It’s that time of the magical electoral voting season! Some individuals in California are not aware of one of the most important things in allowing our state to run smoothly. Besides voting in who we would like serving in our government, we can also vote on propositions. Propositions are also known as ‘ballot measures.’ They are proposed legislations that may be induced into our government if enough voters vote ‘yes’ or if a large number of individual’s vote ‘no’. Propositions differ in every state. For example, California has 11 (9 was removed from the ballot by order of the California Supreme Court) proposed propositions. Now, let’s dive into learning about our proposed 12 props!

Proposition 1: Authorizes the state to sell of $4 billion dollars in general obligation bonds to help make affordable housing and home loans more available for low-income residents.

Who would this affect: Low-income residents, veterans, elderly, etc.

Breakdown: General obligation bonds are municipal bonds created by a state as a pledge to use legally available resources. Individuals receiving a low income will be able to find more affordable homes.

What your vote means:

Yes: Allows the state to sell $4 billion dollars in general obligation bonds dedicated to funding affordable housing.

No: The state will not sell $4 billion dollars in general obligation bonds dedicated to funding affordable housing.

Proposition 2: Approves bonds to fund current housing programs for individuals with mental illness. These bonds would go towards funding housing for homeless individuals with mental illnesses.

Who would this affect: Individuals with mental illnesses

Breakdown: This will change the Mental Health Services Act to supply organizations such as No Place Like Home Program, a program that helps individuals with mental illness find housing.

What your vote means:

Yes: The state can use existing funds to pay for housing for homeless individuals with mental illness.

No: The state’s ability to use existing funds to pay for housing for homeless individuals with mental illness would depend on future decisions made by the court.

Proposition 3: Allows $8.877 billion in general obligation bonds to fund projects to sustain wildlife and the quality of water.

Who would this affect: wildlife, people

Breakdown: Projects that are proposed to be funded would help with sustaining water supply and quality, water conveyance, watershed, wildlife, fish, and groundwater sustainability and storage.

What your vote means:

Yes: The state will have the ability to sell $8.9 billion bonds to support environmental projects.

No: The state will not have the ability to sell $8.9 billion bonds to support environmental projects.

Proposition 4: Authorizes the state to sell $1.5 billion dollars in bonds to supply qualifying children’s hospital with funds for construction, expansion, and renovation to better treat patients.

Who would this affect: Patients at qualifying children’s hospitals.

Breakdown: Certain children’s hospitals will be given the necessary funds for construction, expansion, and renovation to better treat pediatric patients.

What your vote means:

Yes: Allows the state to sell $1.5 billion in general obligation bonds dedicated to better treating pediatric patients.

No: Does not allow the state to sell $1.5 billion in general obligation bonds dedicated to better treating pediatric patients.

Proposition 5: Changes the requirement for specific property owners to transfer their property tax base to replacement property.

Who would this affect: Homeowners over 55, severely disabled homeowners, individuals owning contaminated or disaster-destroyed property

Breakdown: Disposes of specific transfer requirements for homeowners over 55, contaminated or disaster-destroyed property, and severely disabled homeowners.

What your vote means:

Yes: All qualifying homeowners will be eligible for property tax savings when they come to a different home.

No: Certain homeowners will continue to be eligible for property tax savings when they come to a different home.

Proposition 6: Would repeal fees and transportation law’s taxes specifically set aside for public transportation and road repairs.

Who would this affect: drivers, road construction workers

Breakdown: This proposition would remove transportation and road repair funding.

What your vote means:

Yes: Taxes recently passed would be ousted, causing reduced funding for highway road maintenance and repairs and transit programs. In the future, a majority of voters would be required to approve new or increased state fuel and vehicle taxes.

No: Taxes recently passed will continue to stay in action.In the future, a majority of voters will not be required to approve new or increased state fuel and vehicle taxes.

Proposition 7: Would cause California daylight saving time to comply with federal law.

Who would this affect: citizens

Breakdown: This would cause daylight saving time period to be changed by the legislature.

What your vote means:

Yes: With a two-thirds vote, the Legislature, can alter daylight saving time if the change is allowed by the federal government.

No: California will continue its current daylight saving time period

Proposition 8: Would regulate the amount of money that kidney dialysis clinics charge patients for their treatments.

Who would this affect: kidney dialysis patients

Breakdown: The amount of money that kidney dialysis would cost will be limited by a formula.

What your vote means:

Yes: Clinics will have their earnings limited by a formula and could be required to pay rebates to certain parties that pay for dialysis treatment.

No: Clinics will not have their earnings limited by a formula and could be required to pay rebates to certain parties that pay for dialysis treatment.

Proposition 10: Rescinds state law that restrict rent control policies imposed by cities and other local jurisdictions on residential property.

Who would this affect: residents

Breakdown: Would cause the expansion of rights for local government on residential property.

What your vote means:

Yes: Would restore the authority to establish rent control in local communities, putting fair and annual limits on the amount landlords can raise rent.

No: Laws will continue to limit rent control laws.

Proposition 11: Would cause ambulance workers to be on-call during a meal or rest break.

Who would this affect: ambulance workers

What your vote means:

Yes: Private ambulance companies would continue to have EMTs and paramedics be on-duty during their meal and rest breaks, allowing them to respond to 911 calls.

No: Private ambulance companies would have labor laws.

Proposition 12: Would establish new standards for confining farm animals and ban the sale of non complying products.

Who would this affect: farm animals

Breakdown: Would institut laws for the minimum requirement of confinement for certain farm animals. Products from animals confined in the the wrong manner will not be sold.

What your vote means:

Yes: New minimum requirements for con
finement for certain animals will be instituted. Businesses would not be allowed to sell the products of animals confined in ways that did not meet these requirements.

No: Current minimum space requirements for certain animals would continue to be applied. Businesses will continue to be allowed to sell the products of animals confined in ways that did not meet these requirements.

Composed using the California General Election Official Voting Guide.