Nail-biter ballot measures and uphill battles IDed in California statewide poll

Among teetering measures was Proposition 5, which would amend the state constitution and make it easier to approve local infrastructure and housing bonds for low- and middle-income Californians by requiring a 55% vote by a local electorate, instead of the current two-thirds. The PPIC’s survey showed 48% approval and 50% opposition. Supported by the California Democratic Party, the AFL-CIO and California Labor Federation, Proposition 5 is opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the California Republican Party.

Proposition 2, to authorize $10 billion in bonds for repairs, upgrades and construction at public K–12 schools, community colleges and technical-education career programs, remained uncertain, too, as the Nov. 5 election nears. Fifty-two percent of likely voters said they would vote yes, while 46% said they would vote no. The measure has the support of the California Democratic and Republican parties, the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Federation of Teachers, while it is opposed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

And Proposition 34, an electoral oddity backed by landlords seeking to choke off funding for rent-control crusader the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, had 47% of likely voters in support, while 49% said they would vote no, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, which surveyed 1,137 likely voters Oct. 7-15. With a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points, the measure’s fate hangs in the balance. Support appears to have dropped slightly since September when 53% of likely voters said they would vote yes on Proposition 34.

Two high-profile measures, Proposition 32 to raise the minimum wage to $18 from $16, and Proposition 33 to expand local governments’ ability to impose rent control had supporter numbers well below 50%. Forty-four percent of survey respondents said they would vote to boost the minimum wage, and 42% percent said they would vote for broadened rent control.

“For measures that are below 50%, it’s an uphill battle,” Baldassare said, as persuading voters to reconsider their positions and support a measure instead of opposing it is often challenging.




https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2024/10/27/nail-biter-ballot-measures-and-uphill-battles-identified-in-new-state-wide-poll/