Smart Voter
State of California November 3, 1998 General
Proposition 3
Partisan Presidential Primary Elections.

Legislative Initiative Amendment. Put on the Ballot by the Legislature.

3,424,127 / 46.1% Yes votes ...... 3,994,091 / 53.9% No votes

See Also: Measures

Infomation shown below: Summary | Fiscal Impact | Yes/No Meaning | Official Information | Arguments |
Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:
  • Changes existing open primary law to require closed, partisan primary for purpose of selecting delegates to presidential nominating conventions of national political parties.
  • Limits voting for such delegates to voters registered by party affiliation.
  • Requires separate partisan ballots for selection of such delegates.
  • Restricts voting of such partisan ballots to members of the particular political party.

Fiscal Impact from the Legislative Analyst:
  • Minor costs to state government.
  • Minor costs to county governments statewide.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote of this measure means:
A voter would be permitted to vote only for the delegates to a presidential nominating convention of a political party with which the voter is affiliated.

A NO vote of this measure means:
A voter would continue to be permitted to cross party lines in a primary election to vote for delegates to a party's presidential nominating convention.

Official Sources of Information
Arguments Submitted to the Secretary of State

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition 3:
Proposition 3 fixes an accidental error in California's Open Primary Law. This error will throw out every presidential primary vote cast by Californians of all political parties in the Year 2000. Proposition 3 protects the right of California voters to join with the other 49 states in nominating presidential candidates.

Full Text of Argument In Favor, Rebuttal

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition 3:
Political Party bosses want to overturn the will of the voters. The voters want to vote for candidates based on the individual--not party affiliation. Party bosses want to remove the freedom of choice for the office of the President. Let Democracy have its full voice--No on Proposition 3!

Full Text of Argument Against, Rebuttal

Contact FOR Proposition 3:
NOT PROVIDED

Contact AGAINST Proposition 3:
NOT PROVIDED

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Secretary of State

Nonpartisan Analysis

League of Women Voters

California Journal California Voter Foundation Campaign Finances

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California Voter Foundation News and Analysis

Sacramento Bee

San Francisco Chronicle
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Created: February 16, 1999 18:53
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