By Ryan Fogg, Nov. 5, 2024
In addition to voting for the future president of the United States, on Election Day, Californians will also vote for several initiatives and propositions that will impact their lives. The University Village collaborated with the Rose Institute of State and Local Government from Claremont McKenna College to educate students on these measures.
The University Village hosted two sessions in the Village Recreation Center at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 22.
Two research assistants from the Rose Institute, Katherine Lanzalotto and Katherine Jackson, both seniors at Claremont College, led the discussions. Lanzalotto is majoring in philosophy, politics and economics while Jackson is pursuing a degree in government and psychology.
There are 10 propositions up for voting Nov. 5, including those that cover education spending, housing, same-sex marriage and more, according to CalMatters.
Propositions that have occupied the most attention at the University Village were those on education spending, affordable housing and increasing sentences for certain drug and theft crimes.
According to the Secretary of State website, Proposition 2 authorizes $10 billion to repair, upgrade and construct new K-12 public schools, including charters. Opponents of this ballot measure argue it will cost taxpayers more money. Supporters of the bill state that many schools and community colleges are outdated and need basic repairs to retain teachers.
Proposition 33 expands the local government’s authority to enact rent control on residential property. Advocates of Proposition 33 argue this would directly make housing more affordable, limiting a landlord’s ability to upcharge rent.
Proposition 36 is the most controversial in the state. The proposition allows felony charges and increased sentences for drug and theft charges. Opponents of the measure believe it will continue the failed war on drugs by making simple drug possession a felony and spend billions of dollars on prisons. Supporters argue the proposition is a balanced approach to fix current laws and it toughens penalties for fentanyl and drug traffickers, which has been a growing issue in California.
The director of the Rose Institute of State and Local Government Ken Miller advised students to always look for non-partisan information when it comes to voter information.
“Don’t fall for big advertising,” Miller said. “Instead, focus on information you receive in the mail by the Secretary of State on voting guidelines.”
Miller is also a professor at Claremont McKenna College who has taught California politics for 21 years.
Michelle Viorato, Cal Poly Pomona’s Director for Strategic Initiatives and Special Programs, coordinated the Election Fair on campus and when Rose Institute wasn’t able to attend Election Fair, she connected them with Kyle Sirowy for scheduling the event.
According to Sirowy, an estimated 75 students from the University Village showed up in attendance for both of the sessions. If students missed the chance to attend the event, the Rose Institute has educational videos online that cover every proposition on its official website.
However, some CPP students argue that a similar event should be organized on campus because many students lack information about propositions because media have been saturated only with the information on presidential candidates.
“I think they should be bringing these events to the main campus, especially during U-Hour to inform more students,” political science major Robert Godinez said.
For CPP students like Godinez who don’t live on campus, events like these are harder to attend. Hosting a similar event on campus could improve attendance and educate more students with voter information that is critical to help them fill out their ballots.
Feature image courtesy of Kyle Sirowy