California Proposition 13, School and College Facilities Bond (March 2020)
California Proposition 13 | |
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Election date March 3, 2020 | |
Topic Bond issues and Education | |
Status![]() | |
Type Bond issue | Origin State Legislature |
California Proposition 13, the School and College Facilities Bond, was on the ballot in California as a legislatively referred bond question on March 3, 2020.[1] The ballot measure was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported this measure to authorize $15 billion in general obligation bonds for school and college facilities, including $9 billion for preschool and K-12 schools, $4 billion for universities, and $2 billion for community colleges. |
A "no" vote opposed this measure to authorize $15 billion in general obligation bonds for school and college facilities. |
Election results
California Proposition 13 |
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Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
Yes | 4,304,013 | 46.99% | ||
4,856,154 | 53.01% |
Overview
What was the reaction to Proposition 13's defeat?
California Proposition 13 was the first statewide education-related bond issue that voters rejected since 1994. Between 1994 and 2020, voters approved six bond measures for school facilities—Proposition 203 (1996), Proposition 1A (1998), Proposition 47 (2002), Proposition 55 (2004), Proposition 1D (2006), and Proposition 51 (2016).
On March 11, 2020, Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning, which led the campaign in support of Proposition 13, conceded that the ballot measure was defeated.[2] Asm. Patrick O'Donnell (D-70), who co-authored Proposition 13 (2020), said, "Despite this number having no relation to the content of the school facilities bond, many voters mistakenly believed the ballot measure made changes to the 'Proposition 13' originally passed in 1978 which dealt with property taxes."[3] Asm. O'Donnell introduced legislation to retire the use of Proposition 13 as an official ballot measure title.[4]
Susan Shelley, vice president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, responded to the proposition's defeat, saying, "Confusion over Proposition 13 is not the whole story here." She added, "People are cynical about how the money is being spent. Maybe the message is ‘enough is enough.’"[5]
What would Proposition 13 have used the bond revenue for?
- See also: Measure design
Proposition 13 would have authorized $15 billion in bonds for school and college facilities in California, including $9 billion for preschool and K-12 schools, $4 billion for universities, and $2 billion for community colleges.[1] According to the California Legislative Analyst, the state would have made payments totaling an estimated $26 billion, including $15 billion in principal and $11 billion in interest, over 35 years from the General Fund.[6]
Proposition 13 was designed to distribute bond revenue as follows:[1]
School and College Facilities Bond (March 2020) | |||
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Amount | Dedication | ||
$9.0 billion | Preschool and K-12 | ||
$2.8 billion | new construction of school facilities | ||
$5.2 billion | modernization of school facilities | ||
$500 million | providing school facilities to charter schools | ||
$500 million | facilities for career technical education programs | ||
$4.0 billion | Universities | ||
$2.0 billion | capital outlay financing needs of the California State University | ||
$2.0 billion | capital outlay financing needs of the University of California and Hastings College of the Law | ||
$2.0 billion | Community colleges | ||
$2.0 billion | capital outlay financing needs of community colleges |
Proposition 13 would have also made changes to the formula used to distribute state bond funds to schools, the rules governing local bond measures, and school districts' abilities to assess developer fees. See the measure design section of this page to learn more.
Who was behind the campaigns surrounding Proposition 13?
- See also: Campaign finance
Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning, also known as Yes on Prop 13, led the campaign in support of Proposition 13. There were six committees organized to support the ballot measure, which raised a combined $13.06 million. There were zero committees organized to fund opposition to the ballot measure.[7]
The largest contributors to the committees supporting Proposition 13 were the California Teachers Association Issues PAC ($1.00 million), SEIU California State Council Issues Committee ($500,000), and California Charter Schools Association ($400,137).[7]
Measure design
Click on the arrows (▼) below for summaries of the different provisions of California Proposition 13.
Funds for school districts: distribution and prioritization of bond funds for schools
Proposition 13 would have appropriated $9.0 billion in bond revenue for preschool and K-12 schools, including $2.8 billion for new construction and $5.2 billion for modernization.[1]
As of 2020, the state government used facilities bond revenue to provide matching funds to school districts. Proposition 13 would have required the state government to cover between 50 and 55 percent of construction project costs and 60 and 65 percent of modernization project costs. Under Proposition 13, the state's percentage would have been determined based on a district's ability to raise funds and the district's share of low-income students, foster youth, and English learners. Districts also need to file a five-year facilities master plan to receive the bond funding from Proposition 13.[1]
Proposition 13 would have required the state Department of General Services to consider several factors when determining which modernization and construction applications to prioritize. Under Proposition 13, the factors would have been considered in the following order: (a) projects to address earthquake risks; (b) districts with financial hardships, as defined in law; (c) grants requested for remediation of lead in water; (d) the order of the applications that were submitted but not reviewed during the two prior quarters; (e) severe overcrowding, as defined in law; and (f) computation scores based on a district's tax base and percentage of English learners, students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and foster youth. Within each of these factors, the department would have prioritize projects that include the use of a project labor agreement.[1]
Changes to local school bonds and fees: rules for schools to raise revenue
Proposition 13 would have made changes to school districts' abilities to raise revenue with local bond measures. Districts would have been permitted to issue a higher amount of local general obligation bonds. The limit on bond amounts would have increased from 1.25 percent to 2.0 percent of assessed property value for elementary and high school districts. The limit on bond amounts would have increased from 2.5 percent to 4.0 of assessed property value for unified school districts and community college districts.[1]
In California, school districts must place local general obligation bonds on the ballot, and the bond measure must receive 55 percent of the vote to be approved.[6]
As of 2020, school districts were permitted to assess one-time fees on developments to provide funds for school construction if the district can show that the new development would bring students into the district. Proposition 13 would have prohibited school districts from levying developer fees on multifamily residential developments, such as apartment complex, within 0.5 miles of a major transit stop. For other multifamily residential developments, developer fees would have been reduced by 20 percent through January 1, 2026.[1][6]
Note: As of 2020, state law defined major transit stop as (a) an existing rail or bus rapid transit station; (b) a ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service; or (c) an intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.
Funds for higher education institutions: distribution and prioritization of bond funds for colleges and universities
Proposition 13 would have appropriated $6.0 billion to higher institutions of education, including $2.0 billion to the California State University, $2.0 billion to the University of California and Hastings College of the Law, and $2.0 billion to community colleges.[1]
Under Proposition 13, the state government would have provided bond revenue for colleges' and universities' projects as part of the annual budget act. Proposition 13 would have required the CSU Board of Trustees and the UC Regents to adopt five-year affordable student housing plans for campuses that seek bond funds.[1]
Note: Proposition 13 would have defined affordable student housing as "housing for low-income students for which the rental rate is either below the local market rate or the rent could be paid with the equivalent of 15 hours per week of federal work student wages in conjunction with financial aid."
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[6]
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Authorizes Bonds for Facility Repair, Construction, and Modernization at Public Preschools, K–12 Schools, Community Colleges, and Universities. Legislative Statute.[8] |
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Ballot summary
The ballot summary was as follows:[6]
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Fiscal impact statement
The fiscal impact statement was as follows:[6]
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Full text
The full text of the ballot initiative is below:[6]
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2020
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The California Attorney General wrote the ballot language for this measure.
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Support
Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning, also known as Yes on Prop 13, led the campaign in support of Proposition 13.[9]
Supporters
Parties
Officials
- Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)[11]
- Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D)[10]
- Superintendent Tony Thurmond (D)[12]
- Sen. Ben Allen (D-26)
- Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-32)
- Sen. Toni Atkins (D-39)
- Sen. Jim Beall (D-15)
- Sen. Bill Dodd (D-3)
- Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-24)
- Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-5)
- Sen. Steve Glazer (D-7)
- Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-33)
- Sen. Robert Hertzberg (D-18)
- Sen. Jerry Hill (D-13)
- Sen. Ben Hueso (D-40)
- Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-14)
- Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-19)
- Sen. Connie Leyva (D-20)
- Sen. Mike McGuire (D-2)
- Sen. Bill Monning (D-17)
- Sen. Richard Pan (D-6)
- Sen. Anthony Portantino, Jr. (D-25)
- Sen. Richard Roth (D-31)
- Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-9)
- Sen. Henry Stern (D-27)
- Sen. Tom Umberg (D-34)
- Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-10)
- Sen. Scott Wiener (D-11)
- Sen. Scott Wilk (R-21)
- Asm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-4)
- Asm. Marc Berman (D-24)
- Asm. Richard Bloom (D-50)
- Asm. Rob Bonta (D-18)
- Asm. Ian Calderon (D-57)
- Asm. Ed Chau (D-49)
- Asm. David Chiu (D-17)
- Asm. Kansen Chu (D-25)
- Asm. Ken Cooley (D-8)
- Asm. Jim Cooper (D-9)
- Asm. Jordan Cunningham (R-35)
- Asm. Tyler Diep (R-72)
- Asm. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-13)
- Asm. Jesse Gabriel (D-45)
- Asm. Todd Gloria (D-78)
- Asm. Tim Grayson (D-14)
- Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-59)
- Asm. Ash Kalra (D-27)
- Asm. Monique Limón (D-37)
- Asm. Evan Low (D-28)
- Asm. Jose Medina (D-61)
- Asm. Al Muratsuchi (D-66)
- Asm. Adrin Nazarian (D-46)
- Asm. Patrick O'Donnell (D-70)
- Asm. Bill Quirk (D-20)
- Asm. Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-65)
- Asm. Anthony Rendon (D-63)
- Asm. Robert Rivas (D-30)
- Asm. Miguel Santiago (D-53)
- Asm. Mark Stone (D-29)
- Asm. Phil Ting (D-19)
- Asm. Buffy Wicks (D-15)
- Asm. Jim Wood (D-2)
Organizations
- University of California Board of Regents[10]
- California Building Industry Association
- California Business Roundtable
- California Chamber of Commerce
- California Charter Schools Association[7]
- California Community College Board of Governors
- California Medical Association
- California Retired Teachers Association
- California School Boards Association
- California School Nurses Association
- California State PTA
- California State University Board of Trustees
- Community College League of California
- League of Women Voters of California
Unions
- California Federation of Teachers[10]
- California Teachers Association[10]
- California State Pipe Trades Council[7]
- Northern California Carpenters Regional Council[7]
- Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters[7]
- State Building and Construction Trades Council of California[7]
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America[7]
Arguments
- Sen. Toni Atkins (D-39), president pro tempore of the state Senate, said, "These are funds that our schools desperately need to ensure our children are learning in safe, up-to-date classrooms, and there is no better investment for our state resources than our students. This is money that will fund critical health and safety improvements, such as removing mold and asbestos from classrooms and lead from school drinking water, fund emergency relief for schools struck by disasters, and modernize career and vocational training facilities, including those for veterans returning from duty. And it comes complete with transparency, by providing annual independent audits and public hearings so taxpayers can see how the money is being spent."[13]
- Tony Thurmond (D), the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, said, "Most school districts struggle just to keep up with basic, basic maintenance and repairs. They need help from our state to be able to handle some of these larger needs that will be able to keep our kids safe and help schools deal with lead and mold and seismic needs."[12]
Opposition
Opponents
Officials
- Sen. Brian Jones (R-38)[6]
Organizations
Arguments
- Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, stated, "Currently, there are strict limits on how much bond debt local school districts are allowed to carry. But a hidden provision of Prop. 13 (2020) nearly doubles the limits school districts can borrow. This means huge increases in property taxes are a near certainty. Who pays property taxes? We all do, either directly in property tax bills or through higher rents and other costs. Unlike the Prop. 13 from 1978, this Prop. 13 puts all taxpayers at risk of higher taxes."[15]
Campaign finance
There were six ballot measure committees registered to support Proposition 13. Together, the committees raised $13.06 million and spent $12.26 million.[7]
There were no ballot measure committees registered to oppose the measure.[7]
Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Support | $12,768,607.81 | $286,761.51 | $13,055,369.32 | $11,975,792.30 | $12,262,553.81 |
Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Total | $12,768,607.81 | $286,761.51 | $13,055,369.32 | $11,975,792.30 | $12,262,553.81 |
Support
The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of Proposition 13.[7]
Committees in support of Proposition 13 | |||||
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Committee | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures |
Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning, Yes on Prop 13 | $10,204,983.00 | $276,264.66 | $10,481,247.66 | $10,106,901.00 | $10,383,165.66 |
Californians for Quality Schools | $1,113,984.38 | $0.00 | $1,113,984.38 | $943,524.24 | $943,524.24 |
Yes on Proposition 13 - California Coalition for Public Higher Education Issues Committee | $761,880.18 | $0.00 | $761,880.18 | $694,105.00 | $694,105.00 |
Coalition for Adequate School Housing Issues Committee - Yes on 13 | $414,608.98 | $9,096.85 | $423,705.83 | $159,547.72 | $168,644.57 |
Community College Facility Coalition Issues Committee - Yes on 13 | $243,751.27 | $1,400.00 | $245,151.27 | $58,656.71 | $60,056.71 |
Citizens for a Strong Economy & Safe Schools, Yes on Prop 13; Patrick O'Donnell Ballot Measure Committee | $29,400.00 | $0.00 | $29,400.00 | $13,057.63 | $13,057.63 |
Total | $12,768,607.81 | $286,761.51 | $13,055,369.32 | $11,975,792.30 | $12,262,553.81 |
Donors
The following were the top five donors who contributed to the support committees.[7]
Donor | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions |
---|---|---|---|
California Teachers Association Issues PAC | $1,000,000.00 | $0.00 | $1,000,000.00 |
SEIU California State Council Issues Committee | $500,000.00 | $0.00 | $500,000.00 |
California Charter Schools Association | $400,137.42 | $0.00 | $400,137.42 |
Five Point Holdings, LLC and Affiliated Entities | $350,000.00 | $0.00 | $350,000.00 |
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America | $334,000.00 | $0.00 | $334,000.00 |
Methodology
To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.
Media editorials
- See also: 2020 ballot measure media endorsements
Ballotpedia identified the following media editorial boards as taking positions on the ballot measure. If you are aware of a media editorial board position that is not listed below, please email the editorial link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Support
- Chico Enterprise-Record: "But this proposition is just a $15 billion school bond, although it does have a few differences from your run of the mill school bond. We’re going to endorse it because of one of those quirks. The bulk of the money — $9 billion — goes to K-12 schools. But it’s not dumped into a single mosh pit for new construction that favors well-off districts able to hire deft grant writers. The measure steers $5.2 billion of that $9 billion toward modernization of existing schools, with things like dealing with lead in water systems and asbestos specifically mentioned in the law’s language. These are critical priorities for the state’s children, and there are many small districts that wouldn’t be able to to take those steps without support."[16]
- Los Angeles Times: "Proposition 13 on the March ballot – ignore the iconic number, it’s just a coincidence – was written to avoid the problems of previous bonds, and it deserves passage. ... California schools already are underfunded compared with other states. The minimum that voters can do is ensure that students attend schools that are safe and modern, reflecting California’s commitment to education, perhaps the state’s most important investment."[17]
- San Francisco Chronicle: "A well-educated workforce is essential to California’s future economy — and bringing the state’s many substandard school facilities is critical to creating a learning environment. This is a big investment, but it is a wise investment. We recommend a yes vote on Proposition 13.”[18]
- The Sacramento Bee: "Prop. 13 is more than new funding for school capital projects. It reforms how funding is spent and lowers fees for the dense housing development California critically needs. The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board supports Proposition 13 and encourages you to do the same."[19]
Opposition
- The Mercury News: "In other words, owners of existing homes would be called on to finance more of the school construction needed for new homes. While Prop. 13 might make some homes near transit slightly more affordable, assuming developers pass on the savings to buyers and renters, it would drive up the cost of housing for existing homeowners, especially in communities that are growing and adding more students to their schools. Many of those homeowners already pay hundreds of dollars annually in property taxes to cover the cost of past school construction measures."[20]
- The Orange County Register: "Yet this is no ordinary school-construction bond. In addition to creating state debt, it has a hidden and pernicious provision that raises the debt limit for local districts. School districts have repeatedly asked voters to approve facilities bonds – so much so that many school districts have bumped up against state-imposed caps on local indebtedness. ... We urge voters to embody the spirit of the original Prop. 13 and halt this endless spending cycle – and thereby force state and local officials to do a better job budgeting the money they already have."[21]
- The San Diego Union-Tribune: "With more bond money available, school board members who already face constant pressure to boost employee pay will keep eyeing borrowed money for day-to-day bills. That shouldn’t happen. Californians should send a message to the state Capitol and require responsible budgeting. Vote no on Proposition 13."[22]
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
California Proposition 13, School and College Facilities Bond (March 2020) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Support | Oppose | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
PPIC (likely voters) 2/7/2020 - 2/17/2020 | 51.0% | 42.0% | 8.0% | +/-4.4 | 1,046 | ||||||||||||||
PPIC (likely voters) 1/3/2020 - 1/12/2020 | 53.0% | 36.0% | 10.0% | +/-4.6 | 967 | ||||||||||||||
PPIC (likely voters) 11/3/2019 - 11/12/2019 | 48.0% | 36.0% | 16.0% | +/-4.3 | 1,008 | ||||||||||||||
PPIC (likely voters) 9/16/2019 - 9/25/2019 | 54.0% | 40.0% | 6.0% | +/-4.2 | 1,031 | ||||||||||||||
AVERAGES | 51.5% | 38.5% | 10% | +/-4.38 | 1,013 | ||||||||||||||
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. |
Background
Bond issues on the ballot in California
- See also: Bond issues on the ballot
Californians cast ballots on 43 bond issues, totaling $173.656 billion in value, from January 1, 1993, through January 1, 2019. Voters approved 32 (74 percent) of the bond measures—a total of $151.174 billion. Eight of the measures were citizen's initiatives, and five of the eight citizen-initiated bonds were approved. The legislature referred 35 bond measures to the ballot, and 27 of 35 legislative referrals were approved. The most common purpose of a bond measure during the 25 years between 1993 and 2018 was water infrastructure, for which there were nine bond measures.
Click show to expand the bond revenue table.
Year | Measure | Amount | Primary purpose | Origin | Outcome |
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1993 | Proposition 173 | $185 million | Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
1994 | Proposition 180 | $2 billion | Parks | Initiative | ![]() |
1994 | Proposition 181 | $1 billion | Transportation | Legislature | ![]() |
1994 | Proposition 1A | $2 billion | Disasters | Legislature | ![]() |
1994 | Proposition 1B | $1 billion | K-12 education | Legislature | ![]() |
1994 | Proposition 1C | $900 million | Higher education | Legislature | ![]() |
1996 | Proposition 192 | $2 billion | Disasters | Legislature | ![]() |
1996 | Proposition 203 | $3 billion | K-12 education | Legislature | ![]() |
1996 | Proposition 204 | $995 million | Environment; Water infrastructure | Legislature | ![]() |
1996 | Proposition 205 | $700 million | Jails | Legislature | ![]() |
1996 | Proposition 206 | $400 million | Veterans; Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
1998 | Proposition 1A | $9.2 billion | K-12 education; Higher education | Legislature | ![]() |
2000 | Proposition 12 | $2.1 billion | Environment; Water infrastructure | Legislature | ![]() |
2000 | Proposition 13 | $1.97 billion | Water infrastructure | Legislature | ![]() |
2000 | Proposition 14 | $350 million | Libraries | Legislature | ![]() |
2000 | Proposition 15 | $220 million | Crime labs | Legislature | ![]() |
2000 | Proposition 16 | $50 million | Veterans; Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
2000 | Proposition 32 | $500 million | Veterans; Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
2002 | Proposition 40 | $2.6 billion | Parks; Environment | Legislature | ![]() |
2002 | Proposition 41 | $200 million | Voting systems | Legislature | ![]() |
2002 | Proposition 46 | $2.1 billion | Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
2002 | Proposition 47 | $13.05 billion | K-12 education | Legislature | ![]() |
2002 | Proposition 50 | $3.44 billion | Water infrastructure | Initiative | ![]() |
2004 | Proposition 55 | $12.3 billion | K-12 education; Higher education | Legislature | ![]() |
2004 | Proposition 57 | $15 billion | Deficit | Legislature | ![]() |
2004 | Proposition 61 | $750 million | Hospitals | Initiative | ![]() |
2006 | Proposition 1B | $19.925 billion | Transportation | Legislature | ![]() |
2006 | Proposition 1C | $2.85 billion | Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
2006 | Proposition 1D | $10.416 billion | K-12 education; Higher education | Legislature | ![]() |
2006 | Proposition 1E | $4.09 billion | Water infrastructure | Legislature | ![]() |
2006 | Proposition 81 | $600 million | Libraries | Legislature | ![]() |
2006 | Proposition 84 | $5.388 billion | Water infrastructure | Legislature | ![]() |
2008 | Proposition 10 | $5 billion | Energy | Initiative | ![]() |
2008 | Proposition 12 | $900 million | Veterans; Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
2008 | Proposition 1A | $9.95 billion | Transportation | Legislature | ![]() |
2008 | Proposition 32 | $980 million | Hospitals | Initiative | ![]() |
2014 | Proposition 1 | $7.12 billion | Water infrastructure | Legislature | ![]() |
2014 | Proposition 41 | $600 million | Veterans; Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
2016 | Proposition 51 | $9 billion | K-12 education; Higher education | Initiative | ![]() |
2018 | Proposition 1 | $4 billion | Veterans; Housing | Legislature | ![]() |
2018 | Proposition 3 | $8.877 billion | Environment; Water infrastructure | Initiative | ![]() |
2018 | Proposition 4 | $1.5 billion | Hospitals | Initiative | ![]() |
2018 | Proposition 68 | $4 billion | Parks; Environment; Water infrastructure | Legislature | ![]() |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Authorizing bonds in California
Section 1 of Article XVI of the California Constitution requires that general obligation bond issues of $300,000 or more be referred to voters for approval or rejection.
A two-thirds vote is required in both chambers of the California State Legislature to place a bond issue on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 54 votes in the California State Assembly and 27 votes in the California State Senate, assuming no vacancies. In California, bond issues require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The bond act was introduced into the legislature as Assembly Bill 48 (AB 48) on December 3, 2018. The original version of AB 48 included two bond measures, one for the election on March 3, 2020, and one for the election on November 8, 2022. Both of the proposed bond measures addressed school and college facilities. Legislators amended AB 48 to include just one bond measure, which was named the Public Preschool, K-12, and College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2020.[1]
The final version of AB 48 came up for a vote in the state Senate on September 13, 2019, and in the state Assembly on September 14, 2019. The state Senate voted 35-4. The state Assembly voted 78-1.[1]
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed AB 48 on October 7, 2019, which placed the bond measure on the ballot.[1] Gov. Newsom said, "We are back asking the voters yet again to do what they historically have always done, and that is to embrace our children and embrace their fate and future and do more to do justice to the cause of public education in the state of California."[23]
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in California
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in California.
How to cast a vote in California | |||||
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Poll timesAll polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[24] Registration
To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.[25] Automatic registrationCalifornia automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website. Online registration
California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registrationCalifornia allows same-day voter registration. Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a location designated by their county elections official during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.[26][27] Residency requirementsTo register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Verification of citizenshipCalifornia's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.[26] As of November 2024, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.[28] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[29] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirementsCalifornia does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases. On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.[30] The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.[31] These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.
The following list of accepted ID to comply with HAVA requirements was current as of October 2025. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.
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See also
External links
Measure
Support
- Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning
- Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning (Facebook)
- Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning (Twitter)
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 48," accessed June 6, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning," March 11, 2020
- ↑ Asm. Patrick O'Donnell, "O’Donnell Bill Will End the Use of Proposition 13 for Ballot Measures," March 4, 2020
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Prop. 13 school bond measure appears headed for defeat. How did that happen?" March 5, 2020
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Column: Proposition 13 appears headed for a fall. Here’s why voters might have rejected it," March 9, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 California Secretary of State, "California Presidential Primary Election March 3, 2020, Official Voter Guide," accessed January 22, 2020
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 Cal-Access, "Propositions & Ballot Measures," accessed January 23, 2020
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Californians for Safe and Healthy Learning, "Homepage," accessed January 22, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Californians for Safe Schools and Healthy Learning, "Supporters," accessed January 22, 2020
- ↑ EdSource, "$15 billion California school bond headed for March ballot with Newsom’s signature," October 7, 2019
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Cap Radio, "California’s Lone March Ballot Measure: A $15 Billion School Bond With A Confusing Name," February 7, 2020
- ↑ YubaNet.com, "Atkins, Senate Leaders Praise Signing of $15 Billion Education Construction Bond," October 7, 2019
- ↑ EdSource, "For better or worse, school construction bond on March 2020 ballot will be Prop. 13," November 7, 2019
- ↑ Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, "Hidden agenda in masquerading big bond measure," November 24, 2019
- ↑ Chico Enterprise-Record, "This version of Proposition 13 warrants a ‘yes’," January 29, 2020
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Endorsement: Yes on Proposition 13 for school upgrades," February 11, 2020
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, “Editorial: Yes on California Prop. 13,” January 26, 2020
- ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "California ballot measure brings fairness to school bonds. It deserves your vote in March," February 5, 2020
- ↑ The Mercury News, "Editorial: Reject Prop. 13, California’s $15 billion school bond plan," February 9, 2020
- ↑ The Orange County Register, "The latest Prop. 13 is bad for taxpayers. Vote No on March 3," February 2, 2020
- ↑ The San Diego Union-Tribune, "Endorsement: Vote no on Proposition 13 school bond measure," February 19, 2020
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "Californians will vote on biggest-ever school construction bond in 2020," October 7, 2019
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Section 3: Polling Place Hours," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 California Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration)," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ SF.gov, "Non-citizen voting rights in local Board of Education elections," accessed November 14, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "California Governor Signs Law to Ban Local Voter ID Requirements," September 30, 2024
- ↑ Congress, "H.R.3295 - Help America Vote Act of 2002," accessed September 30, 2025
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