A new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows likely voters support California’s June 2010 open primary proposal by a two-to-one margin. Sixty percent of likely voters support the measure, compared to 27 percent who oppose it and 13 percent who are undecided. Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters all support Proposition 14… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Archive
One Result of Proposition 15 May Surprise Voters
In June, Californians will vote on Proposition 15, a measure placed on the ballot by the Legislature that would create a test program for public financing of campaigns in the state. If adopted, the program would apply only to campaigns for the office of Secretary of State, but its proponents hope to expand its scope… Continue Reading
CA Congressional redistricting reform measure qualifies for November ballot
Breaking news from the California Secretary of State’s office: the proposed initiative that would give the Citizens Redistricting Commission control of California’s Congressional redistricting has qualified for the November 2010 ballot. The “Voters First for Congress” proposal, sponsored by Charles Munger, Jr., qualified with 842,260 “valid or projected valid” signatures. The measure needed at least 694,354… Continue Reading
Open primaries (and redistricting reform) reduce polarization
Here’s an easy, simple fact that shows fair districts and open primaries lead to more moderation: After the 2000 election, conducted as an open primary in community-oriented districts drawn by the courts in 1991, the “Bi-Partisan Group” in Sacramento (led by then-Assemblymembers Keith Richmann and Joe Canciamilla) had 27 members. After open primaries were eliminated by the courts and… Continue Reading
Rose Fellow Doug Johnson in Glendale News Press
Rose Institute Fellow Doug Johnson was quoted in an April 17th article in the Glendale News Press called “Armenian candidates split voteâ€. The article discusses the recent Assembly election involving two Armenian candidates, Keuroghelian and Nahabedian, in which many worried that the two would split the Armenian vote, a large constituency in Glendale. Johnson points out,… Continue Reading
New Report: Redistricting in America, A State-by-State Analysis
New Rose Institute Study Analyzes Redistricting Across United States Today the Rose Institute released “Redistricting in America: A State-by-State Analysis.†“Redistricting in America” provides a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of legislative and congressional redistricting systems in each of the 50 states. “Redistricting in America†offers a behind-the-scenes look at the complex and ever-changing world of… Continue Reading
Rose's Doug Johnson and Jack Pitney Quoted on Marijuana Initiative
Rose Institute Fellow Doug Johnson and Senior Fellow Jack Pitney were quoted in a recent Contra Costa Times article analyzing a ballot measure to legalize marijuana in California. Pitney and Johnson agreed that the initiative, which recently qualified for the state’s November ballot, will generate much attention. Johnson said California’s approval of Proposition 215 legalizing… Continue Reading
Illinois Democrats Unveil New Redistricting Plan
Democratic state senators in Illinois have recently introduced a plan to change the process the state uses to draw its legislative districts. On Wednesday, the plan was passed by the Senate’s redistricting committee. It faces a harder battle in the House, however, where the Democratic majority is not as strong. The current process allows the… Continue Reading
Last-minute notice: Rose tweets Applicant Review Panel meeting
Rose Fellow Douglas Johnson is in Sacramento to attend today’s meeting of the Applicant Review Panel. The Panel is a group of auditors from the California State Auditor’s office who have been selected to review the thousands of applications for California’s first-ever Citizens Redistricting Commission. For minute by minute coverage of the meeting from its… Continue Reading
Utah Redistricting: No Reform for 2011
Despite an effort by a group called Fair Boundaries, Utah will not reform its redistricting process before the 2011 cycle. The Fair Boundaries group tried to put a redistricting reform initiative on the 2010 ballot that, if it had been approved, would have reformed redistricting on the congressional, state legislative, and school board levels in… Continue Reading