Only a few statewide measures have qualified so far for the November 2012 ballot as one of the major deadlines inches closer.
April 20 is the Secretary of State’s “suggested deadline” in order for proponents to have the maximum 150 days to go through the qualification process. In order to qualify for the ballot, groups must collect signatures, submit them to individual counties and then the counties will do a random sampling of three-percent of those signatures to verify that they match the ones already on voter’s registration cards filed with the Secretary of State’s office. The final deadline is June 28.
The Secretary of State’s office confirms that only three measures will definitely be included on the ballot so far. One is the auto insurance initiative, designed to allow insurance companies to set insurance prices based on whether a driver has had previous insurance coverage, rather than on driving history. If voters approve, insurance prices can be increased for drivers who have not maintained continuous coverage.
Another ballot item could restrict union political fundraising by prohibiting the use of payroll-deducted funds for political purposes. The measure permits employees to contribute voluntarily to employers or union committees, but only if authorized annually, in writing. If passed, the measure prohibits unions and corporations from contributing directly or indirectly to candidates and candidate-controlled committees.
The “Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act” was actually placed on the ballot by the legislature, so it didn’t have to go through the qualification process. The bond proposal could provide funding for California’s aging water infrastructure and for projects and programs to address the ecosystem and water supply issues in California.
“[The amount of measures] is pretty typical at this point in the process,” said Shanna Velayas, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office. “We could definitely see more on the ballot soon.”
Other measures could still end up on the ballot if they manage to make it through the qualification process smoothly by June 28. Two items in the signature verification process right now include a measure that could repeal the death penalty and one focused on increasing the penalties for human trafficking.
