submit paperwork promising a busy 2010 cycle
- State ballot initiatives stacking up
- Ballot initiatives abused by special interests?
References
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "A chaotic year for California ballot propositions", December 27, 2009
- ↑ Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert, "Almost $70 million spent on June ballot measure campaigns", June 4, 2010
- ↑ Maplight, "$147 Million Spent on California's Nov. Ballot Measures", November 5, 2010
- ↑ Maplight, "California Proposition 26 - Campaign Contributions - Nov. 2010", November 4, 2010
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "It's not easy to get an initative on California's ballot", December 28, 2009
Additional reading
- Ballot issues attest to anger in California
- Ballot check-in: What you could be voting on in 2010
- June ballot holds lowkey props
- 5 propositions on tap for primary
- 5 takes on June 8 ballot
- California's June propositions
- PG&E measure requiring public-power votes loses
- Voters defeat insurance measure
- November ballot measures could affect our lives
- Ten propositions on ballot
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