What’s Happening: Help for filling out your ballot!

For those in America, one of the most discussed issues at the moment is the election. For many registered voters, ballots can be confusing, especially when it comes to the propositions. This blogpost will be dedicated to connecting you to resources to help break down what can be found on the California ballot. Now I want to make this clear. I am simply a boy with my own biases and subjectivities, consuming information with its own biases and subjectivities, even its own agendas. So I implore you to use these resources merely as an aid. Your most impactful vote will be the most informed one. 

Ballotpedia – The Encyclopedia of American Politics: https://ballotpedia.org/California_2020_ballot_propositions 

For many, Ballotpedia is a one-stop resource for whatever topics you will be invited to vote on on a national and state level. In my experience, I did not find information on local elections on Ballotpedia, I found much of that information in news/media outlets and county websites. I would consider Ballotpedia to be an objective resource that offers both pros and cons of each measure. However, it can be confusing thus frustrating to navigate. I usually go here first to help me break down many of the propositions, then find a guide to help aid me in my decision making process.

ACLU SoCal 2020 Ballot Guide: https://www.aclusocal.org/en/2020ballotguide 

The ACLU is an organization whose work is something I look up to. In the instances that I hear of the ACLU, I often aligned with them in whatever efforts they are making. Because I have historically trusted and stood behind the mission of the ACLU, I used the ACLU SoCal 2020 voter’s guide to help aid my voting endeavors. This guide is not the most objective however my biases are ones that align with theirs. It touches on Props 15-21, 24-25, measure J.

CalMatters Nov. 2020 Election Guide: https://calmatters.org/election-2020-guide/ 

I like to think of this as a source for more digestible information than what I’ve found on Ballotpedia. It is by no means as exhaustive, but this election guide is much more accessible to the average California voter. I would consider this more objective than the ACLU’s guide as there seems to be no apparent agenda other than spreading information. But I invite you to make your own judgement. This guide breaks down every proposition, considers both sides, and addresses who endorses it.