More than 30 people attended an event at Bookshop Santa Cruz on Wednesday evening to learn about and discuss statewide propositions on this November’s ballot.
The voter education event was organized by Lookout and CalMatters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news outlet covering state policy.
NOVEMBER BALLOT MEASURES: Find Lookout’s local and state coverage here
CalMatters partnerships manager Dan Hu moderated the discussion and introduced attendees to a free voters guide to California’s Nov. 5 elections. On the CalMatters website, voters can enter their address and see what races will appear on their ballot while also reading all about state and federal candidates and statewide ballot propositions.
Hu said the propositions are complicated but it’s important to learn about them and vote.
“A lot of them are worded very confusingly. You think, yes means no. You think, no means yes,” he said. “If you don’t decide on it, someone else would be voting. And if we didn’t vote on it at all, we’d just be leaving it to these lawmakers to be making all the decisions.”
This November, California voters will be asked to decide on 10 propositions. Some propositions are bond measures; others are constitutional amendments. The propositions cover issues related to health care, crime, taxes, climate change, school infrastructure and rent control.
During the event, attendees learned about and discussed three in particular: Propositions 32, 33 and 36. Proposition 32 would raise the minimum wage from $16 to $18 an hour. Proposition 33 would allow counties and cities to expand rent control. Proposition 36 would reclassify some misdemeanor drug and theft crimes as felonies.
Hu polled the room after each proposition discussion. Most said they would vote yes on Prop 32, while several said they were still unsure. For Prop 33, a small group said they would vote yes, while most said they would vote no and several said they were undecided. The majority of the room was against Prop 36 and no one expressed support for it.
UC Santa Cruz fourth-year student Lola Quiroga said she enjoyed learning more about the propositions and meeting community members she typically wouldn’t encounter. She added that this will be her first time voting for president.
“I’m so excited and honored to be voting for the first woman president,” said Quiroga, who also serves on the City of Santa Cruz Transportation and Public Works Commission.
Hu said CalMatters is hosting 40 similar events across the state ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
All of Lookout’s local election coverage is free.
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