The tight presidential race has garnered most of the election
spotlight, but student voters were also concerned about many of the
state propositions on this year’s ballot.
Two of the most controversial issues on the ballot were
Proposition 66, which amends California’s Three Strikes law,
and Proposition 71, which allocates $3 billion for different types
of stem cell research. At press time, Proposition 71 passed by
nearly 20 percent but Proposition 66 was too close to call ““
with over 52 percent of registered Californians voting against the
initiative.
These two propositions pushed their way to the forefront of
election debate over the past few months and have divided
California voters on issues such as prisoner re-entry, sentence
limits for offenders, and whether embryonic stem cells are
considered life.
After voting in De Neve Plaza dorms early Tuesday morning,
first-year biology student Calvin Dunn explained why he voted for
Proposition 66.
“Prisons are filling up. There’s too many people
being locked up for (inconsequential) things and it’s wasting
money,” Dunn said.
Under California’s original Three Strikes law, if someone
was convicted of two serious or violent offenses, after their next
felony conviction they were sentenced to a minimum of 25 years to
life.
The new proposition dictates that an offender’s third
offense must be violent or serious to count as their final
strike.
Prisoners currently in jail under the original Three Strikes law
could be resentenced and potentially released if the old law no
longer applies to them.
Jim Benson is the vice chairman of Citizens Against Violent
Crime and was one of the principal financial backers of Proposition
66.
“The hope is that (Proposition 66) reduces violent crime
more than we have been able to already,” Benson said.
By refraining from incarcerating non-violent offenders, Benson
said taxpayers will save $6 million over the next 10 years.
But some students are worried that Proposition 66 will put
potentially dangerous offenders back on the street.
“I voted no (on Proposition 66) because it’s the
most dangerous initiative on the ballot,” said Adam
Partridge, a fifth-year history student.
“It’s great to talk about the presidency and the war
in Iraq, but in terms of the physical safety of your family and the
physical safety on the street. … To me, Proposition 66 makes the
streets infinitely more dangerous than they already are,”
Partridge said.
Partridge’s father, Paul, has been a police officer with
the L.A. Police Department for around 30 years and said he voted no
on Proposition 66.
“You really have to be a bad guy to go to jail in
California, even the first time,” the 53-year-old Paul
Partridge said.
He added that those criminals with minor offenses will likely
not go to jail for their first offense.
“These guys that are three strikers are criminals … like
I’m a cop. You don’t turn a criminal into a
mechanic,” Paul Partridge said.
“This is what he does for a living, this what he’s
comfortable with.”
Proposition 71 divided voters on issues of science, increased
technology and morals.
Around three years ago, President Bush endorsed a limit on the
number of scientific studies that could be performed with embryonic
stem cells.
Stem cells are replicating bodies that can generate healthy
cells and tissues in the body.
Embryonic stem cells are very young embryos that contain around
200 to 250 cells.
Under Proposition 71, the state will authorize tax-exempt,
low-interest state bonds that will provide California universities,
hospitals and medical schools an average of $295 million each year
for research over 10 years.
Sara Castrale, a second-year undeclared student, said she voted
for Proposition 71 because she hopes it will advance the field of
medicine.
Stem cell research will create medical advances that could
possibly lead to medical cures, Castrale said.
But Jennifer Ogden, a second-year biology student said she voted
against Proposition 71 because it conflicted with her morals.
“I disagree with state-funding for (stem cell
research),” Ogden said. “I’m pro-life and I
believe life is precious and shouldn’t be exploited that
way.”
There were 16 different propositions on the ballot this year,
with at least nine propositions passing and seven failing at press
time and with over 72 percent of precincts reporting.
Proposition 68 would have expanded gaming beyond tribes but
failed by over 60 percent as of early Wednesday morning, and
Proposition 70 would have let tribes use unlimited numbers of
casinos and slot machines, but it also failed by over 50
percent.
The DNA initiative, Proposition 69, passed by nearly 15 percent
and calls for the collection of DNA information from anyone
arrested in connection with a felony.
Proposition 59 passed by over 65 percent. One of the things the
proposition does is modify part of California’s state
constitution, adding “the meetings of public bodies and the
writings of public officials and agencies shall be open to public
scrutiny.”
A new tax levy on residential telephones failed Tuesday when
California voters denied Proposition 67 by almost 40 percent.
Proposition 67 would have created a new surcharge on residential
telephones. The levy would have been used to improve emergency
services including training first responders and funding urgent
care clinics.