This Week @ UCSD
divider
divider
divider
divider
divider
divider
divider
divider
divider
Top Stories Print this story Print Forward to a Friend Forward

Scholars Team Up to Develop Nonpartisan Website
to Educate Voters About Statewide Measure on Ballot

By Inga Kiderra | Oct. 25, 2010

The college is sponsoring public outdoor works of art for the Marshall campus and vicinity including a 22-foot high "Giant Chair" by MFA theatre design graduate Caleb Levengood.

Unsure about how to vote on Proposition 25, the ballot measure that would change the state budget vote from a two-thirds vote to a simple majority? What about Prop. 19, which would legalize marijuana in California?

A nonpartisan interactive website, CaliforniaChoices.org, aims to educate voters about the nine statewide measures on the November ballot, with endorser lists and other facts.

CaliforniaChoices.org is a collaboration between scholars in the UC and CSU systems, Stanford University's Bill Lane Center for the American West and the nonprofit organization Next 10.

UC San Diego faculty and students involved in the project include Thad Kousser, associate professor of political science, Vlad Kogan, a political science doctoral student, and recent doctoral graduate Mike Binder.

"Because voters hold the future of California in their hands, they need useful, non-partisan information about ballot initiatives at their fingertips,” said Kousser. “CaliforniaChoices.org brings expertise from the state’s universities to voters so that they can make up their own minds.”  

The website, described by its creators as “a nonpartisan clearinghouse for state governance reform issues,” features an interactive display of endorsements made by 50 major organizations and a tool that allows users to share how they are voting with others via email or Facebook.

The site also features in-depth information about each of the current statewide ballot measures, polling data, campaign finance information, pro and con arguments for each measure, and video clips from supporters and opponents.

“Californians have nine ballot measures to consider – many of which have a direct impact on how our state is governed. If you’re unsure about how to vote in November, you’re in good company,” said F. Noel Perry, Next 10’s Founder. “Considering the serious challenges and potential sweeping reforms we’re contemplating in California this election year, it is no surprise that a large percentage of voters have not made up their minds. Our goal is to arm voters with both facts and context for this year’s ballot initiatives.”

The CaliforniaChoices.org website was built after a governance reform conference a year ago in Sacramento that drew 400 policymakers and scholars. The conference program included Kousser and UCSD political science professor Amy Bridges.

 

 

Want to keep up with what is happening at UC San Diego?
Subscribe to This Week @ UCSD. It's free!




spacer
Subscribe Contact Us Got News UCSD News
spacer

UCSD University Communications

9500 Gilman Drive MC0938
La Jolla, CA 92093-0938
858-534-3120

Email: thisweek@ucsd.edu