2020 California Proposition 17 Explained

Proposition 17
Restores Right to Vote After Completion of Prison Term
Country:California
Location:California, United States
Yes:9,985,568
No:7,069,173
Total:17,785,151
Electorate:22,047,448
Map:2020 California Proposition 17 results map by county.svg
Mapcaption:ForAgainst

The 2020 California Proposition 17 is a ballot measure that appeared on the ballot in the 2020 California elections on November 3. Prop 17 amended the Constitution of California to allow people who are on parole to vote.[1] Due to the passage of this proposition, more than 50,000 people in California who are currently on parole and have completed their prison sentence are now eligible to vote and to run for public office.[2] This proposition also provides that all those on parole in the future will be allowed to vote and run for public office as well. The work of Proposition 17 comes out of a history of addressing felony disenfranchisement in the United States.[3] California voters approved this measured by a margin of roughly 18 percentage points.[4]

Background

Appearing on ballot in the 2020 California elections on November 3, 2020, the proposed state constitutional amendment was originally introduced as California Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 6 (ACA 6) by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty in January 2019.[5] ACA 6 passed the California State Assembly by a vote of 54-19 on September 5, 2019, and was approved by the California State Senate by a vote of 28-9 on June 24, 2020.[6] After being put on the ballot, ACA 6 was given the ballot designation of Proposition 17.

Under California law, there is a distinction between probation[7] and parole.[8] Probation is the part of the criminal sentence, and allows those with felonies to finish their sentence outside of the prison. Parole begins upon release from prison when their sentence ends.[9] As of July 2020, the Constitution of California allows someone on probation to vote, but prohibits people on parole from voting until their parole is completed. The effect of Proposition 17 is that all individuals on probation or parole are allowed to vote.[10]

Voting rights in other states

States where people do not lose their right to vote (even if they are incarcerated).Maine, Vermont
States where people's voting rights are lost while incarcerated, but restored after release (able to vote if they are on parole).Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah
States where people's voting rights are restored after they complete their sentence (including parole and/or probation and pay any fees/fines).Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
States where people's voting rights are lost indefinitely for specific offenses and can require a waiting period after their sentence is completed and/or a Governor's pardon.Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming
Reference:[11]

Support

ACA 6 was co-sponsored by #Cut50, All of Us or None, American Civil Liberties Union of California, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, Initiate Justice, League of Women Voters of California, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, People Over Profits San Diego, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Vote Allies, White People 4 Black Lives. It was also supported by 118 organizations and local governments.[12] The official Argument in Favor was submitted by Carol Moon Goldberg, President of the League of Women Voters of California, Jay Jordan, executive director of Californians for Public Safety, and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty.[13]

Political endorsements

Union endorsements

Newspaper editorials

Newspaper Editorials that Support Prop 17
Newspaper Editorial Position
La Times Newspaper Support
Orange County Register Support
Palo Alto Online Support
San Diego Union-Tribune Support
Mercury News Support
Redlands Community News Support
San Francisco Chronicle Support
Santa Cruz Sentinel Support
The Sacramento Bee Support

Opposition

ACA 6 was opposed by Election Integrity Project California, Inc.[51] The official Argument Against was submitted by Harriet Salarno, Founder of Crime Victims United of California, Jim Nielsen, retired Chairman of the California Board of Prison Terms, and Ruth Weiss, Vice President of the Election Integrity Project California.[52]

Newspaper editorials

Newspaper Editorials That Oppose Prop 17
Newspaper Editorial Position
San Mateo Daily JournalOppose
Bakersfield California Editorial Board Oppose
The Desert Sun Editorial Board Oppose

Polling

In order to pass, it needs a simple majority (>50%).

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For9,985,56858.55
Against7,069,17341.45
Blank votes730,410-
Total17,785,151100
Registered voters/turnout22,047,44880.67
Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov

Notes and References

  1. Web site: California Proposition 17, Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment (2020). 2020-10-23. Ballotpedia. en.
  2. Web site: Voting Rights for People on Parole: Proposition 17. 2020-10-22. Initiate Justice. en-US.
  3. Web site: Felony Disenfranchisement: A Primer. 2020-10-26. The Sentencing Project. en-US.
  4. Web site: Hooks. Chris Nichols, Kris. What We Know About California Proposition Results. 2020-11-11. www.capradio.org.
  5. Web site: ACA 6. Open States.
  6. Web site: ACA-6 Elections. California Legislative Information.
  7. Web site: Probation in California . Network of Care . Los Angeles County . 17 October 2021.
  8. Web site: Sentencing, Incarceration & Parole of Offenders . California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation . State of California . 17 October 2021.
  9. Web site: Court-related impact of criminal justice relalignment . www.courts.ca.gov . California Judicial Branch . 17 October 2021.
  10. Web site: Myers. John. Here are the 12 propositions on California's November ballot. 2020-07-31. Los Angeles Times. July 2, 2020 . en-US.
  11. Web site: Felon Voting Rights. 2020-11-02. www.ncsl.org.
  12. Web site: Bill Analysis - Senate Elections And Constitutional Amendments. 2020-07-30. en.
  13. Web site: Argument in Favor of Proposition 17. 2020-07-30. en. August 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801113409/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2020-general/prop-17-arg-in-favor.pdf. dead.
  14. Web site: November 3, 2020 Endorsements Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club. 2020-10-22. en-US. October 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201005211525/http://www.alicebtoklas.org/2020/08/nov2020endorsements/. dead.
  15. Web site: Official Club Endorsements. 2020-10-22. www.wehodems.org.
  16. Web site: 2020 State Proposition Endorsements. 2020-10-22. BLACK WOMEN ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL ACTION.
  17. Web site: Endorsed Propositions. CA Democratic Party.
  18. Web site: Endorsements. 2020-10-22. California Young Democrats. en-US.
  19. Web site: 2019-09-06. 2020 Endorsements. 2020-10-22. Clairemont Democratic Club. en.
  20. Web site: Democratic Socialists of America - Los Angeles 2020 Voter Guide.
  21. Web site: Orange County DSA 2020 November Election Voter Guide. October 22, 2020. October 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021183358/http://www.ocdsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Orange-County-DSA-2020-November-Election-Voter-Guide.pdf. dead.
  22. Web site: November 3rd, 2020 General Election Voter Guide – Democratic Socialists of America San Diego Chapter. 2020-10-22. en-US.
  23. Web site: DSA Santa Cruz Nov 2020 Voter Guide. 2020-10-22. DSA Santa Cruz.
  24. Web site: Voters' Guide – Silicon Valley DSA. 2020-10-22. siliconvalleydsa.org.
  25. Web site: Endorsements. 2020-10-22. East Bay Young Democrats. en-US.
  26. Web site: The Green Party of California State Voter Guide Nov 2020 Green Party of California (GPCA). 2020-10-22. cagreens.org.
  27. Web site: Endorsements. Milk Club.org.
  28. Web site: Voting Guides Archive. 2020-10-22. Libertarian Party of California. en-US.
  29. Web site: Ballot Measures. 2020-10-22. Los Angeles County Democratic Party. en.
  30. Web site: Election 2020: PFP endorsements on ballot propositions - Peace and Freedom Party. 2020-10-22. peaceandfreedom.org. October 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201025022955/http://peaceandfreedom.org/home/128-front-page-content/1624-ballot-propositions-california-2020. dead.
  31. Web site: Official 2020 PALAD Voter Guide.
  32. Web site: Richmond Progressive Alliance. 2020-10-22. Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  33. Web site: Vote and Advocate! – Democratic Party of Sacramento County. 2020-10-22. en-US.
  34. Web site: 2020 Endorsements – San Diego Democrats for Equality Since 1975. 2020-10-22. en-US.
  35. Web site: 2020-10-05. SF ENDC Endorsements - General 2020. 2020-10-22. sfendc. en.
  36. Web site: Chandonia. John-Marc. November 2020 Endorsements.
  37. Web site: 2017-12-29. Endorsements. 2020-10-22. San Francisco Women's Political Committee. en.
  38. Web site: Fernandez. Nicole. September 13, 2020. Endorsements for November 2020 Election. 2020-10-22. San Mateo County Democratic Party. en.
  39. Web site: SB County Democratic Endorsed Candidates & Voter Guide. 2020-10-22. SBDCC. en-US.
  40. Web site: 2020 General Election. 2020-10-22. Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County.
  41. Web site: Endorsements. 2020-10-22. SV Stonewall Democrats. en-US.
  42. Web site: ELECTIONS & ENDORSEMENTS. 2020-10-22. sfuniteddems. en.
  43. Web site: Endorsements. 2020-10-22. Valley Grassroots for Democracy. en.
  44. Web site: Endorsements 2020. 2020-10-22. Ventura County Democratic Party. en.
  45. Web site: Official Club Endorsements. 2020-10-22. www.wehodems.org.
  46. Web site: 2019-12-05. 2020 AFSCME California Endorsements. 2020-10-22. AFSCME California. en.
  47. Web site: Endorsements. 2020-10-22. California Federation of Teachers. en.
  48. Web site: 2020 General Election Endorsements – California Labor Federation. 2020-10-22. en-US.
  49. Web site: SEIU California Election 2020. 2020-10-22. SEIU California. en-US.
  50. Web site: 2020 General Election Endorsements. 2020-10-22. SEIU UHW. en.
  51. Web site: Bill Analysis - Senate Elections And Constitutional Amendments. 2020-07-30. en.
  52. Web site: Argument Against Proposition 17. 2020-07-30. en. August 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801113639/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2020-general/prop-17-arg-against.pdf. dead.

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