NOVEMBER BALLOT MEASURE RESULTS
Three Bond Measures Pass
The three bond measures we supported all gained voter approval, and more easily than most observers had expected. There were fears that the uncertain state of the economy might discourage voters from supporting three bond measures at this time. Voters apparently believed, as we did, that the long-term needs addressed by the measures for education, housing, and water could not be put off in the face of ever increasing needs.
Proposition 49 - A Loss, but Also a Gain
To no one's surprise, including ours, Proposition 49 won comfortably. We started our campaign in opposition with no money and no support, the classic lone voice crying in the wilderness. We were outspent on the order of $1000 to $1. But by the election, we had attracted a long list of supporters, a near sweep of editorial endorsements, and a lot of praise for taking on the issue and statements that it confirmed the credibility of our organization. We clearly narrowed the measure's winning margin by a substantial degree. The campaign also gave us an opportunity to raise the issue of earmarked funds, which will play a role in our advocacy on the budget in the upcoming year.
Proposition 51 Defeated
Proposition 51, the transportation-related measure which had the same drawback as Prop 49 of taking General Fund money out of the budget process, did go down to defeat even though proponents far outspent the opposition. We were active in that campaign, but the main burden was carried by the California Tax Reform Association. Still, our help in drafting and signing the ballot argument and participating in editorial board meetings was significant in getting the opposition to the measure off the ground.
Proposition 52 Loses
Election Day Voter Registration lost despite a vigorous and reasonably well-funded campaign. It failed to gain the support of most election officials, who worried about implementation problems, and the opposition continued to raise the specter of fraud, even though the states that already have it have not experienced serious problems. The discouraging voter turnout numbers, however, do mean that there will be continuing public debate about this and other ways to try to turn those numbers around, and we will undoubtedly be part of that discussion.
--The League of Women Voters of California
