There are fourteen propositions that will be on the November 3 General Election ballot for voters to decide. Disability Rights California has taken positions on four of these initiatives that could have significant impacts on the disability community.

 

Proposition 1: Support

Authorizes bonds for housing affordability programs

Proposition 1 would issue $11.25 billion in bonds to fund Multifamily Housing Program, CalVet Home Loan Program, and youth housing. Proposition 1 would establish the Affordable Housing Bond Act Trust Fund. These funds would help increase available housing for people with disabilities, including people with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness or facing barriers to affordable housing.

Proposition 3: Support

Provides permanent funding for schools by extending existing tax on high incomes

Proposition 3 would make permanent an existing income tax on high earners that is set to end in 2031. Most of the revenue would go to K–12 schools, with the remainder going to community colleges. This revenue would provide stable funding for schools and colleges, freeing up resources that can support programs and services for students with disabilities.

Proposition 4: Support

Repeals prohibition against public funding of election campaigns

Proposition 4 would repeal California’s ban on public funding for candidate campaigns, allowing state and local governments to create public campaign financing programs. People with disabilities are underrepresented in elected office and often face additional barriers to running, including limited access to financial resources and donor networks. By making campaigns less dependent on personal wealth and wealthy donors, public financing could give more people with disabilities a meaningful opportunity to run for office and participate fully in our democracy.

Proposition 39: Oppose

Prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification

Proposition 39 adds strict voter identification requirements for in-person voting and vote-by-mail voting including: presenting government-issued identification (ID) when voting in person and requiring voters to write the last four digits of a designated government-issued ID number on vote-by-mail ballot envelopes. These requirements will create unnecessary barriers because California already has secure elections and procedures in place to verify voter identity and ensure secure elections. Requiring government-issued ID to vote in person will make it harder for some people with disabilities to cast their ballots because they are less likely to have current government-issued ID. Requiring ID numbers on vote-by-mail ballots could lead to more mistakes and more ballots being rejected.