10 propositions are on California's ballot. Voters are deciding on ...

In summary

The results of the ballot measures will steer key state policies. Several may fail, according to recent polling.

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California voters appear poised to grant a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, restore longer prison sentences for some drug and property crimes and allow the state to borrow billions to address the threats of climate change and to repair schools. 

Those ballot measures are all leading in early returns, but one to allow cities to impose rent control failed as voters decide 10 propositions in all.

Prop. 36: The measure pushed by some district attorneys and moderate Democrats, but opposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, would partly undo sentencing changes that voters passed in 2014 with Prop. 47. Prop. 36 would reclassify some drug and theft crimes as felonies and create a new category of “treatment-mandated” crimes to require defendants to undergo drug treatment or face prison time. 

Props. 2 and 4: The two bond measures would allow the state to borrow $10 billion to repair K-12 schools and community colleges, and $10 billion to address climate change in a variety of areas including drinking water improvements and extreme heat and wildfire programs. Recent polling showing the climate bond likely to pass while the school repairs bond showed voters were split. 

Props. 33 and 34: These measures are both related to local rent control: Prop. 33, backed by tenant advocates and the Los Angeles nonprofit AIDS Healthcare Foundation, would have allowed cities to impose stricter or broader rent control measures. It’s the foundation’s third try passing such a measure — and that led to Prop. 34, an effort by the state’s leading apartment lobby to financially handicap the foundation, by forcing it to spend much of its funding directly on its low-income patients. Likely voters polled recently indicated they were unlikely to support Prop. 33, but were undecided on Prop. 34. 

Props. 3 and 6: California voters are weighing in on two proposed constitutional amendments. Prop. 3 would guranatee same-sex couples an equal right to marry — a move to protect the right from possible challenges before a conservative-majority Supreme Court. Prop. 6, which originated from the state’s reparations task force, would remove an exception in the state constitution that allows for forced labor during the punishment of a crime. It appeared in recent polling to be headed for a defeat. 

Prop. 35: This health-care-industry backed measure would make permanent a tax on health care plans and guarantee the money is spent on providers who treat low-income patients through the state’s Medi-Cal program. Powerful hospital and doctors’ lobbies, plus Planned Parenthood, support it. But some smaller health care players are opposed and have argued the way the funding is distributed is unfair to their patients. 

Prop. 32: Voters were undecided on the measure to raise the state’s minimum wage to $18 in January for larger employers, according to recent polling. Proponents say it’s important to help about two million low-wage workers get a raise. Opponents, including the Chamber of Commerce and business groups, say it could further increase food prices. 

Prop. 5: The measure would make it easier for local governments to borrow money for affordable housing and other public infrastructure projects, but lowering the threshold of votes needed to pass bonds from two-thirds to 55%.