The Ballot Initiative System in California was designed to give ordinary citizens the chance to change the laws of our state, as well as introduce new ones. That’s why it’s tragic that the process today is so tilted in favor of the rich and well-connected.
Proof of this can be seen in the high costs of a successful campaign. California gives organizers only six months after filing their proposition to collect 365,880 signatures of registered voters, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
The effect of this, according to Kathay Feng, executive director of Common Cause, is that campaigns must hire signature gathering firms in order to have a shot at getting anything on the ballot. These companies send out hundreds of their agents to canvass communities across the state and get signatures from citizens. …show more content…
But even after the signature requirement is met, millions more dollars are needed to compete in California’s expensive media market and organize an effective get-out the vote campaign in order for the proposition to pass.
All together, Feng says the entire cost of an effective campaign--from signature gathering to election-day--comes in the ballpark of $10-$15 million dollars. What this does, she says, is make no initative campaign capable of success unless it receives backing from big money.
“Even campaigns strongly supported by the grassroots, like the initiative to improve cages for Farm Animals, still rely on wealthy backing to get over the hump” Feng said.
The spending data supports her argument. Non-profit thinktank California Common Sense analyzed donor patterns from ballot measure fights that took place between 2000 and 2012.
The report found that $1.8 billion dollars were donated during this period to ballot commitees either in support of or in opposition to indiviudal propositions. Approximately 92% of donors during this period gave gifts of $10,000 or
Proof of this can be seen in the high costs of a successful campaign. California gives organizers only six months after filing their proposition to collect 365,880 signatures of registered voters, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
The effect of this, according to Kathay Feng, executive director of Common Cause, is that campaigns must hire signature gathering firms in order to have a shot at getting anything on the ballot. These companies send out hundreds of their agents to canvass communities across the state and get signatures from citizens. …show more content…
But even after the signature requirement is met, millions more dollars are needed to compete in California’s expensive media market and organize an effective get-out the vote campaign in order for the proposition to pass.
All together, Feng says the entire cost of an effective campaign--from signature gathering to election-day--comes in the ballpark of $10-$15 million dollars. What this does, she says, is make no initative campaign capable of success unless it receives backing from big money.
“Even campaigns strongly supported by the grassroots, like the initiative to improve cages for Farm Animals, still rely on wealthy backing to get over the hump” Feng said.
The spending data supports her argument. Non-profit thinktank California Common Sense analyzed donor patterns from ballot measure fights that took place between 2000 and 2012.
The report found that $1.8 billion dollars were donated during this period to ballot commitees either in support of or in opposition to indiviudal propositions. Approximately 92% of donors during this period gave gifts of $10,000 or