[GPCA Updates] GPCA RELEASE: Prop. 14 lawsuit backed by Greens

[Green Party of California Updates]

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        Green Party of California
         http://www.cagreens.org


Prop. 14 lawsuit backed by Greens; independent party agrees courts should
strike down big business-backed measure which misled voters, limits their vote
choices



GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO (August 05, 2010) - Greens say they support a lawsuit filed here
this last week that challenges the constitutionality of Prop. 14 - approved by
voters in June - that severely limits choice at the ballot box and was created
and supported by big business to mislead voters.

The lawsuit argues, on behalf of four voters, that two aspects of the
California top-two system are unconstitutional, as applied to them. Prop. 14
would not count all votes in November elections - it would exclude write-in
votes, violating the California Constitution as amended in 2002, which
provides all valid votes must be counted.

The lawsuit further argues, that since only two names will appear on each
office ballot (because smaller parties will be excluded), it's very likely
there would be write-in votes. But Prop 14 states write-in votes can never be
counted, disenfranchising large numbers of voters and their choices.

"The Green Party understands the frustration of California voters, who have
been shut out of any meaningful electoral choice. But Prop. 14 is a step
backward, further limiting voter choice at a time when they want more choice.
Prop. 14 will just elect more incumbents - those who voters now want to
reject," said Green Party of California archivist Hank Chapot.

"There are real, tested electoral reforms that should be enacted; proportional
representation, instant run-off voting, campaign finance reform and funding
disclosure, open debates, and non-partisan voter outreach and education, to
name a few. But California voters were lied into believing a 'jungle' primary
that Prop. 14 mandates is reform that will give them more choice. That is
demonstrably untrue," added Chapot.

He said that Prop. 14's proponents, from the Chamber of Commerce to huge,
multi-million dollar corporations, are "determined to throttle California's
vibrant independent party scene along with the state's long history of
democratic innovation."

"We support any effort to stop this power grab by entrenched interests masked
as reform. They want to be sure no one else has a chance to win and Prop. 14
will do that because it won't even let all the candidates run and all the
ballots be counted," said Chapot.



The Green Party of California
PO Box 2828
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
Web: http://www.cagreens.org
EMail: gpca at greens.org