Very Interesting Results of Some Election Reform Survey Questions in Latest PPIC Survey

The survey is here. Some selected questions and answers in this new survey of California voters:

22. Some people have proposed changing California's state primary elections from a partially closed system to a system where registered voters could cast ballots for any candidate in a primary and the top two votegetters-- regardless of party--would advance to the general election. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
70% good idea
23 bad idea
7 don't know
... 25. On another topic, overall, do you think public policy decisions made through the initiative process by California voters are probably better or probably worse than public policy decisions made by the governor and state legislature?
56% probably better
28 probably worse
5 same (volunteered)
11 don't know
...

Reforms have been suggested to address issues that arise in the initiative process. Please say whether you would favor or oppose each of the following reform proposals.

26. How about increasing public disclosure of funding sources for signature-gathering and initiative campaigns?

81% favor

14 oppose

5 don't know


27. How about a period of time in which the initiative sponsor and the legislature could meet to see if there is a compromise solution before initiatives go to the ballot?

80% favor

15 oppose

5 don't know


28. Next, as you may know, the state currently operates under a constitution adopted in 1879 that has been amended many times since then through ballot propositions passed by the voters. Overall, do you think
the California Constitution needs major changes or minor changes or is it fine the way it is?

33% major changes

36 minor changes

24 fine the way it is

7 don't know

Posted by Rick Hasen at September 11, 2009 08:20 AM