The California Fair Elections Act, was proposed by State Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley). The measure calls for publicly funded "clean money" elections for the office of California Secretary of State, paid for with higher fees on lobbyists. The measure will be on the June 8, 2010 ballot .
If approved by voters, the measure would establish a voluntary pilot project for the election of the California Secretary of State in 2014 and 2018. Candidates for that office would be allowed to qualify for public financing if they agreed to spending prohibitions and are able to gather contributions of at least $5.00 from at least 7,500 registered state voters.
Under the act, lobbyist employers and lobbying firms in California would have to pay $700 each to subsidize campaigns in 2014 and 2018 for Secretary of State campaigns. This would raise about $34 million a year from the over 3,000 lobbyist employers and over 1,200 registered lobbyists in California.
The Secretary of State in California oversees its elections, campaign finance reporting as well as business filings and other administrative duties.
Polling
An October 2009 poll conducted by Lake Research Partners found likely voters supporting the measure by a 63-22% margin, with 15% undecided.
Supporters and Supporting Arguments
Several campaign committees have been formed in support of the initiative, including the “California Common Cause Fair Elections Committee,” “Californians For Fair Elections Sponsored By California Clean Money Action Fund” and the “California Clean Money Action Fund.”
The Californians For Fair Elections Sponsored By California Clean Money Action Fund raised just over $139,000 in 2009, spending $114,000 and ending the year with just over $16,000 cash-on-hand.
Opponents and Opposing Arguments
A lawsuit was filed in federal court seeking to have the proposition removed from the ballot on the grounds that it imposes a tax on constitutionally-protected right of First Amendment expression. Plantiffs in this case included the California Professional Firefighters and several other public safety advocacy groups. No campaign committees have been formed in opposition as of Jan 1, 2010.
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Start Organizing!
CalProps provides the people, resources and organizing tools to help Californians have a greater say in their state government.
There are dozens of groups formed around different issues on this site. You can join an existing one or start your own on an issue that’s important to you. Below are just some of the groups active right now, or you can view the entire CalProps Network here.
Proposition 22 on the Nov 2010 Statewide Ballot asks whether state government should be permitted to seize funds from cities and counties to balance the State Budget. 
Proposition 23 on the Nov 2010 Statewide Ballot asks whether California should suspend AB 32, the state's landmark climate change legislation
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