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Ah unfortunately the exact wording on that particular initiative was defective because of reasons, so it's not effective. Also California's insane property tax lock-in

Referendums are widespread (remember Brexit?) if not as common as in the U.S. Given that stuff like the filibuster, the electoral college and the conservative legal movement functionally only prevent the Democrats from acting, it’s hard not to view the opacity as hand-in-hand with Dem Party kayfabe.

In some states you vote on judges. Which - a lot of people understandably don't know shit about the state judges.

I do not care to be asked about the Maryland justice of the circuit court (or whatever they call it)

I mean, as part of a party primary, I think that's fine. Democratic voters get to vote for party leadership? What's wrong w that? That's just economy of resources, putting it on the party ballot at the same time as elections for government officials. The real scandal is that there were no nominees!

The UK has had a grand total of 3 nationwide referenda ever, two on the EU (or the EC as it was in the first one in the 70s) and one on changing the voting system. You can argue they're not a good idea in a parliamentary system at all.

the referendum wasn't binding, Brexit is 100% on the Tories

My "What about Netanyahu" t-shirt is always a hit with the parliamentary crowd.

Glad she honored her obligations

holy shit

Incredibly based

And then there are all the different elections: presidential elections, but also midterm elections, but also (in many places) off-year elections, & special elections, & then nearly all of those also have primary elections before the general elections, plus ballot initiatives. We need consolidation.

For me it's always the local/superior court judges on the ballots. Like no one who's not an active lawyer knows who the fuck these people are. I've never thought about how much responsibility American citizens are given to put people in power and make laws compared to citizens of other countries.

there are actually 14 state level propositions on the California ballot in November, then any city or county ones on top of that.

In CA they're required for lots of business as usual tax policy and bonds, a hold over from when the Republicans were radicalizing themselves in the last couple decades of their hold on state power (up to Pete Wilson's governorship in the 90s) and a key reason why state government here is broken

They don't use the T word because supermajorities are needed to pass many taxes. It's all Prop 13. Prop 43 in CA will make it worse. #NoOnProp43

I remember when Florida passed an amendment mandating high speed with no provision for paying for it Governor Jeb Bush said it'd be way too expensive Around the same time the President (his brother) proclaimed "We're going to Mars" What?

Ballot initiatives are how Montana stayed a bastion of abortion rights with a completely MAGA legislature.

But what're your takes on Props 40, 41, and 42?

“Vote NO if you don’t want the state legislature to not vote on not imposing term limits”

Gosh, democracy and voting are difficult. If only someone else would make all these decisions without deferring to the people! Like, why should we let voters interfere with what officials want?

State and local are a nightmare too. In some years I'm responsible for the election of a half dozen or more judges, local school board, and a huge array of local positions. I'm a hyper engaged voter but even I don't have that kind of time