California General Election Ballot Information
The California general election will be held on November 5, 2024. There will be 10 propositions on the 2024 ballot and in order to prepare parents and caregivers in LA County, we have researched and summarized the 10 measures voters will see on their ballots and put together other resources including deadlines and helpful links.
Propositions Breakdowns:
Prop 2: Funding school facilities
Proposition 2 would provide $8.5 billion to K-12 schools and $1.5 billion to community colleges to renovate, fix and construct facilities. The money would be distributed through matching grants, with the state paying a greater share of costs for less affluent districts and those with higher numbers of English learners and foster youth. Some of the money would be set aside for removing lead from water, creating transitional kindergarten classrooms and building career and technical education facilities.
Vote Yes Means: California can borrow $10 billion to repair and renovate existing public schools and community college facilities or construct new buildings.
Vote No Means: California cannot borrow $10 billion to repair and renovate existing public schools and community college facilities or construct new buildings.
Who Supports: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Association of California School Administrators, California Labor Federation, California Chamber of Commerce, California Federation of Teachers, California School Boards Association, League of, Women Voters of California, Small School Districts Association
Who Opposes: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Prop 3: Protecting gay marriage
This proposition would remove stray language in the state constitution that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. While that language is not legally enforceable anymore, removing it is seen as a proactive measure to make sure it cannot can’t spring back into effect.
Vote Yes Means: An outdated sentence from Prop. 8 in the California Constitution that defines marriage as between a man and a woman would be removed. It would also declare that a “right to marry is a fundamental right." There would be no change in who can marry.
Vote No Means: The Prop. 8 language would stay untouched in the California Constitution. There would be no change in who can marry.
Who Supports: Equality California, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Democratic Party, Gov. Gavin Newsom, League of Women Voters of California, California Labor Federation, California Chamber of Commerce
Who Opposes: California Family Council, The American Council of Evangelicals
Prop 4: Funding Climate Action
Proposition 4 is a $10 billion bond to pay for climate and environmental projects. The biggest chunk, $1.9 billion, would be used for drinking water improvements. The bond prioritizes lower-income communities, and those most vulnerable to climate change, and requires annual audits.
Vote Yes Means: The state can borrow $10 billion to fund various projects for conservation and responses to the causes and impacts of climate change.
Vote No Means: The state cannot borrow $10 billion to fund various projects for conservation and responses to the causes and impacts of climate change.Who Supports: Clean Water Action, National Wildlife Federation, California Professional Firefighters, California Labor Federation, League of Women Voters of California
Who Opposes: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Senate GOP leader Brian Jones, Assemblymember Jim Patterson
Prop 5: Making it easier to pass housing, infrastructure bonds
Proposition 5 would amend the California constitution by lowering the required threshold to 55% for any borrowing to fund affordable housing construction, down payment assistance programs and a host of “public infrastructure” projects, including those for water management, local hospitals and police stations, broadband networks and parks.
Vote Yes Means: Certain local bonds and related property taxes could be approved with a 55% vote of the local electorate, rather than the current two-thirds approval requirement. These bonds would have to fund affordable housing, supportive housing or public infrastructure.
Vote No Means: Certain local bonds and related property taxes would continue to need approval by a two-thirds vote of the local electorate.Who Supports: California Democratic Party, California State Building and Construction Trades Council, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California Housing Partnership, California YIMBY, California Labor Federation, League of Women Voters of California
Who Opposes: California Chamber Of Commerce, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Catalyst For Local Control
Prop 6: Prohibit forced labor
The measure would amend the state constitution to prohibit any form of forced labor or servitude, which is currently allowed as punishment for a crime.
Vote Yes Means: Involuntary servitude would not be allowed as punishment for crime. State prisons would not be allowed to discipline people in prison who refuse to work.
Vote No Means: Involuntary servitude would continue to be allowed as punishment for crime.
Who Supports: ACLU California Action, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, California Democratic Party, California Teachers Association, California Black Legislative Caucus, California Labor Federation, League of Women Voters of California
Who Opposes: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Prop 32: Raising Minimum Wage
The proposal would raise the minimum wage from the current $16 an hour to $18. Yearly increases from there would be tied to the consumer price index.
Vote Yes Means: The minimum wage would go up
Vote No Means: The minimum wage would stay the sameWho Supports: California Labor Federation, Unite Here, One Fair Wage, Working Families Party California, California Democratic Party, League of Women Voters of California
Who Opposes: California Chamber of Commerce, California Restaurant Association, California Grocers Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Prop 33- Allow local governments to impose rent controls
If Proposition 33 passes, cities would be allowed to control rents on any type of housing- including single-family homes and new apartments, and for new tenants.
Vote Yes Means: State law would not limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.
Vote No Means: State law would continue to limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.
Who Supports: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California Democratic Party, Veterans’ Voices, California Nurses Association, CA Alliance for Retired Americans, Housing is a Human Right, Tenants Together, Consumer Watchdog, Housing NOW, ACCE, UNITE HERE Local 11
Who Opposes: California Small Business Association, California Senior Alliance, California Council of Carpenters, California YIMBY, California Chamber of Commerce, Senate President Pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins, Democratic Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Marine Corps Veterans Association
Prop 34: Controls Spending on certain prescription drug revenues
Proposition 34 would require some California providers to spend at least 98% of that net drug sale revenue on “direct patient care.” Providers that don’t risk having their state license and tax-exempt status revoked and losing out on government contracts.
Vote Yes Means: Certain health care entities would have to follow new rules about how they spend revenue they earn from a federal drug discount program. Breaking these rules would result in penalties (such as not being able to operate as a health care entity), generally for a 10-year period.
Vote No Means: These new rules would not go into effect.
Who Supports: California Apartment Association, ALS Association, Assemblymember Evan Low, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Chamber of Commerce
Who Opposes: The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Consumer Watchdog
Proposition 35: Make permanent a tax on managed care health insurance plans
Proposition 35 would require the state to spend the money from a tax on health care plans on Medi-Cal, the public insurance program for low-income Californians and people with disabilities. The revenue would go to primary and specialty care, emergency services, family planning, mental health and prescription drugs. It would also prevent legislators from using the tax revenue to replace existing state Medi-Cal spending. Over the next four years, it is projected to generate upwards of $35 billion.
Vote Yes Means: Means you support making permanent a California tax on managed care organizations that would otherwise expire in 2026, and change some Medi-Cal funding allocations.
Vote No Means: Would mean you oppose making the tax permanent and/or carrying out the funding changes.
Who Supports: California Medical Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Hospital Association, California Dental Association, California Primary Care Association, California Democratic Party, California Republican Party
Who Opposes: League of Women Voters of California, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, The Children’s Partnership, California Alliance for Retired Americans, Courage California
Prop 36: Increase penalties for theft and drug trafficking
Proposition 36 would reclassify some misdemeanor theft and drug crimes as felonies. This measure rolls back some of the reforms contained in Proposition 47, the historic 2014 voter-approved measure that reduced penalties for most drug possession crimes and petty theft. The measure would also create a new category of crime — a “treatment-mandated felony.” People who don’t contest the charges could complete drug treatment instead of going to prison, but if they don’t finish treatment, they still face up to three years in prison.
Vote Yes Means: People convicted of certain drug or theft crimes could receive increased punishment, such as longer prison sentences. In certain cases, people who possess illegal drugs would be required to complete treatment or serve up to three years in prison.
Vote No Means: Punishment for drug and theft crimes would remain the same.
Who Supports: Walmart, Target, Home Depot, California District Attorneys Association, California Correctional Peace Officers Association, California Republican Party, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Chamber of Commerce
Who Opposes: Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Alliance for Safety and Justice, ACLU of Northern California, California Democratic Party, League of Women Voters of California
Fore more detailed information and proposition breakdowns visit LAist’s Voter Game Plan and CalMatter’s Voter Guide.
Three ways to vote in California:
Vote By Mail
Vote Early In-Person
Vote At The Polls On Election Day (Same Day Voter Registration)
Important Dates:
October 5th: Mail-in ballots go out
Oct. 21st: Last day to register online to vote (by 11:59 pm). Register here.
Oct. 26th: Select vote centers open. Find L.A. County locations here.
Oct. 29th: Last day to request a replacement mail-in ballot
Nov. 5th: Election Day- Return ballot by mail (postmarked by) and Return ballot in person (by 8:00 pm)
Dec. 5: All results final
Helpful Links