Californians Continue to Like Initiative Process, But to Worry About “Special Interest” Influence
See page 17 of the latest PPIC survey, finding 55% of Californians believe the initiative process is controlled “a lot” by special intereests.
Category Archives: direct democracy
“Judge Edits ‘Independent’ From Ballot Proposition”
NY Law Journal:
A judge Wednesday ordered state elections officials to delete the word “independent” from the description and text of a proposition on November’s general election ballot that would create a new commission to oversee the redrawing of… Continue reading
When Was the Last Time a Rich Person Failed to Qualify a Measure for CA Ballot?
Six Californias fails to qualify for ballot, per Chris Megarian.
Survey of State Constitutional Convention Procedures
Jim Snider has compiled this survey of 14 states with periodic state constitutional convention referendums along with a preliminary ranking at the Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse.
“Why shouldn’t California voters get to weigh in on Citizens United?”
“Could Prop. 49 be Prop. 140 redux?”
David Ettinger:
Which raises the question of how the Supreme Court’s order will affect inter-branch relations and brings to mind the court’s action almost a quarter century ago on another ballot measure, Proposition 140. That measure was definitely not … Continue reading
Ventura County Anti-Pension Ballot Measure Booted from Ballot
“California State Court of Appeals Won’t Remove Advisory Measure on Campaign Finance from California November 2014 Ballot”
Ballot Access News reports.
The Sacramento Bee says the challengers are now petitioning the CA Supreme Court.
Irony Dept: Group Exposing Names of Signers of Anti-Gay Petition are Themselves Staying Anonymous Citing Fears of Harassment
You can’t make this stuff up.
Chris Geidner:
In a twist, the people behind the website, HEROpetition.com, are themselves remaining anonymous. A person responding to an inquiry made to the email address provided on the website, HEROpetition.com, told BuzzFeed… Continue reading
“Names and addresses of Texans who signed anti-gay petition leaked online”
Gay Star News:
Texas LGBT group has published on the Internet the personal details of Texans who signed a petition against a recent LGBT anti-discrimination bill.
A group under the website HeroPetition.com, named after the Houston Equal Rights… Continue reading
Dept. of Ewwww…Groping Petition Canvassers
Water bond petition workers caught on home surveillance video:
Canvassers working on behalf of the Let Claremont Vote Committee started making the rounds last week, circulating a petition for a separate measure calling for voter approval on the city’s water… Continue reading
“BREAKING: Over four dissents, 10th Circuit denies en banc hearing in Guarantee Clause case”
Derek Muller has the news.
This is potentially a huge case and I expect it will be bound for the Supreme Court.
“Will There Ever Be Six Californias?”
My interview with WSJ Digital about the proposed ballot measure.
“Taking the Initiative: How to Save Direct Democracy”
Jessica Levinson has posted this draft of SSRN (forthcoming, Lewis and Clark Law Review). Here is the abstract:
In Meyer v. Grant a unanimous Supreme Court dealt a grievous blow to the most popular form of direct democracy – the… Continue reading