[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen just a few hours ago announced proposition numbers for the 11 measures that will appear on the November 4, 2008, General Election ballot.

In a statement released with the number of 11 ballot measures, she took pains to indicate that although yesterday was the deadline for placing measures on the ballot, this requirement can be waived if there is an agreement by the governor and legislature. The statutory deadline for placing legislative and initiative measures on the ballot was yesterday, June 26.

It is not uncommon for this to occur with last minute negotiations that bend and blow through deadlines which are extended with the ballot measure that is passed and signed by the governor. If there is an extended delay, given the timelines for submitting arguments pro and con and other preparation of the voters’ pamphlet, there could be the need for a supplemental ballot pamphlet.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California Secretary of State’s site shows that 100% of the precincts have reported and the votes have been counted, but it is unknown how many ballots remain for what is the final count. With that caveat—and it may be a big one in some cases, here are the results.

First of all, this appears to have set a modern day record for a primary—for a low turnout—if this is anywhere near the final number—just 22.2% of registered voters cast ballots. This is little more than many special election turnouts, obviously because of the lack of a Presidential contest on the California primary ballot. 3,583,827 votes out of a record 16,123,787 registered voters have been tallied.

98 Goes Down Like a Lead Balloon; 99 Passes in Landslide

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified four ballot measures for the November 4, 2008 California General Election ballot, bringing the total of propositions Californians will be voting on to 8, with more time left for additional items to make it to the ballot either through signatures or action by the legislature.

The last measure to be certified is going to probably be the biggest of all battles: A California Constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union “between a man and a woman” and perhaps overturn the California Supreme Court decision earlier this month that forbids discrimination against same sex couples that wish to marry. But there are other ballot propositions that will be hotly contested and are important in their own right.

The first seven propositions to qualify for the November ballot were a high-speed rail bond, a measure relating to the treatment of farm animals, a children’s hospital bond, a parental notification for abortion measure, a measure involving the sentencing of nonviolent offenders, a measure regarding increased criminal penalties and public safety funding, and a renewable energy measure.

[courtesy of Blog for America]

The Los Angeles Times reports on a constitutional amendment initiative in California which would outlaw marriage equality:

Setting the stage for a political showdown, the California secretary of state today said an initiative barring gay marriage had enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 4 ballot.

The proposal would amend the state Constitution to define marriage as a union "between a man and a woman" and undo last month's historic California Supreme Court ruling, which found that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was unconstitutional.

Danny

Communications Director

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

We all knew this was inevitable, but now it's official: the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage will appear on the November ballot.

An initiative that would again outlaw gay marriage in California has qualified for the November ballot, the Secretary of State announced Monday.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen said a random check of signatures submitted by the measure's sponsors showed that they had gathered enough names for it to be put to voters.

The measure, known as the California Marriage Protection Act, would amend the state constitution to "provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

If approved by a majority of voters on Nov. 4, the amendment would overturn the recent California Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the state. It is similar to gay marriage bans that have been adopted in 26 other states.

OK, fine.  Bring it on.  We're going to win this thing.  And the benefit will rebound on those Democrats who believe in equality and justice.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

We’ve just posted information from California Secretary of State Bowen with Election Day do’s and don’ts including how to find your polling place and when and how ballots must be turned in.

The California Voter Foundation “Online Voter Guide” has information and links to a number of other sites on candidates and ballot propositions. This is a strictly nonpartisan site that provides access to information from the candidates.

This page from the Secretary of State’s office has a listing of all candidates running for the State Senate and State Assembly and links to web pages for all that have them.

Here you can also find candidates for Congress and other offices in California, but you might have to cut and paste web site addresses.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

From the Office of California Secretary of State
Debra Bowen

A day before the June 3, 2008, Statewide Direct Primary Election, Secretary of State Debra Bowen is offering helpful tips to voters preparing to cast their ballots.

“The more information voters have about their rights on Election Day, the more empowered they will be at the polls,” said Secretary Bowen, the state’s chief elections officer. “I encourage voters to take a moment to quickly review their rights before they head to the polls.”

DO: Know your crossover voting rights. If you are registered as a “decline-to-state” or nonpartisan voter, the American Independent, Democratic, and Republican parties are all allowing you to participate in their June 3 primaries. You have a right to request a ballot for any one of those three parties. If you do not, you will be given a nonpartisan ballot that contains ballot propositions and nonpartisan local races, but excludes partisan contests for Congress, state Senate, and state Assembly.