PROP 71
PROPOSITION 71: EFFECTIVE DATE OF BALLOT MEASURES AMENDMENT
June 2018 Ballot
What an interesting little curiosity this is.
Everyone in the entire legislature from both parties supported it. All the major newspaper editorial boards support it.
Let's see what it's about, and then see if there's any reason to oppose it.
It's a constitutional amendment that would change when successful ballot propositions take effect.
Currently, according to the California state constitution, a successful ballot proposition takes effect the day after election day, unless the text of the proposition states otherwise, as Prop 64 (recreational use of marijuana) did. Prop 64 passed November 8, 2016; it took effect January 1, 2018.
If Prop 71 passes, a ballot proposition would take effect five days after certification by the Secretary of State, unless the text of the proposition states otherwise.
According to the legislature, this amendment is needed in order to make sure that state officials finish counting all vote-by-mail ballots before a proposition can go into effect.
Some helpful facts:
- State law requires the secretary of state to count any vote-by-mail ballot mailed on election day and received no later than three days after election day.
- State law requires the secretary of state to certify election results no later than 38 days after election day.
- About half the state's voters are registered for vote-by-mail ballots—including me. I love it!
- Most of those who cast vote-by-mail ballots do so early—including me.
But what if they didn't?
Imagine the chaos if media declared a proposition to have won, only to see the result overturned by an avalanche of vote-by-mail ballots delivered two days later.
Unlikely. But possible!
There is some concern that a majority party could contrive to undermine a ballot proposition passed by California voters by somehow extending how long the secretary of state might wait to certify an election. If instead of 38 days the date of certification became subject to the secretary's discretion, it would mean that a popular ballot measure could be shoved in a drawer, waiting in limbo indefinitely.
Hard to imagine that happening without a public backlash.
I like what the legislature is trying to do here.
#YesOn71 #Prop71
