Are you ready for election day? The big day is only a few weeks away, and chances are there are many voters who don’t understand one or more of the propositions they will see on their ballot.
Prop Zero: The Dangers of Saying Yes
Here to help you is a guide to understanding the nine propositions to be voted on this year. This information is from the Secretary of State's office:
Proposition 19: Allows citizens 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use. This would still be illegal under federal law. It permits local governments to regulate and tax commercial production, distribution and sale.
Proposition 20: Removes elected representatives from process of establishing congressional districts and transfers that authority to recently-commissioned 14-member redistricting commission comprised of both Democrats and Republicans as well as independent representatives.
Proposition 21: Adds a $18 surcharge to motor vehicle registration fees. The additional funds would be used to provide funding to state parks and wildlife conservation programs. Vehicles that this fee applies to would receive free parking and admission to all state parks.
Proposition 22: Prohibits the state from borrowing or delaying the distribution of funds used for transportation, redevelopment, or local government projects and services.
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Proposition 23: Suspends Assembly Bill 32 which requires major sources of emissions to reduce and report greenhouse gas emissions that could cause global warming, until the unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or less for a full year.
Proposition 24: Repeals recent laws that allow business to lower their tax liability. If this passes, higher taxes paid by businesses would increase state revenues by about $1.3 billion by 2012-13.
Proposition 25: Changes the voting requirement from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority for budget and budget related legislation. Legislation involving taxes would continue to be a two-thirds majority.
Proposition 26: Increases the definition of taxes to include many payments, which are now called taxes and fees. As a result, more proposals would require a two-thirds majority to pass.
Proposition 27: Eliminates 14-member redistricting commission established in 2008. Consolidates authority for establishing state Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization districts with elected representatives who draw congressional districts.
NOTE- Proposition 20 and 27 on this ballot also concerns redistricting issues. If both Proposition 27and Proposition 20 are approved by voters, the proposition receiving the greater number of "yes" votes would be the only one to go into effect.
For more information on these propositions, and any other information on the upcoming election, please visit California's Official Voter Information Guide
