WHAT'S ON
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The President is both the head of state and head of government of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Each of the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives is elected to serve a two-year term to represent the people of their congressional district. Their rights and responsibilities include:
Making the Laws!
This includes introducing, debating, and amending bills on local, national, or international policy issues. Members serve on committees and fight for issues that are of interest to their constituents.
Ensuring that Laws are Working:
They conduct investigations to ensure that laws are being implemented as intended. This means participating in hearings, studies, and informal communication with agencies and those affected by a program or policy.
Serving the People:
Managing casework to ensure that constituents can access federal benefits like social security or solving constituents’ problems with agencies.
PROPOSITIONS
Click on the Propositions below to find out what they are and how
your vote will make an impact on Latinos and beyond!
PROPOSITION 14
STEM CELL RESEARCH BOND INITIATIVE
What is it?
To issue $5.5 billion in general-obligation bonds to fund stem cell research.
Terms Explained
General-obligation bonds: A loan that can be issued to local governments to finance the construction of things like highways, bridges or schools. GBOs are issued with the belief that the borrower—in this case the state of California—will be able to repay its debt through taxation or revenue from projects.
Why This Matters for Latinos
Stem cell research has been used to advance treatments for chronic diseases and conditions, like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Latino adults are 1.7 times more likely than white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
Supporters
American Association for Cancer Research American Diabetes Association Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation
Opposition
Center for Genetics and Society
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports issuing $5.5 billion in general-obligation bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes issuing $5.5 billion in general-obligation bonds for the CIRM.
PROPOSITION 15
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES FIRST
What is it?
To require commercial and industrial properties to be taxed based on their market value, rather than the property’s purchase price. Revenue generated from this initiative would go to fund K-12 schools, community colleges, and local services. Rules for residential properties would not be changed.
Why This
Matters for
Latinos
Counties with significant Latino populations, including Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Clara, would gain billions to fund K-12 schools, community colleges, and local services.
Statewide, more than half of the K-12 student population is Latino. There are approximately 1 million Latino students in California’s higher education system.
Latinos are more likely than other demographic groups in California to attend high poverty schools.
Supporters
California State Parent Teacher Association
Community College League of California
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)-California
Opposition
California Taxpayers Association
California Chamber of Commerce
California Business Properties Association
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports requiring commercial and industrial properties to be taxed based on their market value, rather than their purchase price.
NO vote
A “No” vote allows for commercial and industrial properties to continue being taxed based on the property’s purchase price.
PROPOSITION 16
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
What is it?
To end California’s ban on affirmative action. This would allow schools and public agencies to take race and gender into account when making admission, hiring or contracting decisions.
Why This Matters for Latinos
After affirmative action was first banned in California (via 1996’s Prop 209), Latino enrollment at the University of California dropped significantly.
Today, California Latinos are less likely to have college degrees than other major racial/ethnic groups in the state-only 12 percent of bachelor’s degrees, compared to 42 percent of whites.
Latino small business account for nearly a quarter of all state business. Since 1996, when California banned race-conscious contracting by state and local governments, minority and women-owned business owners have seen approximately $1 billion in annual losses.
Supporters
University of California Board of Regents
California Federation of Teachers
California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
Opposition
Asian American Coalition for Education
American Freedom Alliance
Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.
YES vote
A “Yes” vote repeals Prop 209 (1996), thus allowing public universities, schools and government agencies to use race and gender in their admissions criteria, hiring and contract decisions.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes the measure, thus maintaining Proposition 209, which prohibits schools and public agencies from using race and gender into account when making admission, hiring, or contracting decisions.
PROPOSITION 17
RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS FOR
PERSONS ON PAROLE
What is it?
To allow Californians on parole for felony convictions to vote. Currently, these parolees are restricted from voting until their time of parole has been completed.
Terms Explained
Parole: the conditional release of a person (parolee) from the prison prior to the end of the sentence imposed.
Felony: In California, a felony is a crime that carries a maximum sentence of more than one year in jail or prison. The most common felony arrests in California assaults, robberies, theft and burglary.
Why This Matters for Latinos
Latinos account for 40 percent of California’s parolee population, nearly double the rate of their white counterparts. That’s approximately 16,000 Latinos who are not in prison and are currently unable to cast a ballot.
Supporters
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California
Brennan Center for Justice
League of Women Voters of California
Opposition
State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Roseville)
Election Integrity Project California, Inc.
Crime Victims United of California
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports allowing people on parole for felony convictions to vote.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes allowing people on parole for felony convictions to vote.
PROPOSITION 18
ALLOWING ELIGIBLE 17-YEAR OLDS TO VOTE
What is it?
To allow eligible 17-year olds to register and vote in primary and special elections if they turn 18 by the time of the general election in November.
Why This Matters for Latinos
California’s Latino voters tend to be younger, compared to other demographic groups. Gaps in voter registration rates also persist-nearly six in ten unregistered voters are Latino.
Cities that have lowered the voting age in municipal elections have seen higher turnout among 17-year olds than among older voters.
Supporters
California Association of Student Councils
California League of Conservation Voters
Opposition
Election Integrity Project California, Inc.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
YES vote
A “Yes” vote would allow 17-year olds to vote in primary and special elections, on the condition that they would be 18 by the time of the general election in November.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes allowing 17-year olds to vote in primary and special elections, even if they would be 18 by the time of the general election.
PROPOSITION 19
PROPERTY TAX TRANSFERS
What is it?
To allow Californians who are 55 and older, disabled, or displaced by wildfires, to carry their existing, lower property tax rates to new homes anywhere in the state.
The measure limits the ability of Californians who inherit properties to keep their parents’ or grandparents’ low property tax payments.
It would also allocate additional revenue or net savings resulting from the ballot measure to counties and wildfire agencies.
Why This Matters for Latinos
Inherited homes are more likely to have paid-off mortgages and allow children to tap the home’s equity for loans. These advantages for wealth-building are enjoyed primarily by white and affluent families, since Latino and lower-income families own homes at lower rates.
The Latino population has grown in regions of California that are highly prone to wildfires. Sonoma and Napa counties, for example, grew by more than 60 percent each between 2000 and 2015.
Supporters
California Realtors Association
California Professional Firefighters
Opposition
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
YES vote
A “Yes” vote would allow eligible homeowners to transfer their tax assessments to anywhere within the state, while limiting the ability of Californians who inherit property taxes to keep their parents’ or grandparents’ low property tax rate.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes allowing homeworkers to transfer their tax assessments to anywhere within the state; and maintains tax assessments on inherited homes to be transferred from parent to child or grandparent to grandchild.
PROPOSITION 20
STRICTER SENTENCING AND PAROLE
What is it?
To make some theft and fraud crimes chargeable as felonies rather than misdemeanors.
The measure would also expand the list of crimes that would give parole boards more leeway to deny offenders parole.
It would also require persons convicted of certain misdemeanors (shoplifting, drug possession, etc.) to submit DNA samples for state and federal databases.
Terms Explained
Felony: In California, a felony is a crime that carries a maximum sentence of more than one year in jail or prison. The most common felony arrests in California are assaults, robberies, theft, and burglary.
Misdemeanor: A misdemeanor is a less serious crime than a felony. These crimes usually involve jail time, smaller fines, and temporary punishments. In California, the most common misdemeanor arrests are for traffic offenses.
Why This Matters for Latinos
Latinos account for 40 percent of California’s parolee population, nearly double the rate of their white counterparts. That’s approximately 16,000 Latinos.
Supporters
California Police Chiefs Association
California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
Albertsons Companies, Inc.
Opposition
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California
Californians for Public Safety and Rehabilitation
Former California Governor Jerry Brown
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports making some theft and fraud crimes chargeable as felonies rather than misdemeanors; imposing restrictions on parole; and requiring DNA testing for some offenders.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes making some theft and fraud crimes chargeable as felonies rather than misdemeanors; imposing restrictions on parole; and requiring DNA testing for some offenders..
PROPOSITION 21
RENT CONTROL
What is it?
To allow cities and counties to enact rent control on housing that is at least 15 years old. Single-family homes owned by landlords with no more than two properties would be exempt.
Why This Matters for Latinos
More than half of Latinos in California rent their home.
Latinos also make up nearly half of Californians burdened with unaffordable housing costs. This can lead to negative health outcomes, since these families often have insufficient resources remaining for other essential needs, such as quality food and healthcare.
Supporters
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Healthy Housing Foundation
Eviction Defense Network
Opposition
Community Revitalization and Development Corporation
Coalition of Small Rental Property Owners
California Builders Alliance
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports allowing local governments to enact rent control on housing that is at least 15 years old.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes this measure, thus prohibiting local governments to enact new rent control laws.
PROPOSITION 22
APP-BASED DRIVERS
What is it?
To classify app-based drivers (Uber, Lyft, etc.) as independent contractors rather than employees.
As contractors, drivers would be guaranteed minimum wage based on driving time, a health insurance stipend, as well as compensation for on-the-job injuries.
They would not be entitled to the same wage and benefit guarantees as employees, such as paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, and state minimum wage. As contractors, drivers would also not be allowed to unionize.
Terms Explained
Independent Contractors: These workers are in business for themselves (“self-employed”). They’re generally free to work on multiple projects at the same time and take jobs on a freelance basis.
Employees: Workers that are employed by a business, person, or government entity. Employees have many legal rights that independent contractors do not. Those can include the right to overtime pay, the right to meal breaks, and the right to a minimum wage.
Why This Matters for Latinos
At Uber, for example, the largest rideshare company, as many as 1 in 5 drivers are Latino.
Supporters
Lyft, Inc.
Uber Technologies, Inc.
DoorDash, Inc.
Opposition
California Labor Federation
Service Employees International Union
Transport Workers Union of America
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports the measure to classify app-based drivers as independent contractors and adopt labor and wage policies specific to rideshare companies and workers
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes classifying app-based drivers as independent contractors.
PROPOSITION 23
INCREASED DIALYSIS CLINIC REGULATIONS
What is it?
To require dialysis clinics to have at least one physician on-site at all times and to report patient infection data to California health officials. It would also require these clinics to obtain consent from the state health department before closing; and would prohibit discrimination against patients based on the source of payment for care.
Why This Matters for Latinos
Latinos are 1.6 times more likely to develop kidney failure compared to non-Latinos, a health condition that requires dialysis treatment.
Supporters
Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection
Service Employees International
Union-United Healthcare Workers West
Opposition
DeVita, Inc.
California Medical Association
CA State Conference NAACP
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports: requiring dialysis clinics to have at least one physician on-site at all times; reporting patient infection data to California health officials; requiring clinics to obtain consent from the state health department before closing; prohibiting discrimination against patents based on their source of payment for care.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes: requiring dialysis clinics to have at least one physician on-site at all times; reporting patient infection data to California health officials; requiring clinics to obtain consent from the state health department before closing; clinics not discriminating against patients based on their source of payment for care.
PROPOSITION 24
BOOST CONSUMER PRIVACY LAWS
What is it?
To establish a new state agency dedicated to enforcing privacy laws, increase financial penalties against violators and allow consumers to ask that their personal information not be sold.
Why This Matters for Latinos
Latino consumers represent a rapidly growing group of buyers and influencers. Their heavy use and early adoption of new technology make Latinos a highly sought-after market.
According to a national survey, 65 percent of Latinos think their personal information is less secure today than it the past.
Supporters
Californians for Consumer Privacy
Common Sense
Alastair Mactaggart
Opposition
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California
Consumer Federation of California
Dolores Huerta
YES vote
A “Yes” vote supports expanding the state’s consumer data privacy laws, which would include increasing financial penalties against violators; and allowing customers to ask that their personal information not be sold.
NO vote
A “No” vote opposes expanding California’s consumer data privacy laws.
PROPOSITION 25
CASH BAIL
What is it?
To end California’s cash bail system and give judges the authority to assess and determine whether someone should be released while awaiting trial, based on the potential risk they pose to themselves or others.
Terms Explained
Cash bail (and how it works): If you are arrested for a serious crime, the authorities will not release you from custody unless they are confident that you will show up in court for all required hearings and trial. Bail is simply an amount of money that is deposited with the court to ensure that you show up for all court proceedings.
Why This Matters for Latinos
In Los Angeles alone, Latinos paid $92.1 million for bail bonds between 2012 and 2016. The burden of payment often falls on women, such as mothers, wives, grandmothers, and friends of the accused.
EN 
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