In summary
The results of the ballot measures will steer key state policies. So far, five propositions have passed, but three failed. Two remain undecided.
Lea esta historia en Español
California voters granted a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, restored longer prison sentences for some drug and property crimes and allowed the state to borrow billions to address the threats of climate change and to repair schools.
Those ballot measures passed, but one to allow cities to impose rent control failed, as did another to raise California’s minimum wage and a third to make it easier for local governments to borrow money for housing and other infrastructure. A constitutional amendment on prison labor also failed. Voters decided 10 propositions in all.
Prop. 36, passed: The measure pushed by some district attorneys and moderate Democrats, but opposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, will partly undo sentencing changes that voters passed in 2014 with Prop. 47. Prop. 36 would reclassify some drug and theft crimes as felonies and create a new category of “treatment-mandated” crimes to require defendants to undergo drug treatment or face prison time.
Prop. 2, passed and Prop. 4, passed: The two bond measures, approved by voters, will allow the state to borrow $10 billion to repair K-12 schools and community colleges, and $10 billion to address climate change in a variety of areas including drinking water improvements and extreme heat and wildfire programs. Recent polling showing the climate bond likely to pass while the school repairs bond showed voters were split.
Prop. 33, failed, and Prop. 34, passed: These measures are both related to local rent control: Prop. 33, backed by tenant advocates and the Los Angeles nonprofit AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would have allowed cities to impose stricter or broader rent control measures. It’s the foundation’s third try passing such a measure — and that led to Prop. 34, an effort by the state’s leading apartment lobby to financially handicap the foundation, by forcing it to spend much of its funding directly on its low-income patients. The AP called its passage on Wednesday, five days after the foundation’s president conceded that it had passed.
Prop. 3, passed, and Prop. 6, failed: California voters are weighing in on two proposed constitutional amendments. Prop. 3 will guarantee same-sex couples an equal right to marry — a move to protect the right from possible challenges before a conservative-majority Supreme Court. Prop. 6, which originated from the state’s reparations task force, would have removed an exception in the state constitution that allows for forced labor during the punishment of a crime. It appeared in recent polling to be headed for a defeat.
Prop. 35, passed: This health-care-industry backed measure will make permanent a tax on health care plans and guarantee the money is spent on providers who treat low-income patients through the state’s Medi-Cal program. Powerful hospital and doctors’ lobbies, plus Planned Parenthood, support it. But some smaller health care players are opposed and have argued the way the funding is distributed is unfair to their patients.
Prop. 32, failed: Voters rejected the measure to raise the state’s minimum wage to $18 in January for larger employers. Proponents say it’s important to help about two million low-wage workers get a raise. Opponents, including the Chamber of Commerce and business groups, say it could further increase food prices.
Prop. 5, failed: The measure would have made it easier for local governments to borrow money for affordable housing and other public infrastructure projects by lowering the threshold of votes needed to pass bonds from two-thirds to 55%.
