Aside from voting for a president and vice president in the election this November, we also have the responsibility of voting on propositions. Propositions are measures or proposed legislation for voters to decide. This year, there are 12 propositions for us to vote on in California and it’s super important to learn about them in advance!
Prop 14: Borrowing for stem cell research
- Voting YES: allow for $5.5 billion funds to fund stem cell research
- Voting NO: $5.5 billion funds is not given
Prop 15: Split Roll
- Voting YES: tax some commercial property based on its market value, resulting in increased funding for schools and local government
- Voting NO: property taxes do not change
Prop 16: Ending the ban on affirmative action
- Voting YES: allow schools and public agencies to take “diversity” into account
- Voting NO: Ban on affirmative action remains in effect
Prop 17: Restoring the right to vote for people on parole
- Voting YES: allow Californians to vote if they are currently on parole
- Voting NO: people on parole will not be able to vote
Prop 18: Allowing certain 17-year-olds to vote
- Voting YES: allow 17-year-old U.S. citizens to vote in a primary and special election if they turn 18 by the general election
- Voting NO: no one under the age of 18 can vote.
Prop 19: Property tax breaks
- Voting YES: allow all homeowners who are over 55, disabled, or victims of natural disaster eligibility for property tax savings
- Voting NO: all inherited properties remain eligible
Prop 20: Rolling back Brown-era “leniency”
- Voting YES: allow prosecutors to charge repeated or organized petty thefts as a felony
- Voting NO: no changes.
Prop 21: Rent Control
- Voting YES: allow cities to introduce new rent control laws or expand on existing ones
- Voting NO: no changes
Prop 22: Self-employment for ride hails or app-based drivers
- Voting YES: drivers would be independent contractors and therefore exempt from standard working wages and hour restrictions from companies like Lyft, Uber, etc.
- Voting NO: less work flexibility but receive standard benefits
Prop 23: Regulating dialysis clinics
- Voting YES: have at least one physician on-site at all times in dialysis clinics
- Voting NO: no changes
Prop 24: Stronger consumer privacy laws
- Voting YES: strengthen California’s current privacy laws
- Voting NO: gave individuals more control over their data
Prop 25: Ditch or keep cash bail
- Voting YES: judges have the right to determine if someone who is arrested should be kept behind bars as they await trial
- Voting NO: no changes to the bail system
While this is easily digestible information, please do further research on these propositions before casting your vote. Keep in mind which groups support certain propositions and why that may be. Here is another unbiased, more comprehensive guide, filled with accessible information you can check out as well!: 2020 Ballot Measures.
Good luck and GO VOTE!