2020 Election Day

California & the November 3rd: Results

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Exactly a week ago, America had its election. There were 115 measures on the ballot out of which the State of California had 12. My previous post listed the California measures. Today, I post the results below:

. . .

  • Yes on Proposition 14, Bonds to Continue Stem Cell Research –
  • No on Prop 15, Property Tax to Fund Schools, Government Services
  • No on Prop 16, Affirmative Action in Government Decisions
  • Yes on Prop 17, Restores Right to Vote After Prison Term
  • No on Prop 18, 17-year-old Primary Voting Rights
  • Yes on Prop 19, Changes Certain Property Tax Rules
  • No on Prop 20 Parole Restrictions for Certain Offenses
  • No on Prop 21, Expands Governments’ Authority to Rent Control
  • Yes on Prop 22, App-Based Drivers and Employee Benefits
  • No on Prop 23, State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics
  • Yes on Prop 24, Amends Consumer Privacy Laws
  • No on Prop 25, Eliminates Money Bail System.

Here’s hoping that the citizens, not the measures ad-sponsors, will reap the benefits of their poll decisions. Some measures outcomes didn’t make sense to me. I believe that the verbiage of the measures statements could have been confusing and as such sway folks the opposite of their intent. But the measures have passed and no going back. Well, maybe till the next election if someone is really unhappy about the results.

. . .

Meanwhile, as the whole world knows, the American Presidential election results have reached an impasse. I believe that mail-in ballots have still not been 💯% counted. Slight change to posted election results is therefore expected.

As we all also know, Presidential contender Joe Biden leads with 290 electoral votes; only 270 is required to win, while incumbent Donald Trump has only 214 electoral votes.

We await the Courts’ decision to either allow or disallow a recount. Till then, President-elect Biden is not pausing and has stepped up his plans for taking-over.

, . .

It is ironic though that incumbent Donald Trump will cry election “foul.” How soon human beings forget. In 2016, we heard cries of external interferences in the election, but no request for a recount was made or enforced; neither were any action taken. Was it because Donald Trump won? I wonder how Hilary Clinton felt then. Very interesting how the tides turn!

Depending on who one is listening to, there’s currently a division ad some faction states that it is impossible for election fraud to be perpetuated, while some state that it is not unusual to experience “minor” malpractices.

My take is that if humans are involved in tallying election results, there will always be the possibility of error. The question then is “how high a probability can be allowed for validity?”

Anyhow, we await either the Courts or December 14th or incumbent President’s concession. For now, Biden and Harris are enjoying the platform of the media-called victory.

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D-Day is Tomorrow!

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The United States of America’s Election Day is finally here and it’s tomorrow. If you still haven’t voted, please make sure you get out early as lines are reported to be very long.

This is an unprecedented election unlike any other for various reasons. Each person’s reason differs one to the other. But, we all agree that this year’s election is different.

The difference can also be seen in the number of pre-election-day voting that has already taken place. Click here to read more.

Get out and vote or mail it in postmarked by November 3rd!

Trillion of things have been said; we’ve heard the Presidential debates and more, are aware of the unrests and chaos that stemmed from the racial divide, …

. . .

I finally received my ballot papers and mailed them back, over the weekend! Yippee!!

But, I am still “angst about the outcome for some weird, but understandable reasons. Weird in the sense that I have never ever being angst about Presidential elections. Why now?

Understandably in the sense that we know that these are critical times in the history of our nation, America. As such it is eagerly awaited and everything is being done to ensure that folks get out to vote.” (ThinkTalk, September 2020). I hope you have voted, or are getting ready to vote, and certainly will vote in person or by mail. Remember, D-Day is tomorrow!

Please join me in praying that all will go smoothly now, during, and after, and that peace will reign.

. . .

For your information, I had to call my County’s Election Office to ascertain why my information was missing from the Secretary of State’s website. The lady pleasantly explained to me that it was because I used a physical Post Office address. A real home address was also required. Since I supplied both, my ballot papers were mailed and received. I was glad that I took the initiative to call at the time that I did, which was in time before the deadline, rather than waiting endlessly for ballot papers that will never show up. And no-one had the courtesy to let me know!

Regarding the Bills and Propositions on the Ballot

There are 115 measures on the November 3 ballot, twelve (12) of which are for California.

Do you know what propositions are on the November 3rd ballot for your State? Find out by clicking your State here. It is an interactive U.S. map. Select the Year 2020-2029 from the Table, then select the Year 2020. You might need to scroll down to read the detailed information.

Final Note

By now, you already know who you’re voting for. If not, you have one more day to do your research.

Regarding the propositions, do not merely listen to the paid-ads, but research and critically think through every point; ask if it makes sense or not.

The semantics used on the Ballot regarding the Propositions can be confusing such that one tends to agree with it rather than voting it down. Remember that most of the bills were initiated and sponsored by those who wanted it passed. So, be diligent in your reading and understanding of each measure.

Remember that whatever you do, do it totally with your heart knowing that you have done your best in exercising your civic duty and rights.

I pray for God’s outcome in the Election tomorrow.

Californians and November 3rd

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In less than a week, Californians have decisions to make in addition to deciding whether to join the nation next Tuesday, November 3rd, on who to choose as President for the next four years. It is a critical voting year. As such, unprecedented numbers of voters, more than ever before, have already trooped out to vote.

To-date, “more than 64 million Americans have already voted — and about half of them are in the dozen or so competitive states that will ultimately decide who wins the Electoral College.”

The following are Californians’ State and Local Ballot Measures. ThinkTalk hopes that, in addition to your own due diligences, it helps you to be better informed.

  • Proposition 14, the Stem Cell Research Institute Bond – This initiative would issue $5.5 billion in general obligation bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which was created to fund stem cell research.
  • Proposition 15, Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding – This initiative would tax certain commercial and industrial real property based on fair-market value—rather than, under current law, the purchase price with limited inflation. Exempts agricultural property and certain small businesses.
  • Proposition 16, Repeal of the Ban on Affirmative Action at Public Institutions – This amendment would repeal provisions in the state’s Constitution that prohibit the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. The California Constitution defines the state for these purposes to include the state, any city, county, public university system, community college district, school district, special district, or any other political subdivision or governmental instrumentality of, or within, the state. This measure would repeal these provisions. The measure would also make a statement of legislative findings in this regard.
  • Proposition 17, Restores Voting Rights for Persons on Parole – This initiative would amend the state Constitution to restore voting rights to persons who have been disqualified from voting while serving a prison term as soon as they complete their prison term—essentially extending the right to vote to those on state parole. Proposition 17 is a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment that requires a simple majority (50% + 1) to pass.
  • Proposition 18, Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds – This amendment would give 17 year olds the right to vote beginning in the next general election cycle.
  • Proposition 19, Changes Certain Property Tax Rules for Certain Property Owners – This initiative would allow homeowners who are over 55, disabled, or wildfire/disaster victims to transfer their primary residence tax base to a new residence, change taxation of family property transfers, and establish a fire protection services fund.
  • Proposition 20, Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection – This initiative would impose restrictions on parole program for non-violent offenders who have completed the full term for their primary offense. Expands list of offenses that disqualify an inmate from this parole program.
  • Proposition 21, Expand Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control – This initiative would amend state law to allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old. It would allow rent increases on rent-controlled properties of up to 15% over three years from previous tenant’s rent above any increase allowed by local ordinance. It would exempt individuals who own no more than two homes from new rent-control policies.
  • Proposition 22, Changes Employment Classification Rules for App-Based Transportation and Delivery Drivers – This initiative would establish different criteria for determining whether app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery drivers are “employees” or “independent contractors.” Independent contractors are not entitled to certain state-law protections afforded employees—including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation. Instead, companies with independent contractor drivers will be required to provide specified alternative benefits, including: minimum compensation and healthcare subsidies based on engaged driving time, vehicle insurance, safety training, and sexual harassment policies.
  • Proposition 23, Changes Dialysis Clinic Requirements – This initiative would require at least one licensed physician on site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics. It would require clinics to report dialysis-related infection data to state and federal governments. It would prohibit clinics from discriminating against patients based on the source of payment for care.
  • Proposition 24, Amends Consumer Privacy Laws – This initiative would permit consumers to: (1) prevent businesses from sharing personal information; (2) correct inaccurate personal information; and (3) limit businesses’ use of “sensitive personal information”—such as precise geolocation; race; ethnicity; religion; genetic data; union membership; private communications; and certain sexual orientation, health, and biometric information. Changes criteria for which businesses must comply with these laws. Prohibits businesses’ retention of personal information for longer than reasonably necessary. Triples maximum penalties for violations concerning consumers under age 16. Establishes California Privacy Protection Agency to enforce and implement consumer privacy laws, and impose administrative fines.
  • Proposition 25, Replaces Cash Bail with Risk Assessments – This ballot measure would prevent a 2018 law that replaces the money bail system with a system for pretrial release from jail based on a determination of public safety or flight risk, and limits pretrial detention for most misdemeanors from going into effect.

California Local Ballot Measures

References for these compilations are from:

  1. https://www.californiachoices.org/ballot-measures-2020-11
  2. https://www.stateside.com/election/2020-state-and-local-ballot-measures
  3. https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?search=Proposition+15&searchToken=2wofvgqmg70vx51zyd1mtm7fo
  4. https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/

Thanks for reading; liking, and sharing. We hope that Americans, and particularly Californians, will get out to vote, or mail-in their votes on/before November 3rd.