This is a breakdown of each CA Proposition as researched by Debra Dowdy. She has taken the time to research the facts as given by the Ballot Initiatives and information available on ballotpedia.org. At the end of the description, she and I give our vote for each Proposition. There is also a linkable list of Propositions at the bottom of the post. We hope this will help you learn more about these important initiatives. Please leave a comment with your thoughts and vote!
CA Prop. 66. The other death penalty initiative.
A yes on this one would implement multiple changes to the law to shorten the legal challenges on a death sentence to a maximum of five years. I’m assuming the idea is to get the appeals over and execute rather than letting people live on death row for decades.
The specific changes are:
1) Requires that habeas corpus petitions first be heard in the trial courts.
2) Places time limits on legal challenges to death sentences.
3) Changes the process for appointing attorneys to represent condemned inmates.
4) Makes various other changes.
Details are in the Voter Guide if you want to know more.
This is supported by the Republican Party. Most of the financial support comes from peace officer organizations. The supporters argue this proposition would do the following:
1) All state appeals should be limited to 5 years.
2) Every murderer sentenced to death will have their special appeals lawyer assigned immediately. Currently, it can be five years or more before they are even assigned a lawyer.
3) The pool of available lawyers to handle these appeals will be expanded.
4) The trial courts who handled the death penalty trials and know them best will deal with the initial appeals.
5) The CA Supreme Court will be empowered to oversee the system and ensure appeals are expedited while protecting the rights of the accused.
6) The prisons will reform death row housing; taking away special privileges from these brutal killers and saving millions.
The Democratic and Libertarian Parties oppose this one. Their major concern is that shortening the time more innocent persons may be executed. The top five donors are private citizens.
So the other proposition, Prop. 62, looks to eliminate the death penalty. Whichever initiative gets the most “yes” votes will win.
If you are opposed to the death penalty, vote “yes” on 62 and “no” on 66.
If you like the death penalty but aren’t willing to pay for it anymore, vote “yes” on 62 and “no” on 66.
If you want to keep the death penalty, vote “no” on 62 and “yes” on 66.
The cynical will say vote “no” on this one because they aren’t going to execute anyone anyway.
Debra Dowdy is voting –
Chris Dowdy is voting – No
Links to all other CA Proposition for the 2016 Ballot:
Proposition 52 – Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program
Proposition 53 – Revenue Bonds
Proposition 54 – Legislative…Proceedings
Proposition 55 – Tax Extension to Fund Education and Healthcare
Proposition 56 – Cigarette Tax
Proposition 57 – Criminal sentences and parole
Proposition 58 – Multilingual Education
Proposition 59 – Corporations and Political Spending
Proposition 60 – The Condom One
Proposition 61 – Limiting prices on medications State buys
Proposition 62 – Repealing the Death Penalty
Proposition 63 – Background Checks to Buy Ammunition
Proposition 64 – Legalizing Marijuana
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