SB 202: Will More or Less People Vote in November?
Since the last minute passage of SB 202, the legislation that will move all initiatives and referenda to the November ballot, proponents have been arguing that the change would result in more people voting on initiatives and referenda. Although statistics show that more people vote in the November general election than the June Primary, there […]
First Step for California: Admit There’s a Problem
Cross-posted at NewGeography. The October 29, 2009 issue of Time Magazine had an article titled “Why California is America’s Future.” I sure hope not. California is fast becoming a post-industrial hell for almost everyone except the gentry class, their best servants, and the public sector. We only need a few numbers to demonstrate that California […]
Should The State Reimburse Initiative Proponents for Valid Signatures?
As Californians assess direct democracy on our system’s 100 birthday, one criticism echoes from across the political spectrum: access to the system is limited because qualifying ballot initiatives, referenda, and recalls is such a costly process. Solutions to this problem are being discussed. Some argue that permitting electronic signature gathering would reduce costs. Others suggest […]