2020 California ballot propositions
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| 2020 California ballot propositions | |
|---|---|
 Hendrik M. Stoops Lugo · Public domain · source | |
| Name | 2020 California ballot propositions |
| Date | November 3, 2020 |
| Location | California |
| Type | Statewide ballot measures |
| Turnout | High (coincided with 2020 United States presidential election) |
| Notable | Proposition 15, Proposition 16, Proposition 22 |
2020 California ballot propositions were a set of statewide measures placed before voters in California on November 3, 2020, the same day as the 2020 United States presidential election and elections for the 116th United States Congress. The measures covered taxation, civil rights, public safety, and constitutional changes, and were influenced by campaigns linked to entities such as the California Teachers Association, California Chamber of Commerce, Service Employees International Union, and technology corporations based in Silicon Valley. High-profile proponents and opponents included elected officials from Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and organizations like the California Democratic Party and California Republican Party.
Background and ballot process
The 2020 measures reached the ballot through legislative referral by the California State Legislature and citizen initiatives via signature collection overseen by the California Secretary of State. The process was shaped by legal frameworks stemming from the California Constitution, statutes such as the California Elections Code, and precedent from cases like California Democratic Party v. Jones and decisions of the California Supreme Court. Campaign finance rules involved disclosure administered by the Fair Political Practices Commission and were affected by rulings from the United States Supreme Court including Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Signature drives used vendors associated with advocacy groups and labor unions, while legislative referrals required supermajority votes in the California State Assembly and California State Senate.
List of propositions
The statewide ballot contained a mix of constitutional amendments, statutes, and advisory measures. Major items included: - Proposition 14 — related to funding for stem cell research and linked institutions such as the University of California and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. - Proposition 15 — a property tax reassessment measure contrasting rules from the landmark Proposition 13 (1978) and debated by fiscal institutions like the California Legislative Analyst's Office. - Proposition 16 — repealing the ban established by Proposition 209 (1996) on affirmative action in public employment and education, implicating the University of California and the California State University systems. - Proposition 17 — restoring voting rights for parolees, engaging stakeholders including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and civil rights groups like the ACLU. - Proposition 18 — expanding voter registration rules for 17-year-olds in certain elections, involving county registrars such as Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. - Proposition 19 — property tax portability and wildfire relief provisions, affecting counties like Orange County and Santa Clara County. - Proposition 20 — parole and criminal sentence changes revisiting reforms from the 2014 Proposition 47 and the 2016 Proposition 57. - Proposition 21 — rent control adjustments interacting with municipal governments including the City of San Francisco and the City of Los Angeles. - Proposition 22 — classification of app-based drivers, central to companies such as Uber Technologies, Inc., Lyft, Inc., and DoorDash, Inc.. - Proposition 23 — dialysis facility staffing and standards, involving medical groups like the American Medical Association and providers such as DaVita Inc.. - Proposition 24 — consumer privacy, expanding frameworks similar to the California Consumer Privacy Act and affecting firms headquartered in Menlo Park and Palo Alto. - Proposition 25 — referendum on replacing cash bail with a risk assessment system, intersecting with counties such as San Francisco County and legal entities like the Contra Costa County Public Defender. - Additional measures addressed technical corrections, bond issuances, and local governance issues.
Campaigns and major supporters
Advocacy coalitions mobilized substantial resources: labor organizations including the AFL–CIO and the Teamsters supported measures on workers' rights and funding for public services, while corporate coalitions involving Alphabet Inc., Apple Inc., and Facebook, Inc. opposed regulations perceived as limiting platform models. Philanthropic actors such as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and policy groups like the California Business Roundtable invested in advertising and outreach. Political leaders — including then-Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Representative Nancy Pelosi — publicly endorsed or opposed specific propositions, and municipal bodies from Sacramento to San Diego issued position statements. Grassroots organizations such as Black Lives Matter chapters and environmental groups like the Sierra Club also played key roles.
Arguments, endorsements, and opposition
Paid media, endorsements, and opposition statements centered on fiscal impacts, civil rights, public safety, and consumer protections. Supporters of Proposition 15 framed it with endorsements from the California Teachers Association and California Federation of Teachers, while opponents included business groups like the California Chamber of Commerce and local taxpayer associations. Proposition 16 drew backing from the NAACP, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and certain university administrators, with opposition from actors linked to Proposition 209 (1996). Proposition 22 spawned a historically expensive campaign with endorsements from executives at Uber Technologies, Inc. and legal filings by industry trade groups, opposed by public interest groups such as the ACLU and criminal justice reform advocates. Endorsement lists also included influential newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle, and major unions like the Service Employees International Union weighed in across multiple measures.
Election results and implementation
Voter outcomes produced mixed results that reshaped policy in California. Proposition 22 passed and required implementation actions by state agencies including the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and enforcement mechanisms tied to the California Department of Industrial Relations. Proposition 15 failed to overturn key provisions of Proposition 13 (1978), preserving existing property tax frameworks administered by county assessors such as the Los Angeles County Assessor. Proposition 16 did not pass, maintaining the ban from Proposition 209 (1996)]. Proposition 17 and Proposition 19 passed, prompting changes coordinated by the California Secretary of State and county officials for election administration and tax policy. Implementation often required rulemaking by state departments and coordination with institutions like the Judicial Council of California and local governments.
Legal challenges and post-election developments
Post-election litigation challenged provisions of measures such as Proposition 22 regarding preemption and labor law classification, bringing cases before the California Supreme Court and federal courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Plaintiffs ranged from municipal prosecutors in San Francisco to labor organizations including the Teamsters, and defendants included corporate plaintiffs represented by firms with ties to Silicon Valley counsel. Decisions referenced precedent from National Labor Relations Board jurisprudence and federal statutes like the Fair Labor Standards Act. Other post-election developments involved legislative adjustments by the California State Legislature and ballot measure reform proposals studied by the California Legislative Analyst's Office and advocacy groups including the Public Policy Institute of California. The outcomes continue to influence policymaking in California and serve as reference points in national debates involving tech platforms, criminal justice reform, and tax policy.