News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Redistricting and Gay Marriage On November Ballot (Update 2)

Redistricting and Gay Marriage On November Ballot (Update 2)

By Michael P. Neufeld
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Updated Blog 2 — Wednesday 4:50 a.m.

A 14-member commission would be established to draw district lines for the state legislature and Board of Equalization if voters approve a redistricting initiative placed on the November 4 ballot yesterday.

The redistricting measure is the 11th to qualify for the ballot that includes gay marriage, teen abortions and alternative energy.

Twenty-six other initiatives have until June 26 to qualify for the lengthy ballot.

Updated Blog — Wednesday 3:50 a.m.

An alternative energy measure has now been certified as the 10th ballot proposition for the November 4 election.

Twenty-seven others could possibly be added to the ballot if enough signatures are gathered and submitted by the June 26 deadline. If they all qualify, I may take a day off from work. . .just to vote!

The latest measure, sponsored by the Clean Energy Fuels Corporation, would provide rebates to consumers who purchase high-fuel economy vehicles and bonds for the generation of solar and other renewable energy.

Original Blog

Gay marriage and teen abortion are among nine (9) ballot propositions that have already qualified to be on the November 4 presidential ballot in California. If 28 others qualify I may need a day off just to vote!

It will be the third election in 2008 but in contrast to the June 3 election there will be plenty of hot-button items for voters to consider.

The June 3 voter turnout in San Bernardino County was only 16.46 percent but with the presidential race and ballot propositions coming out of the woodwork, the turnout should be considerably higher.

(Photo by Registrar of Voters.)

One of the propositions would create a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in California and place in the state constitution the wording that in the state marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Meanwhile, based on a ruling legalizing gay marriages by the California Supreme Court, San Bernardino County Auditor/Controller-Recorder Larry Walker has announced his office will begin issuing gender-neutral marriage licenses at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 17. The California Office of Vital Records in Sacramento sent a notice to the state's 58 counties last week informing them they could start issuing same-sex licenses on Monday, June 16 at 5:01 p.m.

And for the third time, mountain residents and other voters in the state will be asked to require parental notification before a minor is allowed to obtain an abortion.

The ballot will also include a measure requiring utilities—like Southern California Edison—to increase renewable energy sources (solar, biomass, small hydropower and geothermal) to one-half (50 percent) of production by 2025.

Edison currently claims to have an energy mix of 17 percent and with recent contracts to expand their energy production from renewable resources the company hopes to boost their mix to 20 percent.

Two of the nine initiatives are bond issues including another bond to kick-start high-speed rail construction in California and a $980 million bond to fund children's hospital construction.

FYI – To qualify a statewide initiative statute for the ballot in California now requires 433,971 signatures and constitutional amendments 694,354 signatures.

Currently, there are 22 additional initiatives and referenda in circulation, four pending a raw count of signatures and two awaiting signature verification by the Secretary of State.

Ten ballot propositions have already failed to qualify for the November 4 ballot including one dealing with the repeal of criminal and civil penalties for marijuana. That initiative would have also released individuals from jail who had been convicted of marijuana offenses. Another that failed to make the ballot had to do with requiring the US government to "fully fund" healthcare for veterans.

If the 28 initiatives currently in the works qualify they will be added to the nine already on the ballot creating a voter nightmare on November 4. It's not likely that there will be 37 ballot propositions come November but there could be as many 15 or more for voters to consider.

The final day for the Secretary of State to determine whether an initiative qualifies for the General Election ballot is Thursday, June 26.

I'd better ask my employers at RIMOFTHEWORLD.net for a vacation day on November 4 just so I have plenty of time to vote.

So Scott and Dave when you read this, please consider it a formal request for the day off.