Californians vote to protect abortion in state constitution
Voters resoundingly endorsed an election move to enshrine the right to abortion and contraception in the state constitution.
Other states were also considering steps to regulate reproductive health after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June and ruled that states could decide whether or not to allow abortion.
Partial returns showed California Proposition 1 leading with 68% of the vote. Ballots for the Nov. 8 election will be counted as long as they are mailed by Tuesday and received by county election offices within seven days.
The measure was expected to pass, with polls showing that at least two-thirds of those polled were in favour. But supporters wanted a decisive victory, to send a clear message that abortion is legal and accessible in California and to encourage other states to do the same.
Big bet a bust in an effort to allow sports betting in California
The most expensive ballot proposition bet in U.S. history went bankrupt on Tuesday as California voters overwhelmingly rejected sports betting initiatives by Native American tribes and the gambling industry.
Around $460 million has been raised through competing efforts to grow the game and try to grab a share of a potential billion-dollar market in the nation’s most populous state. The final contributions are still being counted.
But voters didn’t want a piece of that action.
With more than 4.6 million votes counted, a measure widely backed by gaming companies that would have allowed adults to bet on mobile devices and online won just 16% support. A proposal that would have legalized sports betting at tribal casinos and racetracks had less than 30% support.
Money raised and spent more than doubles the record amount spent in 2020 by Uber, Lyft and other app-based ride-hailing and delivery services to prevent drivers from becoming employees eligible for benefits and protections employment.
See page 3 for more information on game measurement status.
Voters Approve Big Increase in Arts Education Funding
California voters on Tuesday approved a ballot measure backed by a celebrity slate that included Barbra Streisand and Los Angeles-born rappers will.i.am and Dr. Dre that could pump up to $1 billion a year from the fund general of the state in artistic education. .
The measure had faced no organized opposition, a rarity. With about a quarter of the ballots counted, Proposition 28 won hands down with 75.8% of the vote. It will require the state to provide the equivalent of 1% of California state funding to public schools pre-K through 12 for the arts.
Proponents said it would benefit public school programs that go beyond traditional art, drama, dance and music classes to include graphic design, computer coding, animation, music composition and script writing.
Despite California’s vibrant arts and music scene that has given the world everything from Hollywood to surf rock, less than a quarter of its public schools have a full-time arts or music education teacher, and some schools do not offer such classes at all.
The measure will send 30% of the allocated money to low-income school districts, which have large numbers of black and Latino students.
He was backed by everyone from Austin Beutner, the former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, to the Los Angeles County Business Federation.
Some critics had expressed concerns about the allocation of more money from the state’s general fund as California faces many other challenges, from homelessness to wildfires.
Californians reject move to change dialysis clinic rules
For the third time in three straight elections, California voters rejected an election measure that would have forced major changes to the operations of dialysis clinics that provide lifesaving care to 80,000 people with kidney failure.
Proposition 29 failed after nearly 70% of Californians voted “no” on Tuesday night.
The measure would have required the presence of a doctor, nurse practitioner or medical assistant during treatment at the state’s 600 outpatient dialysis centers.
Dialysis clinic companies said under the mandate between two and three doctors would be needed at each facility, as most are open at least 16 hours a day. This would have created a financial burden that could lead to some clinics closing, making it harder for patients to find treatment, they said.
It was the third consecutive general election where Californians were asked to vote on dialysis regulations. And it was one of the most expensive ballot questions in state history. The two sides have collectively spent more than $90 million this year, according to state records.
All three measures have been backed by unions that represent healthcare workers.
California voters reject tax on the rich for more electric cars
California’s wealthiest residents won’t see a tax hike after voters on Tuesday rejected a measure that would have raised rates on incomes over $2 million to help get more electric cars on the roads .
The defeat of Proposition 30 marks a victory for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who campaigned against it despite steps taken by his administration to ban the sale of most new gas-powered cars for the next decade. He called it a taxpayer-funded giveaway for rideshare companies, which under California regulations must ensure nearly all trips booked through their services are zero emissions by 2030. The rideshare company Lyft provided most of the funding for the “yes” campaign.
The measure would have imposed a 1.75% tax on income over $2 million. This is estimated at less than 43,000 taxpayers in a state of nearly 40 million people. Even without it, California’s top earners pay the highest income tax in the country, at over 13%.
Voters approve California law banning flavored tobacco
Californians voted Tuesday to allow a law banning flavored tobacco products such as menthol cigarettes and gummy strawberry vape juice to come into effect.
With about a quarter of the ballots counted, Proposition 31 won hands down with 76.5% of the vote.
A campaign funded by tobacco giants including RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA effectively blocked the law passed two years ago. The $20 million campaign garnered enough signatures to put the issue on the statewide ballot.
Advocates of the ban, which included doctors, child welfare advocates and the state’s mainstream Democratic party, said the law was needed to halt the skyrocketing rise in smoking among teens.
Ban supporters said victory would save lives and money on tobacco-related health care costs.
State Senator Ben Allen was expected to win his race against Republican Kristina Irwin and Rep. Ted Lieu was also expected to win his Republican challenger Joe Collins III.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a progressive reformer who was appointed last year and is the first Filipino to hold the post in any state, brushed off a challenge from a former Republican federal prosecutor to get a full four-year term.
Janie Har, Julie Watson, Brian Melley, Christopher Weber and Kathleen Ronayne contributed to this report.