Dr. Drew's California Voter Guide - 2016

If this year's ballot propositions do not scare the hell out of you, then maybe you deserve to be murdered by the next inmate who evades the death penalty. This season's California ballot propositions display a frightening number of bizarre nanny state regulations guaranteed to wrap all of us in enough red tape to spoil the fun of shopping for groceries.

As I sorted through this mess, I found I'm okay with the suggestions made by the Orange County Lincoln Club, except for Proposition 65, which changes how the state deals with carryout bags. Accordingly, here is my take on the California Statewide Ballot Measures:

Vote No On Proposition 51: School Bonds. Funding For K-12 School And Community College Facilities

Vote Yes On Proposition 52: Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program. Initiative Constitutional Amendment And Statute

Vote Yes On Proposition 53: Revenue Bonds. Statewide Voter Approval. Initiative Constitutional Amendment

Vote Yes On Proposition 54: Legislature. Legislation And Proceedings. Initiative Constitutional Amendment And Statute

Vote No On Proposition 55: Tax Extension To Fund Education And Healthcare. Initiative Constitutional Amendment

Vote No On Proposition 56: Cigarette Tax To Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, And Law Enforcement. Initiative Constitutional Amendment And Statute

Vote No On Proposition 57: Criminal Sentences. Parole. Juvenile Criminal Proceedings And Sentencing. Initiative Constitutional Amendment And Statute

Vote No On Proposition 58: English Proficiency. Multilingual Education. Initiative Statute

Vote No On Proposition 59: Corporations. Political Spending. Federal Constitutional Protections. Legislative Advisory Question

Vote No On Proposition 60: Adult Films. Condoms. Health Requirements. Initiative Statute

Vote No On Proposition 61: State Prescription Drug Purchases. Pricing Standards. Initiative Statute

Vote No On Proposition 62: Death Penalty. Initiative Statute

Vote No On Proposition 63: Firearms. Ammunition Sales. Initiative Statute

Vote No On Proposition 64: Marijuana Legalization. Initiative Statute

Vote No On Proposition 65: Carryout Bags. Charges. Initiative Statute

Vote Yes On Proposition 66: Death Penalty. Procedures. Initiative Statute

Vote No On Proposition 67: Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags. Referendum

Here are my local Orange County ballot measure recommendations:

Vote No On Measure M: Capistrano Unified School District, School Facility Improvement District (Sfid) General Obligation Bond

Vote Yes On Measure U: City Of Anaheim, Require 2/3 Vote Of The City Council To Propose Taxes

Vote No On Measure HH: City Of Fountain Valley One-Cent Sales Tax

Vote No On Measure JJ: City Of La Palma One-Cent Sales Tax

Vote Yes On Measure MM: City Of Newport Beach, Require 5 Of 7 Votes Of The City Council To Propose Taxes

Vote Yes On Measure QQ: City Of Stanton One-Cent Sales Tax Repeal

Vote Yes On Measure RR: City Of Stanton Term Limits

Vote No On Measure SS: City Of Westminster One-Cent Sales Tax

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.