Listen to this note:
March 5, 2024, was the date California voters nearly tied the decision on whether to approve a measure involving the spending of six billion dollars. It took a couple of days after that, actually, since the votes were close enough that it took almost a week after the election to determine whether or not the measure would actually pass.
One of the key March election propositions was California Proposition 1- the Behavioral Health Services Program and Bond Measure. This proposition asked voters whether to take money from county budgets and to designate that money for the support of mental health and unhoused persons.
After the careful recount, California Proposition 1 was approved by voters.
According to official election results compiled by the secretary of the state of California, over seven million people voted in the election.
Despite millions of votes, it was only by a small margin of 26,000 that separated the yes and no votes in which the proposition was approved.
With majority rules, a close election can mean that millions will get their way while millions won’t. That may not feel good to many, but it’s far better than the alternative.
Democracy may sometimes hurt. But it offers us a voice and a choice.
At the end of the election day, it is each individual vote put together that determines the results.
In the case of Proposition 1, six billion dollars will now be available to the state government to fund housing for veterans and unhoused persons.
Whether the vote at hand concerns funding mental health resources or another issue, your vote and your voice will continue to matter.
You may be interested in: Ballot Proposition 1 What is it? What does it mean?
