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San Francisco, California, Proposition C, Member of City Body Eligibility Requirements Charter Amendment (November 2020)
| San Francisco Proposition C | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2020 | |
| Topic City governance and Local charter amendments | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
San Francisco Proposition C was on the ballot as a referral in San Francisco on November 3, 2020. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported amending the city charter to remove the requirement that individuals serving on city boards, commissions, and advisory bodies must be U.S. citizens and registered voters, while still requiring those individuals to be of legal voting age and San Francisco residents. |
A “no” vote opposed amending the city charter to remove the requirement that individuals serving on city boards, commissions, and advisory bodies must be U.S. citizens and registered voters, while still requiring those individuals to be of legal voting age and San Francisco residents. |
A simple majority was required for the approval of Proposition C.
Election results
|
San Francisco Proposition C |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
226,148 | 54.10% | ||
| No | 191,898 | 45.90% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ | Shall the City amend the Charter to remove the requirement that people serving on City boards, commissions and advisory bodies be registered voters and U.S. citizens, and continue to require those people be old enough to vote in City elections and be San Francisco residents?[2] | ” |
Ballot simplification digest
The following summary of the measure was prepared by the office of the Ballot Simplification Committee:
| “ | The Way It Is Now: The City government includes many boards, commissions and advisory bodies (City Bodies). In general, City Bodies are created through either the City Charter (Charter) or by ordinance.
People who serve on City Bodies created through the Charter must be registered to vote in San Francisco, unless the Charter sets a different rule. People who serve on City Bodies created by ordinance are required to be registered to vote in San Francisco, unless: • The Board of Supervisors has removed the requirement for that specific City Body; or • The public official making the appointment to a City Body waives the San Francisco residency requirement because a qualified San Francisco resident could not be found. People who serve on all City Bodies, whether created through the Charter or ordinance, must be U.S. citizens. The Proposal: Proposition C is a Charter amendment that would remove the requirement that a person be a registered voter and a U.S. citizen to serve on any City Body. Proposition C would continue to require that people serving on City Bodies be old enough to vote in City elections and be San Francisco residents, unless the Charter or ordinance sets a different rule for a particular City Body. For City Bodies created through ordinance, Proposition C would continue to allow these requirements to be waived if a person meeting them cannot be found. A 'YES' Vote Means: If you vote 'yes,' you want to amend the City Charter to remove the requirement that people serving on City boards, commissions and advisory bodies be registered voters and U.S. citizens, and will continue to require people be old enough to vote in City elections and be San Francisco residents. A 'NO' Vote Means: If you vote 'no,' you do not want to make this change.[2] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
- San Francisco Board of Supervisors[1]
- San Francisco Democratic Party[1]
- United Educators of San Francisco[1]
- Libertarian Party of San Francisco[1]
- San Francisco Latino Democratic Club[1]
- San Francisco Latinx Young Democrats[1]
- Chicano Latino Caucus, California Democratic Party[1]
- La Raza Community Resource Center[1]
- LGBT Asylum Project[1]
- Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club[1]
- Alice Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club[1]
- Longshore Warehouse Workers Union, Local 10[1]
- League Of Women Voters Of San Francisco[3]
- San Francisco League Of Conservation Voters[3]
- San Francisco Women's Political Committee[3]
Official arguments
The official arguments in support of Proposition C were authored by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, San Francisco Democratic Party, and United Educators of San Francisco:[1]
| “ |
YES on C: Commissions for ALL! San Francisco is the home and sanctuary to people from all walks of life. Our city commissions should reflect the diverse population, but it currently does not. People of color on boards and commissions have decreased every year since 2015 and Asian Pacific Islanders, Latinx, African Americans, Women, and LGBTQ San Francisco residents are still underrepresented. YES on C: Commissions for ALL will give ALL San Franciscans, regardless of immigration status, a voice, representation and equal rights to serve on boards and commissions. YES on C: Commissions for ALL will expand San Francisco's law to align with California's existing law to allow ALL residents, regardless of immigration status, to serve on California's local and state boards and commissions. Our democratic values are upheld when our government has equal and equitable representation. Expanding membership of commissions and boards to every San Franciscan will help the City to better deliver services. These diverse lived experiences will help create and review public policy that supports and protects all people. Yes on C: Commissions for ALL was co-sponsored and submitted to the ballot unanimously by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Please join ALL of us and vote Yes on C: Commissions for ALL![2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
- San Francisco Republican Party[1]
Arguments
- San Francisco Republican Party said, "We would not be submitting this argument to oppose the measure if the authors had simply crafted the proposition to include both citizens and other legal residents. Instead, this measure also includes non-legal residents. We still believe the best way for immigrants to take advantage of the full benefits of our nation is to acquire U.S. citizenship."[1]
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
- San Francisco Bay Guardian: “San Francisco has a large population of people who are engaged in civic affairs, work and live in neighborhoods that are impacted by public policy – but have no right to participate even as commission members. Prop. C is a charter amendment that would allow people who are not US citizens to serve on local commissions. It’s a long-overdue idea. Vote yes."[4]
- Bay Area Reporter: "This charter amendment would greatly benefit all San Franciscans. Prop C would remove the requirements that city residents applying for boards and commissions be U.S. citizens and registered to vote. Instead, people will have to be San Francisco residents of legal voting age. This will open up the process so that more people are eligible to participate in civic government. The views of immigrants are vitally important for many city agencies, and they should have representation on those bodies. This would allow queer immigrants, for example, to be involved in the government of their adopted city. It will also expand the San Francisco law to align with California's existing law to allow all state residents, regardless of immigration status, to serve on California's local and state boards and commissions. Vote YES on Prop C."[5]
Opposition
- San Francisco Chronicle: “San Francisco is an immigrant-heavy city, so why not let noncitizens serve on the city’s amplitude of some 100 boards, panels and task forces? Inclusion is especially important given White House hostility and California’s efforts to protect immigrants. Those are appealing ideas. But citizenship is a reasonable requirement to vote or serve in city positions. Vote No.”[6]
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through an 11-0 vote of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on June 23, 2020.[1]
See also
External links
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 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 San Francisco Elections Office, "Qualified Local and District Measures," accessed October 12, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 California Choices, "San Francisco Ballot Endorsements," accessed October 20, 2020
- ↑ San Francisco Bay Guardian, "Endorsements Fall 2020," October 1, 2020
- ↑ Bay Area Reporter, "Editorial: Vote yes on all SF props," September 23, 2020
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, “Editorial: San Francisco ballot recommendations cover taxes, housekeeping and social change.,” October 6, 2020
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