Thursday was the deadline for any propositions to quality for the November 2nd ballot. When all was said and done, California ended up with ten that will surely be debated over the coming months.
From Marijuana to Air Pollution, Californians to Vote on 10 Props in November Election
1.6 Million California Ballots Remain to be Counted
Uncounted absentee and provisional ballots across the state--estimated to be around 1.6 million--must be counted by December 2. LA County officials say around 566,000 ballots remain uncounted while other counties in Southern California estimate a combined total of around 421,000. When all is said an done, could any of the close races turn around?
Anti-Abortion Measure Voted Down for Third Time
Proposition 4, which would have required doctors to notify the parents of minors seeking abortions, was voted down yesterday 52.3% to 47.7%. The breakdown in Los Angeles County was 53.6% (no) to 46.4% (yes).
LAist on the Propositions and Other Voter Guides
Whether you're sitting in front of your absentee ballot or you're readying yourself for voting in person on November, you're looking at national and local elections as well as a slew of California ballot propositions -- 12 to be exact. Well, over the course of this election cycle, LAist writers have posted about 10 of the 12 propositions. We present to you our posts on each proposition, for a more empowered decision on your part. In addition, we provide links to several voter guides put together by California organizations, for your perusal.
State Budget Headache
Mark Paul, former deputy treasurer of California, among other things, has a good point about all the money-spending initiatives on this November's ballot. "In a little-noticed report, Treasurer Bill Lockyer projected last year that, at current tax levels, California will not be able to pay for its existing programs and its debt service at any time in the next two decades if voters keep approving bonds at the same rate as they have over the last 20 years." There are six props (1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10) that would effect the budget at the tune of "$2.7 billion a year in bond debt service and direct state spending," all without any way to pay for them. If a 13th one is added, which would be a water bond, that number jumps to beyond $3 billion.
City Propositions on Gangs & Housing
There are state propositions (like Prop 7, Prop 10, Prop 8, etc) and there are county measures like the could-be Measure R that's about transportation funding. Then there are citywide propositions, which will be worked on today by City Council members in a Ballot Simplification Committee Meeting today (.pdf). What they're working on are two items to look out for on the November ballot, Propositions A and B, or the "Special Gang and Youth Violence Prevention, After-School and Job Training Programs Tax" and "Update of Low Rent Housing Authorization," respectively.
Rounding Up the State Props
As it stands right now, in November, we vote on 12 state propositions, which is quite a handful for our minds to wrap around. But it's nothing compared to the 47 state props Californians had to deal with back in the 1914 general election (should boxing be outlawed on Memorial Day?). The Santa Barbara Independent has nicely collated and summarized each prop under their proper categories:
Big Election Year, Big Prop Year
As it gets closer to the November election, more and more propositions are being qualified for the ballot. Most notably is Prop. 8 (pdf), something that's been talked about for a couple months now. It's the state constitution amendment change that would limit marriage in California, effectively stopping the same-sex marriages that have just begun.
Few LA Precincts Reporting: Prop 98 Losing, Prop 99 Ahead
With 1% (59) of Los Angeles County precincts reporting, Proposition 98 was losing and Proposition 99 was winning within the county.
Vote to Preserve Tenants Rights and Rent Control Today (No on Prop 98)
Today will be historic. Throngs of voters will get out and vote NO on Proposition 98, a not thinly veiled attempt to destroy rent control and tenants rights. Of note, Los Angeles has the highest average rents (over $1500) of any city in the Western United States -- even higher than San Francisco. In what direction will allowing the passage of Proposition 98 lead us?
Super Tuesday California Proposition Brush-up
The day has finally come. And if you didn't do your homework, you still have some time study.
LAist Guide to the Primary: Proposition S
We all know that in five days Californians go to the polls to decide the fate of this state, this country and the world. That gross overstatement seems fitting given the coverage and verbage some are using to describe the upcoming Primary.
Taxifornia Has No Money
Los Angeles is $75 million in the red and the state is using the same colored crayon at $14 billion. And where's the Mayor? He's spending a lot of time with Hillary Clinton.

