California Proposition 4 (2008) - Path To Ballot and Prior Attempts at Passage

Path To Ballot and Prior Attempts At Passage

The signature-gathering drive to qualify the 2008 Parental Notification petition for the ballot was conducted by petition management firm Bader & Associates, Inc. at a cost of $2,555,000.

Proposition 4 represents the third time that California voters will have considered the issue of a parental notification/waiting period for abortion. The two previous, unsuccessful, initiatives were California Proposition 85 (2006) and California Proposition 73 (2005).

When Prop 73 lost in 2005, some supporters thought that a similar measure would fare better in a general election. However, Prop 85 did worse. Unlike 85 or 73, Proposition 4 allows an adult relative of the minor seeking an abortion to be notified, if the minor's parents are abusive.

Camille Giulio, a spokeswoman for the pro-4 campaign said that the November 2008 election represents a better opportunity for parental notification legislation because:

  • There will be a higher voter turnout in November 2008 than when 85 and 73 were voted on.
  • Socially conservative voters will be motivated to come to the polls to vote in favor of the much higher profile Proposition 8. While at the polls, they are likely to also vote in favor of 4.
  • The two previous campaigns represented narrow defeats in low budget campaigns.
Year Proposition Votes for % for Votes against % against
2005 Prop 73
3,676,592
47.2%
4,109,430
52.8%
2006 Prop 85
3,868,714
45.8%
4,576,128
54.2%
2008 Prop 4
4,761,465
48.0%
5,157,174
52.0%

Read more about this topic:  California Proposition 4 (2008)

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