Carl DeMaio and Reform California have released their “Plain English” voter guide to give you an easy-to-understand explanation of the ballot measures and to grade candidates.
California’s Election is underway and ballots must be returned by November 5, 2024. With a bunch of confusing ballot measures and hundreds of candidates running for office, voters can feel overwhelmed and lost.
This “Plain English” voter guide makes voting simple – especially when it comes to the ballot measures and local offices that do not allow candidates to disclose their party affiliation. Endorsements below are given only to candidates who “passed the test” on these crucial criteria: opposing taxes, fighting crime, improving schools, addressing homelessness, and securing the border!
2024 offers a real chance for a wave election to block costly tax hikes and elect common-sense leaders - but to do that we need your help in turning out your friends, family and neighbors to vote and share this easy-to-understand voter guide with them!
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Contribute to Voter Guide CampaignPRIORITY STATEWIDE MEASURES
Proposition 5: NO
Plain English Title: Guts Prop 13 and Makes it Easier to Raise Taxes by Lowering Vote Required on Ad-Valorem Taxes from Two-Thirds to 55%
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Allows Local Bonds for Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure with 55% Voter Approval. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Description: California politicians have long sought to repeal Prop 13 and impose costly and unfair tax hikes on struggling residents. Prop 5 is another effort to chip away at Prop 13 protections and make it much easier for politicians to raise your taxes. Californians face a cost-of-living crisis and simply cannot afford higher taxes that Prop 5 would help impose.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 5
Proposition 36: YES
Plain English Title: Restores Ability for Police and Prosecutors to Arrest and Punish Criminals to Combat Crime Wave
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes. Initiative Statute.
Description: In 2014 California’s liberal politicians lied to voters on the ballot with a false title on Prop 47 – claiming the measure enhanced public safety but it actually coddled criminals by eliminating the ability of police and prosecutors to arrest and punish criminals for a wide range of crimes. Now California faces a massive crime wave with both property and violent crime spiking. Prop 36 will reverse the bad Prop 47 policies that benefit criminals and give police and prosecutors the tools they need to protect us.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 36
OTHER STATEWIDE MEASURES
Proposition 2: NO
Plain English Title: $10 Billion in More State Debt for Unspecified Expenditures in School Districts. Funds to Be Awarded Without Fair and Open Competition.
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Authorizes Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities. Legislative Statute.
Description: Prop 2 maxes out the state’s credit card by borrowing $10 billion at high interest rates – at a time when school enrollment in California is rapidly declining and local politicians are discriminating against Charter Schools by prohibiting them from using public facilities. Prop 2 funds will likely be diverted to fill district budget deficits. Prop 2 also contains a mandatory Project Labor Agreement provision gutting fair and open competition on construction contracts at school districts so funds are diverted to politically-connected firms.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 2
Proposition 3: YES
Plain English Title: Updating State Constitution to Reflect 2015 US Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Gay Marriage
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Constitutional Right to Marriage. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Description: There is no reason why this issue is even on the ballot in 2024 as this has been settled constitutional law since 2015.
Proposition 4: NO
Plain English Title: $10 Billion in More State Debt for Unspecified Climate Change Projects.
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Authorizes Bonds for Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands from Climate Risks. Legislative Statute.
Description: Prop 4 maxes out the state’s credit card by borrowing $10 billion at high interest rates – with no associated plan to fix the state’s water crisis and no commitment to address failures in fire risk management. The vast majority of Prop 4 funds will go to wasteful climate change projects and to backfill budget deficits.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 4
Proposition 6: NO
Plain English Title: Removes Requirement that Criminals in Prison Have to Do Work Details – Allows Prisoners to Unionize and Demand Pay Hikes from Taxpayers
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Eliminates Constitutional Provision Allowing Involuntary Servitude for Incarcerated Persons. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Description: Prop 6 is being sold as a ban on “slavery and involuntary servitude” but it actually just eliminates the ability of state prisons to require criminals behind bars do work to earn their keep. Worse, taxpayers will be forced to give pay raises to prisoners for doing tasks they should be doing themselves like cleaning their cells and common areas, doing laundry, making foods, etc.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 6
Proposition 32: NO
Plain English Title: $18 Minimum Wage Increase – Can’t Be Revoked Unless Voters Vote Again
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Raises Minimum Wage. Initiative Statute.
Description: At a time when Californians are suffering under high inflation and previous minimum wage hikes have spiked prices and destroyed entry-level jobs, Prop 32 would codify a massive wage hike through a voter initiative.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 32
Proposition 33: NO
Plain English Title: Expands Local Governments’ Ability to Pass Rent Control Laws and Restrict Other Private Property Rights
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property. Initiative Statute.
Description: Californians are suffering under high housing and rent prices, but rent control would actually make housing substantially more expensive. Rent control has never worked – just ask renters in San Francisco and Los Angeles that both have the most aggressive rent control laws. If Prop 33 passes, rent control will choke supply of rental units and lead to a massive price spike.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 33
Proposition 34: YES
Plain English Title: Campaign Finance Reform – Preventing Use of Taxpayer Money in Politics
Politicians’ Deceptive Title on Ballot: Restricts Spending by Health Care Providers Meeting Specified Criteria. Initiative Statute.
Description: Prop 34 was put on the ballot because a so-called non-profit (The AIDS Healthcare Foundation) has received hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds for their programs through government contracts and has used those funds to engage in ballot measure campaigns to advance liberal policies. Prop 34 would end that scheme.
>> Watch Short Video Explaining Prop 34
Proposition 35: NO
Plain English Title: Health Care Tax Increase
Politicians’ Deceptive Title: Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services. Initiative Statute.
Description: Prop 35 permanently imposes a tax on health care – specifically managed care organizations (MCOs) that offer health insurance coverage. For this reason we recommend a NO vote. However, there are a number of worthy provisions in this initiative to hold state politicians accountable for spending health care funds on health care and for ensuring that reimbursement rates to struggling health care providers are made more sustainable. We hope to see those good provisions in a future initiative presented to voters.
Measure E: NO
Beaumont Unified School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure E is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure G: NO
Palm Desert
Plain English Translation: Increases Sales Taxes
Measure G is a massive tax increase that will cost you hundreds more per year and increase your sales tax! Politicians say this tax hike will fund specific areas such as “roads” and “public safety” — but they use these words only because they polled these terms, and they think they will entice you into supporting the measure. In fact, the city’s own budget and fiscal forecast proves these claims to be completely false. In fact, this measure does NOT require politicians to spend the new tax on the services claimed. Instead, the city’s own financial plans have the proceeds being diverted to cover salary hikes and overly generous pension payouts to city workers. The cost of living is already too high and this tax hike would make that crisis much worse. A NO vote blocks this tax hike.
Measure H: NO
Perris Elementary School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure H is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure I: NO
Romoland School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure I is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure J: NO
City of Palm Springs
Plain English Translation: Increases Sales Taxes
Measure J is a massive tax increase that will cost you hundreds more per year and increase your sales tax! Politicians say this tax hike will fund specific areas such as “roads” and “parks” — but they use these words only because they polled these terms, and they think they will entice you into supporting the measure. In fact, the city’s own budget and fiscal forecast proves these claims to be completely false. In fact, this measure does NOT require politicians to spend the new tax on the services claimed. Instead, the city’s own financial plans have the proceeds being diverted to cover salary hikes and overly generous pension payouts to city workers. The cost of living is already too high and this tax hike would make that crisis much worse. A NO vote blocks this tax hike.
Measure K: NO
Nuview Union School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure K is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure L: YES
City of Riverside
Plain English Translation: Creates an Inspector General to Audit Government
Measure L would amend the Riverside City charter to create an independent city Inspector General to review the finances and performance of city departments. These offices can be a good check on politicians in bringing corruption and government waste to light.
Measure N: NO
Hemet
Plain English Translation: Increases Hotel Sales Taxes
Measure N is a massive tax increase. This measure does NOT require politicians to spend the new tax on the services claimed. Instead, the city’s own financial plans have the proceeds being diverted to cover salary hikes and overly generous pension payouts to city workers. The cost of living is already too high and this tax hike would make that crisis much worse. A NO vote blocks this tax hike.
Measure O: NO
Banning Unified School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure O is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure P: NO
Desert Hot Springs
Plain English Translation: Increases Sales Taxes
Measure P is a massive tax increase that will cost you hundreds more per year and increase your sales tax! Politicians say this tax hike will fund specific areas such as “roads” and “public safety” — but they use these words only because they polled these terms, and they think they will entice you into supporting the measure. In fact, the city’s own budget and fiscal forecast proves these claims to be completely false. In fact, this measure does NOT require politicians to spend the new tax on the services claimed. Instead, the city’s own financial plans have the proceeds being diverted to cover salary hikes and overly generous pension payouts to city workers. The cost of living is already too high and this tax hike would make that crisis much worse. A NO vote blocks this tax hike.
Measure R: NO
Menifee Union School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure R is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure S: NO
Palm Springs Unified
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure S is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure T: NO
Lake Elsinore Unified School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure T is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure U: NO
Moreno Valley
Plain English Translation: Increases Sales Taxes
Measure U is a massive tax increase that will cost you hundreds more per year and increase your sales tax! Politicians say this tax hike will fund specific areas such as “roads” and “public safety” — but they use these words only because they polled these terms, and they think they will entice you into supporting the measure. In fact, the city’s own budget and fiscal forecast proves these claims to be completely false. In fact, this measure does NOT require politicians to spend the new tax on the services claimed. Instead, the city’s own financial plans have the proceeds being diverted to cover salary hikes and overly generous pension payouts to city workers. The cost of living is already too high and this tax hike would make that crisis much worse. A NO vote blocks this tax hike.
Measure V: NO
Jarupa Unified School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure V is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure W: NO
Cathedral City
Plain English Translation: Increases Sales Taxes
Measure W is a massive tax increase that will cost you hundreds more per year and increase your sales tax! Politicians say this tax hike will fund specific areas such as “roads” and “public safety” — but they use these words only because they polled these terms, and they think they will entice you into supporting the measure. In fact, the city’s own budget and fiscal forecast proves these claims to be completely false. In fact, this measure does NOT require politicians to spend the new tax on the services claimed. Instead, the city’s own financial plans have the proceeds being diverted to cover salary hikes and overly generous pension payouts to city workers. The cost of living is already too high and this tax hike would make that crisis much worse. A NO vote blocks this tax hike.
Measure X: NO
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure X is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Measure Z: NO
Canyon Lake
Plain English Translation: Increases Sales Taxes
Measure Z is a massive tax increase that will cost you hundreds more per year and increase your sales tax! Politicians say this tax hike will fund specific areas such as “roads” and “public safety” — but they use these words only because they polled these terms, and they think they will entice you into supporting the measure. In fact, the city’s own budget and fiscal forecast proves these claims to be completely false. In fact, this measure does NOT require politicians to spend the new tax on the services claimed. Instead, the city’s own financial plans have the proceeds being diverted to cover salary hikes and overly generous pension payouts to city workers. The cost of living is already too high and this tax hike would make that crisis much worse. A NO vote blocks this tax hike.
Measure CC: NO
Riverside Community College District
Plain English Translation: Increases Property Taxes and Authorizes More Debt Through Bonds
Measure CC is a massive property tax increase and authorization to allow the district to go further into debt by issuing more bonds. With local families struggling with the current cost-of-living crisis, now is simply not the time to be raising taxes and going deeper into debt.
Donald J Trump
U.S. Senate
Steve Garvey
U.S. House of Representatives
District 25: Ian M. Weeks
District 35: Definitely NOT Norma Torres
District 39: Definitely NOT Mark Takano
District 40: Young Kim
District 41: Ken Calvert
District 48: Darrell Issa
Senate
District 19: Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh
District 31: Cynthia Navarro
Assembly
District 36: Jeff Gonzalez
District 47: Greg Wallis
District 58: Leticia Castillo
District 60: Ron Edwards
District 63: Bill Essayli
District 71: Kate Sanchez
Riverside County Superior Court Judge
Gerald Pfohl
City Council
David Fenn
City Council
District 2: Emanual Suarez
City Council
Fia Sullivan
City Council
District 2: Joe Pradetto
District 3: Gina Nestande
City Council
District 1: Norm Kyriss
District 3: Malcom Lilienthal
District 4: Joe Males
City Council
Crystal Ruiz
Clarisa Sanchez
City Council
District 2: Steve Manos
District 4: Natasha Johnson
District 5: Bob Magee
Mayor
Lesa Sobek
City Council
District 3: Dan Temple
Mayor
Lori Stone
City Council
District 3: Mike DeSena
City Council
District 4: Bridgette Moore
City Council
District 1: George Rapciewicz
District 2: Jessica Alexander
Trustee Area 4: Joel Ball
Trustee Area 1: Anna Coriddi-Meza
Trustee Area 2: Kenny Snell
Trustee Area 4: Marcelle Williams
Trustee Area 3: Amanda Vickers
Trustee Area 2: No endorsement
Trustee Area 3: Julie Vandegrift
Trustee Area 4: Eleanor Briggs
Trustee Area 5: Christine Schmidt
Trustee Area 3: Charles Hall
Trustee Area 1: Melinda Anderson
Trustee Area 4: Dr. Joseph Komrosky
Trustee Area 5: Jon Cobb
Trustee Area 2: Emil Barham
Division 2: Harvey Ryan
Division 4: Matthew Dobler
Bill Wilson
NOTE: If we do not make a recommendation on a candidate or ballot measure, we either could not support the measure or candidates running in that race, or do not have enough information to make an informed recommendation.
Reform California needs volunteers to canvass their neighborhood and distribute the voter guide.
Sign Up to VolunteerReform California needs needs your financial support to run ads, send mailers, and hire students to distribute the voter guide.
Contribute to Voter Guide CampaignThe nonpartisan nonprofit The Transparency Foundation has launched a "Secure the Vote" Initiative that is dedicated to identifying and training voters to vote quickly and legally. The effort also aims to track and report problem ballots in our push for election integrity and security! Learn more about the program and how you can vote the S.A.F.E. way this election below!
Vote the S.A.F.E. WayPrint the voter guide yourself and share it with your friends, family, and community!
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