As voters head to the polls or drop off their ballots ahead of Election Day, many are reporting spending hours sifting through long, double-sided ballots and a nearly 300-page voter information guide.
San Francisco voters are weighing 10 local propositions in addition to 14 state propositions. Among them is Proposition D, a measure backed by Mayor Daniel Lurie that would raise the bar on how city issues are put before voters to decide.
Voters near the ballot drop box at San Francisco City Hall on Monday said the sheer volume of measures requires a massive time investment.
“I agree, sometimes, like the one this time is four pages. And they sent a thick pamphlet home,” said San Francisco voter Antoinette Miller.
Supporters say Prop. D aims to streamline the process. The measure would eliminate the mayor’s ability to independently place a measure on the ballot, require the support of six members of the Board of Supervisors instead of four to approve a ballot measure, and alter the signature requirements for citizen initiatives.
“Instead of these intentionally divisive, intentionally misleading propositions that we have to vote on. In some cases every couple of years over and over again,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said.
Currently, citizen-led initiatives require about 10,000 signatures to qualify for the local ballot. Prop. D would raise that threshold to roughly 40,000 to 50,000 signatures. Lurie defends that change, noting it remains below standards elsewhere in the state.
“The statewide threshold in most counties is 10 percent. We would be at 8 percent. And it’s something that I worked with partners in labor on. And that’s why we kept it below the statewide threshold,” Lurie said.
However, opponents argue the higher thresholds would disproportionately harm grassroots efforts and reduce accountability for City Hall. Randy Shaw of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic said well-funded special interests will still be able to afford paid signature gatherers, while smaller community groups will be priced out.
“People are not going to notice, well I voted for Prop D and I’m really glad it passed because the ballot’s gonna be shorter. No, it’s not gonna be any shorter. And you’re gonna see ballot measures that insurance companies, big real estate. They’re the ones who are going to be putting on the ballot because they have the money to do so,” Shaw said.
Voters interviewed Monday expressed widespread skepticism regarding the measure.
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” said voter Mr. Mack.
“I don’t like it,” Miller added.
Another voter, Andres Patino, said his research led him to oppose it. “Looking a little more into it I realized that it would make it real difficult for small initiatives and maybe props that don’t have a lot of funding to get on the ballot. So I actually went for no.”
Proposition D is one of three measures backed by Mayor Lurie for this general election, alongside Proposition E, which aims to streamline city contracting rules, and Proposition F, which would give the mayor tighter control over city departments.
