VOTER GUIDE TO 2020 CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS
WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR CHRISTIANS ON THE 2020 CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS?
Key Facts
The 2020 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
For California voters, there will be 12 different propositions to vote on. [1]
A proposition is a referendum or initiative in that citizens can vote directly on a new law, make changes to existing law, or repeal an existing law. Most propositions are placed on the ballot either by the legislature or through gathering signatures on petitions. [2]
Key Scriptures
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Proverbs 22:7 ”The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
Exodus 23:2-3 “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.”
Deuteronomy 16:19 “You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.”
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
Mark 12:30-31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Want to Know More?
Official Voter Guide, California Secretary of State - 2020 Propositions
Los Angeles Times - California ballot propositions explained | Election 2020
Ballotpedia - California 2020 Propositions
ABC7 - California propositions: A voter's guide to the 2020 ballot measures
Orange County Register - Our endorsements for the 12 state ballot measures
Election Forum - 2020 Christian Voter Guide
Application
The 2020 election season is upon us, and as Christians, we have a responsibility to steward our political opportunities well. For voters in California, they will also have the opportunity to vote on twelve different statewide propositions, ranging on issues from stem-cell research to criminal justice reform.
For many of these propositions, there isn’t necessarily a biblical issue at stake. Christians can disagree in good conscience. This is true even on some of the propositions where biblical issues are at stake. Many times, propositions also have both good and bad ideas mixed together. In such a case, Christians must weigh both the good and the bad to decide which one outweighs the other.
The goal of this article won’t necessarily be to tell you how to vote on all the propositions, but to inform you of what biblical issues are at stake and what the Bible says about them.
Proposition 14
What it Does: Back in 2004, California voters approved money to be borrowed and spent on stem cell research. That money is starting to run out. Prop 14 authorizes the state to borrow an additional $5.5 billion for stem cell and other medical research, training, research facility construction, and administrative costs.
Biblical Issues at stake: Right to Life, Financial Stewardship
Evaluation: Although stem cell research has potential for medical advancement, it has also been fraught with ethical concerns from pro-life Christians because many stem cells obtained for research come from aborted fetuses. Continuing stem cell research using the stem cells of aborted fetuses could create a perverse incentive for those such as Planned Parenthood to advocate for abortion as a means to make money through selling discarded fetuses. In addition, Christians must think about whether it is wise to borrow money to support such research. In general, the Bible looks at borrowing money as unwise, though not necessarily sinful (Psalm 37:21, Proverbs 22:7). Sometimes borrowing money is necessary, but Christians should always be cautious about it.
Proposition 15
What it Does: Back in 1978, Californians passed a proposition which limited property taxes on homeowners and businesses to about 1% of their purchased property value with an annual increase of 2% or whatever inflation was for that year. Prop 15 would seek to change property taxes to be based on the actual market value rather than purchased value for commercial properties worth more than $3 million, resulting in higher taxes on these properties. Some of this money would go towards schools and colleges.
Biblical Issues at Stake: None Apparent
Evaluation: Christians must prayerfully consider whether raising property taxes on businesses to provide additional funding for schools is a wise thing to do. Are businesses able to afford increased taxes at this time? Do schools need more money? These are questions Christians must consider.
Proposition 16
What it Does: In 1996, California voters passed proposition 209, which says, “The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.” Prop 209 essentially ended affirmative action types of programs in public employment, education, and contracting. Proposition 16 seeks to repeal proposition 209 in order to allow the state to consider things such as race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting. It would allow the state to reinstate affirmative action programs with the hope of increasing diversity and correcting historical imbalances and injustices. This doesn’t negate any other state or federal anti-discrimination laws otherwise in effect.
Biblical Issues at Stake: Justice, Partiality
Evaluation: Affirmative action is an emotionally complex subject. On one hand, Christians can recognize how systemic racism of the past has created disparities along racial lines and in many ways have had lasting effects until today. On the other hand, how we go about trying to correct these injustices is just as important. We should not use the same unjust means which created the injustice in the first place. As Romans 12:17, 21 tells us, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” If we agree that discrimination is wrong (James 2:1, 9), then we should not advocate for its use, even in trying to correct wrongs of the past. As Chief Justice John Roberts is famous for saying, “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”
Proposition 17
What it Does: As a part of the criminal justice system, those in prisons are sometimes let out on parole for good behavior or as a part of their sentence. Under current law, a criminal has to finish both their prison term and parole before they get their right to vote restored. Prop 17 would allow those who have completed the incarceration portion of their prison terms but are on parole to be able to vote. Proponents argue that giving parolees the right to vote will help them reintegrate into society.
Biblical Issues at Stake: None Apparent
Evaluation: While the larger issue of restoring voting rights to those who have completed their prison terms would be an issue of justice for Christians to consider, whether or not they are restored before or after parole is a matter of wisdom which Christians must carefully evaluate.
Proposition 18
What it Does: Normally, federal elections held every two years consist of both a primary election and a general election. The primary election usually occurs in the spring and the general election is held in November. On rare occasions, there are also special elections if, for example, a seat becomes vacant due to a death or resignation.
Currently, California law requires you to be 18 to vote, no matter what. This results in many 18-year-olds being able to vote in the general election in November but not in primary or special elections earlier in the year if they happen to be 17-years-old at the time. Proposition 18 would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will be 18 by the time of the general election.
Biblical Issues at Stake: None Apparent
Evaluation: Christians must decide whether it is wise to extend the right to vote to 17-year-olds in primary and special elections who would otherwise be 18 in the general election.
Proposition 19
What it Does: This proposition is a bit complicated but does three main things:
Eligible homeowners (those 55+, severely disabled, or who have been affected by a natural disaster or waste contamination) would be allowed to keep the lower property tax rate of a previous home or residence up to three times rather than once when purchasing a new home
Reassesses the property tax rate for inherited properties based on the current market value of the property unless the child or grandchild inheriting it is using it as a place of residence.
Dedicate some of the revenue raised towards fire protection and emergency response
Biblical Issues at Stake: None Apparent
Evaluation: Christians must use wisdom to determine whether the various elements of the proposition will result in good for our state. One relevant Scripture which you could use in your evaluation might be Proverbs 13:22, which says, A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.”
Proposition 20
What it Does: This proposition serves as a referendum on a series of criminal justice reform bills: AB 109 (2011), Proposition 47 (2014), and Proposition 57 (2016). The bill would do four main things:
Creates two new classifications of crimes: “Serial Theft” and “Organized Retail Theft.” They are intended to give the option of a harsher punishment to repeat offenders.
Makes numerous changes to the parole system. Most of them consist of making it harder for some criminals to get parole or for additional factors to be considered before granting parole.
Adds a host of crimes to the list of “violent felony offenses” which are currently considered “non-violent,” including rape of an unconscious person, assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a police officer or firefighter, domestic violence, human trafficking, etc.
Expands DNA collection for many misdemeanor crimes, including “shoplifting, forging checks, and certain domestic violence crimes.”
Biblical Issues at Stake: Justice
Evaluation: This is one proposition in which a biblical issue is at stake but Christians could easily come to different conclusions. The main issue in question is trying to ensure that punishments are proportionate to the crimes committed (Leviticus 24:17-21, Luke 12:47-48). Some Christians' judgment of what is "proportionate" will be different from others. It could also very well be that some provisions in this bill move the law towards justice while others move the law towards injustice. Christians must weigh and evaluate the different provisions of the bill to see whether the overall effect moves in the direction of justice or not.
Proposition 21
What it Does: Prop 21 alters the three main provisions of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995:
It changes the range of applicable housing that rent control can apply to. Instead of housing built before Feb 1, 1995, it will change to housing not built in the last 15 years. It exempts individuals who own two or fewer homes.
It changes how much a renter can increase rent when a new tenant moves in. Currently, there is no restriction. This would allow cities and localities to put in place a restriction that rent could not increase by more than 15% over the first 3 years of occupation of the new tenant.
It puts into law court rulings which state that a renter must be allowed to make a “fair rate of return.”
Biblical Issues at Stake: None Apparent
Evaluation: Christians must use wisdom to evaluate whether to give cities and localities more authority to impose rent control. How might this affect the California housing market? Will this impose too harsh a restriction on landlords? Does this offer renters enough protection?
Proposition 22
What it Does: Last year, the California Legislature passed AB-5, which sought to classify workers in the "gig economy" (drivers for Lyft and Uber and other industries like musicians who often get short term “gigs”) as employees rather than independent contractors. Companies that hired them temporarily or as independent contractors with flexible hours were said to be taking advantage of these workers because they did not provide them with health benefits, Social Security, unemployment and disability insurance, organized labor protections, minimum wage guarantees, etc. which would normally be guaranteed to regular employees.
Prop 22 is a response to that, largely for those who are drivers or who use other app-based services. It is a compromise bill which allows these companies to keep their employees as independent contractors and in return gives them certain benefits such as “minimum compensation levels, insurance to cover on-the-job injuries, automobile accident insurance, health care subsidies for qualifying drivers, protection against harassment and discrimination, and mandatory contractual rights and appeal processes.” It also requires, “criminal background checks, driver safety training, and other safety provisions to help ensure app-based rideshare and delivery drivers do not pose a threat to customers or the public.”
Biblical Issues at Stake: Fair Wages; Right to Work
Evaluation: On one hand Scripture speaks strongly against employers who try to deprive workers of their fair wages (Jeremiah 22:13, Colossians 4:1, James 5:4). On the other hand, the Bible encourages all to work and be productive (Genesis 2:15, Ephesians 4:28, 2 Thessalonians 3:10). Christians must use wisdom to evaluate whether this proposition captures both of these biblical mandates better than the current legislation in place (AB-5), which some say places too many burdens on the ability to work.
Proposition 23
What it Does: If you recall, Prop 8 in 2018 tried to regulate how much profit kidney dialysis clinics made. The same labor union which sponsored that proposition (Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, SEIU-UHW) has sponsored Prop 23, which does the following to dialysis clinics:
Requires each clinic to have a doctor on-site during business hours
Requires the clinics to report infection-related information to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Changes penalties for clinics if they fail to report such information
Requires that clinics or the companies that manage them notify and obtain permission from the CDPH before closing or reducing services
Prohibits clinics from discriminating against or refusing to treat patients based on how they are paying for the treatment (for example private insurance vs. Medicare)
Biblical Issues at Stake: Value of Life
Evaluation: Christians must evaluate whether the provisions in this bill would improve the lives of kidney dialysis patients and whether the additional costs this would impose on the clinics (and ultimately the patients) would be justification for these additional regulations. Additionally, “following the money” is always a good principle in looking into propositions. If the primary sponsor is a union, what could be going on behind the scenes that might be motivating this proposition?
Proposition 24
What it Does: Back in 2018, the California legislature passed the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which offered some protections to consumers over how their data is used by companies. Prop 24 would expand some of those provisions to include:
Changes which businesses must keep these protections (increased from those companies who manage more than 50,000 people’s data to companies that manage more than 100,000 people’s data). This would result in fewer companies being required to keep these protections.
Changes existing consumer data privacy requirements (such as requiring customer notification concerning the length of time they will keep your data)
Provides new consumer privacy rights including being able to limit the sharing of private data, correct personal data if it was incorrect, and limiting the use of “sensitive” personal data
Strengthens penalties related to certain violations of these provisions
Creates the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) to oversee these new laws
Biblical Issues at Stake: None Apparent
Evaluation: This bill is very complicated, and biblically minded Christians both support and oppose it. Christians must use wisdom and do research to evaluate whether they should support or oppose the additional regulations listed above. Should fewer companies be held accountable to these standards? Should these standards be strengthened? Should we have a new government bureaucracy to oversee these new regulations?
Proposition 25
What it Does: In 2018, the California legislature passed SB 10, which sought to do away with the cash bail system in favor of using a system that uses risk assessment. Proposition 25 will decide whether to keep the new system (a “yes” vote) or go back to the cash bail system (a “no” vote). Rather than using cash bail, the new system will use a “validated risk assessment tool” to see whether someone poses a risk of either committing a new crime or not appearing in court. Those deemed high-risk will be held in jail until arraignment. Those of a medium risk may require further assessment and may or may not be released. Most of those deemed a low risk (such as for misdemeanors) will be released.
Biblical Issues at State: Justice, Partiality, Financial Stewardship
Evaluation: Christians can come to different conclusions about this proposition. From a biblical perspective, here is what is at stake:
On one hand, the cash bail system is said to unfairly discriminate against the poor. Christian groups such as Prison Fellowship (founded by Chuck Colson) say that the cash bail system unfairly hurts the poor. Depending on the crime, bails can amount from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars or more. If you have the money, you are able to continue to be with your family, work, or do other activities. Or, if you have more nefarious intentions, you can commit a crime again or flee the state—again so long as you have the money. But if you are poor, then you are stuck in jail until your court date unless someone bails you out or you pay a fee (sometimes still thousands of dollars depending on the bail amount) to a bail bondsman to pay it for you. Those in favor of this proposition say that your ability to remain free until your court date shouldn’t be determined upon your ability to pay a bond, but based on the risk you pose to the community and the potential for appearing in court.
On the other hand, critics of this proposition worry that the algorithm used could unfavorably affect racial minorities. Additionally, if this new system resulted in more people remaining in jail, then this could increase the costs of our jail system. Lastly, critics say that eliminating cash bail would reduce the incentive for criminals to show up to their hearings.
Christians must use wisdom to weigh the injustices posed by the cash bail system against the potential concerns and risks of the new system.
Conclusion
Clearly, there are more biblical issues at stake for some propositions than others. From a Biblical perspective, Christians should pay special attention to Propositions 14, 16, 20, 22, 23, and 25. During this election, we should heed the words of James 1:5 in our decision-making: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."