Your opinion

Tell us what you think about prop 14, especially if your voting... how do you think Prop 14 will hurt or benefit California. Tell us your opinion on how elections should run :D thank you.

Elections & Prop 14

There are two elections: the primary election in June where all candidates are posted on the ballot & the general election in November where only the winning candidates are posted on the ballot. Proposition 14 would change the process of theses elections for the congressional, statewide, and legislative races. Proposition 14 allows voters to choose any candidate, regardless party affiliation. It would allow third parties to get a chance to run as equals. Candidates running for office also have the option to state their political affiliation or leave it blank in the ballot. Then the two candidates with the most votes will go onto the general election where either candidate will win.

For Prop 14

1. Creates a blanket primary: A ballot with all candidates running for office with their political parties stated where voters can vote for candidates in any party. It allows people to vote for candidates from either party they feel is the most qualified.

2. Increase voter turnout: Voters not affiliated with political parties and independents will be allowed to vote in all elections. It will also increase the type of people that come to vote, age groups like 18-25 or voters that did not receive a college degree.

3. CA has +12% unemployment: Elected members of government have not found a solution to the economic crisis because of politcal gridlock (differences between republicans and democrats) and if government is filled with qualified people then they can look pass their differences.

4. Allow 3rd parties to get on the ballot: Gives voters more choices on the people they want to elect and allows third parties that usually wouldn't have the funding to get on the ballot to be heard. It also provides another outlet for voters that do not feel represented by the Republican and Democratic party.

5. CA's gaping $20+ billion fiscal deficit: Elected members failed to resolve the debt and have created massive unemployment. Qualified candidates will look for new ways to fix the budget instead of sticking with the plan from the political party.

6. Create a broader cross-section of voters: It allows people to vote for the different policies they want with different politcal views (ex: voting R for x and voting D for y). It shapes government the way people feel and want it to react. People have different views and they may lean right but go left on some issues on the political spectrum (right is republican and left is democratic).

7. Less partisan, gridlock, & more practical: Government will look pass their political parties and become more effective in passing legislation. Republicans and democrats will not pull for their own needs but will look for ways to work together. They will represent their voters better because they are using both views to create a neutral law or act that will benefit all voters.

*** Support comes from 71% of Democrats, 68% of Republicans and 69% of Independents

*** LA Times & SF Gate Newspaper, Jeannine English (AARP: CA State President), James Earp (Executive Director: CA Alliance for Jobs), Allan Zaremberg (President: CA Chamber of Commerce)

*** A Sept 09 Public Policy Institute of California statewide survey found that 70% of CA voters support an open primary system in CA

Against Prop 14

1. Prohibits write-in votes: Writing in the name of the candidate you would like to vote that are not on the ballot and having them counted. It allows for people to voice their opinion but also creates a more divided percentage of votes which can sometimes not get majority.

2. Keeps the 2 party system: Having government be managed by the Republican and Democratic parties. The same system that we have for the past which has enabled CA to run for all this time.

3. Campaign costs will skyrocket: Candidates will have to spend more money to reach a broader audience. This will automatically eliminate those candidates that are not affluent from running because they don't have the money to post advertisement.

4. Voter manipulation & confusion: Affluent candidates will be able to manipulate the thoughts of voters and might get the most votes but not be the most qualified. The average voter does not have the time to get informed about all the candidates and policies on the ballot therefore television becomes their main sources of information. Candidates with more advertisement will be able to voice their opinion better so voters can vote for them.

5. Allows candidates to look like independents: Candidates do not have to state their political party on the ballot which can confuse voters. Since the average voter is not that well informed and gets most of their information from the television then when they vote for a position that has not been advertised they wont know how to vote. They might want to vote for their political party but since candidates didn't state their party then it will cause an independent effect.

6. Many races maybe between same party candidates: Candidates that get the most amount of votes might come from the same political party which can alienate people from voting. California has been mainly Democratic but voters that vote Republican might not get a choice to vote in the November elections when the winner will be chosen. Elections are made to represent all people and if both candidates are from the same party that can cause lower voter turnout.

*** Kevin R. Nida (President: CA State Firefighters' Association), Allan Clark (President: CA School Employees Association), Kathy J. Sackman, RN (President: United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals)

Endorsement: For Prop 14

I, Anthony Chheng, would be in favor of Prop 14. Prop 14 will increased voter turnout which is absolutely necessary in our dire economic times. Prop 14 would open the blanket primary system where anyone can vote for either party’s candidate. Most importantly this would allow independents more say in the primaries. This is significant because more voters are becoming independents, therefore they will want a say in the primary. With independents voting in the primaries the candidates they support would be on the ballot and this would increase voter turnout. Also candidates running for office will have to seek a broader range of voters because independents can vote for either candidate. Consequently, by seeking a broader range of voters this would decrease political gridlock because the candidate has more support from the voters. Critics may say that a blanket primary may lead parties to choose their opponents weakest candidate to go to the general election. This is true however it was resolved since the top two candidates who got the most votes will go to the general election. This would mean if would not be beneficial to vote for a weak candidate because the opposing party could vote for a strong candidate. For example, the republican may choose a weak democratic candidate, but the democrats may choose a strong democratic candidate. This would mean in the general election the democrats will win office either way! Presently California has 12% unemployment rate and with the pace of the government things are not changing for the better.

Endorsement: Against Prop 14

I, Milagros Valenzuela, would be in against of Prop 14. Prop 14 would increase the money needed to campaign because although all candidates have an equal chance, the candidate with the most exposure will have the most votes and get into the Top Two. The more affluent candidates will also use ads to manipulate voters into thinking he is their candidate and may offend his opposers. Prop 14 would also allow candidates not to state their political party, making it for the voter harder to decide, and disguising as an independent. Prop 14 would also prohibit write in votes so if the candidate you chose was not in the ballot on the general election then you would be forced to vote for someone else or not vote at all. This would have a major impact on THIRD PARTIES because since they dont have enough money to begin with they would not be represented in the ballot at all. Prop 14 would keep the two party system which has already shown ineficient because of all the gridlock in government. More importantly, Prop 14 allows general elections to have two candidates from the same party which will shut out many voters and make opponents vote for a weaker candidate. California has an effective voting election process that allows all voters to cast their votes but Prop 14 would destroy that system... say NO on Prop 14.

Bibliography

1. http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/14/

2. http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/14/arguments-rebuttals.htm

3. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/may/13/yes-on-moderation/

4. http://rosereport.org/20100311/open-primaries-in-california-the-future-of-proposition-14/

5. http://lwvc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=easyvoter_guide_propositions#Prop14

6. http://www.yeson14openprimary.com/

7. http://www.calwatchdog.com/2010/02/19/new-will-prop-14-kill-third-parties/

8. LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-times-endorsements-june2010,0,5969868.htmlstory

9. SF Chronicles: http://www.sfgate.com/endorsements/

10. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/25/ING71D17DC.DTL

11. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/25/ING71D17Q5.DTL