With the presidential general election less than four months
away, I’m starting to turn my attention to the statewide
initiatives that will be on this November’s ballot. So far, a dozen
propositions have qualified for the general election ballot, with
one more possible addition, pending a count of submitted
signatures.
With the presidential general election less than four months away, I’m starting to turn my attention to the statewide initiatives that will be on this November’s ballot. So far, a dozen propositions have qualified for the general election ballot, with one more possible addition, pending a count of submitted signatures.
Unless you want to be a “low-information voter,” it’s not too soon to begin studying the pros and cons of the statewide propositions that will be on the general election ballot.
What’s a low-information voter? Blogger Mike Pontillo defines them as “… individuals who are not knowledgeable and vote anyway. The term ‘low-information voter,’ in political discourse, sounds better than the word ‘idiot.'”
Blogger Kevin Field has a slightly different take, explaining that low-information voters “… rely on talk radio and less-than-factual hearsay from friends and family members to shape their political decisions.”
Whichever definition you prefer, start learning about the issues now so that you can cast an educated ballot on Nov. 4.
The qualified statewide propositions cover issues ranging from the treatment of farm animals to an attempt to ban same-sex marriage. Voters will be asked to approve bonds to fund a high-speed train system, renewable and alternative energy research and incentives, home-purchase programs for veterans and construction and renovation of children’s hospitals. You can review all of the propositions at the California Secretary of State’s Web site at www.sos.ca.gov. Click the ballot measures link below the Elections heading, then click the Qualified for 2008 general link on the next page.
When ballots are finalized, more information will be available on the Smart Voter Web site at www.smartvoter.org.
Even now, however, it’s clear that the general election ballot will feature quite a crop of propositions. I haven’t decided how I’ll vote on most of the measures, but one proposition in particular has me especially torn. It’s Proposition 11, a redistricting reform proposal from the League of Women Voters.
I’ve been writing in favor of redistricting reform for years. With the current system, legislators draw districts for the state Senate, state Assembly, and House of Representatives following each census. Instead of creating compact districts made up of communities with shared interests, legislators draw sprawling, oddly shaped districts that ensure that the same political party will continue to hold each district.
Here’s what I wrote in 2006: “California’s system is so broken that it’s rare for a state or congressional legislative seat to change hands. In fact, the Los Angeles Times reported that in (the November 2006) election, ‘a third of legislative candidates won their races with 70 percent or more of the vote.’ With seats that ridiculously safe, legislators don’t have to be responsive to constituents, in large part because they don’t have to compete in tough races against viable candidates.”
You’d think that I’d be all for Prop 11, but it has a serious flaw: It only reforms redistricting for the state legislators. It exempts the powerful House of Representatives. Just as with Prop 99, which was faux eminent domain reform, I worry that Prop 11 might be faux redistricting reform. Because Prop 99 passed, the pressure to pass real eminent domain reform – a measure that applies to all real property, not just owner-occupied property; a measure that isn’t full of loopholes and exemptions – evaporated.
Similarly, if Prop 11 passes, I worry that the pressure to pass real redistricting reform.
I’ll study Prop 11 closely to decide if exempting Congressional districts is an acceptable compromise or not. It won’t be an easy decision. But wherever I land on Prop 11, I’ll do it after reviewing reams of reliable information – because the last thing I want to be called is a low-information voter.
