by Dianne Anderson

Watching an extremely tight Presidential Election countdown doesn’t have to feel like watching a train wreck, provided early voters are not late filling out their ballot bubbles and walk it or mail it in on time.

Local advocates say the time is now.

Minister Quan Williams said their voter outreach with education is helping prepare voters for what’s to come.

Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement got busy last year this time, pulling in several local churches that pledged 100% voting congregations to host registration drives, hold candidate forums, along with strong social media to engage the community.

Their three COPE-led canvassing and phone banking projects expanded voter awareness.

“This year alone, COPE has called and knocked on tens of thousands of doors in the Inland Region and we have had conversations with 7,000 voters and counting,” she said, adding, “We are witnessing crowds of people in our communities be engaged and excited to let their voices be heard at the polls.”

In the process, they have seen how intensely voters are concerned with the preservation of democracy. At some points, their canvassers have endured racism on the phone, and at the doors.

“Some voters in the I.E. have called us the n-word and yelled racial epithets, or said things like “go back to Africa” to us. We utilize this as motivation to keep fighting for justice and equity,” said Min. Williams, COPE Director of Policy and Civic Engagement.

On the flip side, many voters were happy to see them coming, wanting to know more about what is often considered confusing ballot language.  Many questioned the pros and cons of Proposition 34 and Proposition 36, trying to weigh in on ending mass incarceration while also wanting the smash-and-grab crimes to stop.

“Regardless of the outcomes of this election, we will remain committed to working toward 100% voting congregations and communities in every election. Our work doesn’t end on November 5, 2024,” she said. “On November 6th, we will start meeting with incoming electeds to share our values and prepare to hold them accountable.”

Locally, League of Women Voters President Kathryn Ervin has also been out engaging the community, where she feels voters are energized.

“It has been a very busy time for the League of Women Voters. Several community, church and fraternal organizations have organized ‘ballot parties.’ The League has been preset and there has also been representation from candidates and other leaders,” she said.

This year, she said voters are really digging into all the issues.

“Conversation has been very lively around the ballot propositions. It has been very exciting to hear members of the audience provide perspectives about the proposals and strong critiques both for and against,” she said.

For those who haven’t had the time to read over the 130-ish pages of candidates’ statements and text of proposed laws in the General Election Ballot, COPE, along with the Statewide League of Women Voters and ACLU help break down the fine print to help voters decide.

PROPOSITIONS:

PROP  2:  LWV says Vote Yes  –  Authorizes bonds for public school and community college facilities 

If passed, public education would receive more money by allowing the state to borrow $8.5 billion for building and upgrading K-12 schools, plus $1.5 billion for community colleges. Since 2016, no new money has been given to fix up schools, but many schools need big repairs or new buildings.

LWV emphasizes the money for schools isn’t shared fairly. Most school districts pay 40% to 50% of project costs, making it harder for low-income districts to pay, which impacts more Black, Brown and low-income students.

“While the League of Women Voters of California urges the state to create an equitable funding formula that addresses the dire needs of our most underserved students, we support Prop 2 because providing no funding would hurt all students,” the state LWV says.

PROP 3:  LWV and ACLU say Vote Yes  – Constitutional right to marriage

No matter the gender or sexual orientation, Prop 3 pushes the right to marry by amending the state’s constitution, which currently only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman is valid.

“While past U.S. Supreme Court decisions have rendered this language unenforceable, recent decisions have shown that today’s Supreme Court is willing to upend decades of precedent and revoke hard-earned rights. We must enshrine the freedom to marry in the California Constitution by passing Prop. 3,” the ACLU says.

PROP 4:  LWV and ACLU say Vote Yes  –  Authorizes bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks

ACLU says a Yes Vote would generate $10 billion to pay for climate and environmental initiatives including wildfire protection, water conservation projects, sea level rise mitigation, wildlife protection, sustainable agriculture, and defense against extreme heat events.

“Forty percent of the funding would be invested in projects that safeguard lower-income communities, disproportionately affected by climate change. As the climate crisis intensifies, the investments enabled by Prop 4 are more crucial than ever for protecting the health and safety of all Californians,” the ACLU says.

PROP 5:  LWV and ACLU say Vote Yes – Allows local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure with 55% voter approval

If passed, Prop 5 makes it easier to pass local bonds and taxes for projects like affordable housing, transportation, parks, and other public projects. Right now, 66.7% is needed to approve these projects, making it hard to get the money. Prop 5 offers a lower voting threshold to 55%.

The state’s constitutional amendment to eliminate the supermajority vote could help communities secure funds needed to move faster on important projects. LWV says, “Lowering the voting threshold to 55% enhances democratic participation and allows communities to address urgent housing shortages and infrastructure needs more effectively.”

“Existing law passed during the era of redlining and housing segregation allows one-third of voters to override the will of everyone else, giving affordable housing opponents unfair power to defeat critical community investments. Prop 5 would help cities and counties address their affordable housing and infrastructure needs by lowering the required approval threshold to 55%. A vote for Prop 5 is a vote for building communities where everyone can thrive,” says the ACLU.

PROP 6:  COPE/, LWV and ACLU says Vote Yes – Eliminates constitutional provision allowing involuntary servitude for an incarcerated person

A Yes Vote means people in prison have a chance to choose education instead of forced labor.

Prop 6 is called the End Slavery in California Act, and wants to eliminate California’s Constitution unfair rule that says people in prison can be forced to work as a punishment for their crime. Proponents call it modern-day slavery. Black and brown communities are most impacted because they are the most likely to be arrested and sentenced.

“That involuntary labor in state prisons is considered one of the last remnants of slavery. The California Black Legislative Caucus included the amendment in its reparations bill package. Slavery in any form is unacceptable,” COPE says.

“By passing Prop 6, California will right a centuries-old wrong and lead by example in upholding human rights and dignity, ensuring that our legal framework reflects the state’s commitment to justice and equality,” LWV says.

“Today, incarcerated people in California are still forced to labor for another person’s benefit or face cruel treatment including physical violence, solitary confinement, denial of family visits, and revocation of time credits resulting in longer incarceration. Punishments are often suffered even when absences are due to illness or injuries sustained through the work itself,” says the ACLU.

PROP 32:  COPE and  LWV say Vote Yes – Raises minimum wage

Currently, California’s minimum wage of $16 an hour is not enough to cover basic needs in one of the most expensive states in the nation.  Prop 32 wants to raise the minimum wage to $18 an hour in 2025, and in 2026 for companies with 26 or more workers. For smaller businesses with 25 or fewer workers, the wage would go up to $17 in 2025 and $18 in 2026. Prop 32 also stops inflation adjustments until 2027 so businesses can get used to the new wage.

“Part of our vision is that Black people do not suffer under conditions of poverty and that Black people have access to safe employment that pays a living wage,” COPE says.

“A minimum wage of $18 an hour will reduce income inequality and improve the standard of living for millions of California workers. Plus, an $18 minimum wage is likely to increase wages across the board which will increase consumer spending that will help the economy. And increased spending creates more jobs, making everyone better off,” LWV says.

“Recent studies show that the minimum wage would be over $25 per hour if it had kept pace with economic productivity since the 1960s. Voting YES on Prop 32 will move California closer to providing living wages to workers,” ACLU says.

PROP 33:  COPE and ACLU say Vote Yes. LWV is Neutral – Expands local governments’ authority to enact rent control on residential property

“Vote Yes on Prop 33 to expand local governments’ ability to enact rent control. Housing affordability is a nationwide crisis, and California is at the epicenter—with a majority of renters now paying over a third of their monthly income for housing costs. Nearly one out of three renters are ‘severely rent burdened’ and pay more than half of their monthly

income toward rent,” says ACLU.

COPE says Yes on Proposition 33, “We believe every Black person who lives and works in California should have a permanent, affordable, and sustainable house to call their own. This would allow local governments to impose rent controls.”

LWV said it wants to help fix California’s housing crisis, but they stand neutral on this proposition. Some studies show the proposition could make developers less interested in building new housing because they can’t charge as much rent, which could make the housing shortage worse in the long run.

PROP 34:  LWV and ACLU take no position.  This proposition restricts spending of prescription drug revenues by certain healthcare providers that support Prop 33

PROP 35:  LWV says Vote no – Provides permanent funding for Medi-Cal health care services

Prop 35 wants permanent funding to Medi-Cal for low-income health care by making a temporary tax on insurance companies permanent. However, this funding could then only be used for health programs, and limit how funding is used for other important things the state might need in the future.

“Earmarking can undermine the state’s fiscal stability and its ability to effectively respond to changing conditions. While there is no organized opposition to the measure, Governor Newsom has expressed concerns that it hamstrings the state’s flexibility,” LWV says.

PROP 36:  LWV, ACLU and COPE say Vote No –  Allows felony charges and increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes

Prop 36 wants harsher punishments in California, and reverse progress made to help people rebuild their lives. If passed, advocates say stricter sentences will hit low-income people of color harder, causing overcrowded prisons again. Any giving or selling of a drug that harms someone could mean longer prison time, which would end up taking funding away from programs that support recovery and reintegration, focusing instead on more incarceration.

“If passed, it would also cost taxpayers more money and cut funding for important services like mental health care, drug treatment, and programs that help prevent crime and school dropouts. That’s why people oppose Prop 36,” the LWV says.

COPE says, “Our justice system should be rooted in restoration and rehabilitation that recognizes the humanity and dignity of people. This is another attempt to reverse changes made by Proposition 47 in 2014 and would increase penalties for certain non-violent crimes, such as theft and drug possession. It could lead to more people being jailed, especially in communities of color. We oppose mass incarceration.”

For more information:

For Early Voting, or to find your Polling Places, or View Your Ballot, seehttps://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-nov-5-2024

VOTE with LWV, https://cavotes.org/ballot-measures/

VOTE with ACLU, https://www.aclusocal.org/sites/default/files/aclu-socal_2024_ballot-guide.pdf