California's state general elections were held November 5, 1996. Necessary primary elections were held on March 26, 1996. Up for election were all eighty (80) seats of the State Assembly, twenty (20) seats of the State Senate (half of the forty (40) total seats), and fifteen (15) statewide ballot measures. [1]
California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 8.8 million residents respectively. Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The City and County of San Francisco is both the country's second-most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth-most densely populated county, behind only four of the five New York City boroughs.
A primary election is the process by which voters, either the general public or members of a political party, can indicate their preference for a candidate in an upcoming general election or by-election, thus narrowing the field of candidates.
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.
There are 40 seats in the State Senate. For this election, candidates running in odd-numbered districts ran for four-year terms.
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature, the lower house being the California State Assembly. The State Senate convenes, along with the State Assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.
California State Senate - 1996 | Seats | |
Democratic-Held | 22 | |
Republican-Held | 16 | |
Independent-Held | 1 | |
1996 Elections | ||
Democratic Held and Uncontested | 10 | |
Contested | 20 | |
Republican Held and Uncontested | 10 | |
Total | 40 | |
All 80 biennially elected seats of the State Assembly were up for election this year. Each seat has a two-year term. The Democrats retained control of the State Assembly.
California State Assembly - 1996 | Seats | |
Democratic-Held | 43 | |
Republican-Held | 37 | |
1996 Elections | ||
Democratic Incumbent and Uncontested | 19 | |
Republican Incumbent and Uncontested | 29 | |
Contested, Open Seats | 32 | |
Total | 80 | |
Fifteen (15) ballot propositions qualified to be listed on the general election ballot in California. Eight measures passed while seven failed.
In the politics of the United States, the process of initiatives and referendums allow citizens of many U.S. states to place new legislation on a popular ballot, or to place legislation that has recently been passed by a legislature on a ballot for a popular vote. Initiatives and referendums, along with recall elections and popular primary elections, are signature reforms of the Progressive Era; they are written into several state constitutions, particularly in the West.
(Safe, Clean, Reliable Water Supply Act.) Proposition 204 passed with 62.84% of the vote.
(Youthful and Adult Offender Local Facilities Bond Act of 1996.) Proposition 205 failed with 40.62% of the vote.
(Veterans' Bond Act of 1996.) Proposition 206 passed with 53.56% of the vote.
(Attorneys. Fees. Right to Negotiate. Frivolous Lawsuits.) Proposition 207 failed with 34.22% of the vote.
(Campaign Contributions and Spending Limits. Restricts Lobbyists.) Proposition 208 passed with 61.27% of the vote.
(Prohibition Against Discrimination or Preferential Treatment by State and Other Public Entities.) Proposition 209 passed with 54.55% of the vote.
(Minimum Wage Increase.) Proposition 210 passed with 61.45% of the vote.
(Attorney-Client Fee Arrangements. Securities Fraud. Lawsuits.) Proposition 211 failed with 25.65% of the vote.
(Campaign Contributions and Spending Limits. Repeals Gift and Honoraria Limits. Restricts Lobbyists.) Proposition 212 failed with 49.16% of the vote.
(Limitation on Recovery to Felons, Uninsured Motorists, Drunk Drivers.) Proposition 213 passed with 76.83% of the vote.
(Health Care. Consumer Protection. Initiative Statute.) Proposition 214 failed with 42.04% of the vote.
(Medical Use of Marijuana.) Proposition 215 passed with 55.58% of the vote.
(Health Care. Consumer Protection. Taxes on Corporate Restructuring.) Proposition 216 failed with 38.76% of the vote.
(Top Income Tax Brackets. Reinstatement. Revenues to Local Agencies.) Proposition 217 failed with 49.20% of the vote.
(Voter Approval for Local Government Taxes. Limitations on Fees, Assessments, and Charges.) Proposition 218 passed with 56.55% of the vote.
The California state elections, 2006 took place on November 7, 2006. Necessary primary elections were held on June 6. Among the elections that took place were all the seats of the California's State Assembly, 20 seats of the State Senate, seven constitutional officers, and all the seats of the Board of Equalization. Votes on retention of two Supreme Court justices and various Courts of Appeal judges were also held. Five propositions were also up for approval.
Proposition 218 was an adopted initiative constitutional amendment which revolutionized local and regional government finance in California. Called the "Right to Vote on Taxes Act," it was sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association as a constitutional follow-up to the landmark property tax reduction initiative constitutional amendment, Proposition 13, approved in 1978.
California's state elections were held November 2, 2004. Necessary primary elections were held on March 2. Up for election were all the seats of the State Assembly, 20 seats of the State Senate, and sixteen ballot measures.
California's state elections were held November 5, 2002. Necessary primary elections were held on March 5. Up for election were all the seats of the California State Assembly, 20 seats of the California Senate, seven constitutional officers, all the seats of the California Board of Equalization, as well as votes on retention of two Supreme Court justices and various appeals court judges. Seven ballot measures were also up for approval. Municipal offices were also included in the election.
California's state elections were held November 7, 2000. Necessary primary elections were held on March 7. Up for election were all the seats of the State Assembly, 20 seats of the State Senate, and eight ballot measures.
California's state elections were held November 3, 1998. Necessary primary elections were held on March 3. Up for election were all the seats of the California State Assembly, 20 seats of the California Senate, seven constitutional officers, all the seats of the California Board of Equalization, as well as votes on retention of two Supreme Court justices and various appeals court judges. Twelve ballot measures were also up for approval. Municipal offices were also included in the election.
California's state elections were held November 8, 1994. Necessary primary elections were held on June 7. Up for election were all the seats of the California State Assembly, 20 seats of the California Senate, seven constitutional officers, all the seats of the California Board of Equalization, as well as votes on retention of two Supreme Court justices and various appeals court judges. Ten ballot measures were also up for approval. Municipal offices were also included in the election.
California's state elections were held November 3, 1992. Necessary primary elections were held on March 3. Up for election were all the seats of the State Assembly, 20 seats of the State Senate, and fifteen ballot measures.
The California state elections, November 2010 were held on November 2, 2010.
The California state elections was held on Election Day, November 6, 2012. On the ballot were eleven propositions, various parties' nominees for the United States presidency, the Class I Senator to the United States Senate, all of California's seats to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, and all odd-numbered seats of the State Senate.
The California state elections, June 2012 were held on June 5, 2012 and included two propositions, primary elections for each party's nominee for President, and primary elections to determine the top-two candidates for California's Class I seat to the United States Senate, all of California's seats to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, and all odd-numbered seats of the State Senate, who will compete against each other in a run-off on November 6, 2012.
In California state elections, 2014 was the first year in which the top statewide offices were elected under the nonpartisan blanket primary, pursuant to Proposition 14, which passed with 53% voter approval in June 2010. Under this system, which first went into effect during the 2012 election year, all candidates will appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. The top two finishers, regardless of party, then advance to face each other in the general election in November.
Proposition 218 was an adopted initiative constitutional amendment in the state of California on the November 5, 1996 statewide election ballot. Proposition 218 revolutionized local and regional government finance in California. Called the “Right to Vote on Taxes Act,” Proposition 218 was sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association as a constitutional follow-up to the landmark Proposition 13 property tax revolt initiative constitutional amendment approved by California voters on June 6, 1978. Proposition 218 was drafted by constitutional attorneys Jonathan Coupal and Jack Cohen.
California state elections in 2018 were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, with the primary elections being held on June 5, 2018. Voters elected one member to the United States Senate, 53 members to the United States House of Representatives, all eight state constitutional offices, all four members to the Board of Equalization, 20 members to the California State Senate, and all 80 members to the California State Assembly, among other elected offices.
California Proposition 69 was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that appeared on ballots in California in the June primary election in 2018. This measure put the revenue from the Road Repair and Accountability Act, which increased fuel taxes, in a "lockbox" so that it can only be used for transportation-related purposes. It also exempts said gas tax revenue from the previously existing appropriations mandate and expenditures limit. This state constitution amendment ensures that revenues from SB1 Gas Taxes established by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 can only be used for transportation-related purposes.