University of California students will directly feel the effects
of two statewide propositions that went to the ballot box on
Tuesday, as voters approved a funding boost into the University of
California, but rejected an item that would loosen up the voter
registration process.
Proposition 47 passed with 60 percent approval, allowing the
state to raise $13.05 billion toward improving building facilities
for the K-12 system and UC, California State University and
community college systems.
The UC in particular will receive $279 million from the funds
raised through the state sale of general obligation bonds.
Of that total, $25 million would go to UCLA for the construction
of a new Engineering I building. The building is currently not
seismically sound, and the money will offset the total $50 million
cost of the rebuild.
The proposition enjoyed the support of education administrators
and college officials throughout the state.
Last Friday, Vice Chancellor of External Affairs Michael Eicher
sent out a university-wide e-mail to let students know about the
impact of the bond item on UCLA.
Opponents of Proposition 47 continued to argue it is ill-timed
when the state faces a $24 billion budget deficit, and is facing up
to $750 million in additional cuts this January.
Also Tuesday night, 58 percent of voters rejected Proposition
52, which would have instituted same-day voter registration in
California. For now, the 15-day buffer period between when a person
can register and election day still stands.
The period is used to verify the residency and identity of voter
registrations. Those who were against the measure, including
outgoing California Secretary of State Bill Jones, argued its
verification methods ““ including utility bills and junk mail,
but no rigid photo identification requirement ““ was too
lax.
“It offers no security against erroneous votes and
there’s no reason to register the day you would vote,”
said Kenneth Bubar, a third-year political science student at Cal
State Long Beach.
The UC Student Association, which supported Proposition 52,
hoped it would increase the number of college-age voters by
streamlining the registration process for students who frequently
change their mailing addresses.
Though the push for a substantial student voting block has been
momentarily impeded by the failed proposition, students are not
daunted by getting out the vote the old-fashioned way.
“Now we’re going to have to work harder to get
students to register,” said Chris Neal, UCSA vice chair and
external vice president for the Undergraduate Students Association
Council.
Same-day voter registration already exists in six states: Maine,
Minnesota and Wisconsin have used it for the last three decades,
and Idaho, New Hampshire and Wyoming instituted the practice in
1994.
Even with the unsuccessful bid to get the item passed, Neal said
the experience gained by student campaigners will leave them better
prepared for the 2004 election.
“People really understand now what it takes to run a
campaign,” he said.
With reports from Charles Proctor, Daily Bruin Contributor, and
Daily Bruin wire services.