Health Care Initiative Trends in California
Since California’s ballot measure process was created in 1911, citizens have placed 47 health care-related initiatives on the ballot.
Breakdown by Decade
Californians have seen a sharp rise in the number of health care-related ballot initiatives since 1980 (see Chart A). Between 1911 and 1979, the number varied from 0 to 6 per decade. After 1980, however, health care issues have gained a stronger presence on the California ballot: 9 health initiatives appeared on the ballot throughout the 1980s, 13 appeared in the 1990s and in the 2000s Californians voted on 12 health initiatives.
Health care-related measures have proven controversial over the years, and voters have rarely approved them. Since 1911, voters have passed only 12 out of 47, or 25%, of all such initiatives.
Breakdown by Election Type
Before 1970, initiatives could appear only on general election ballots. In 1970, the California Secretary of State allowed initiatives to also appear on primary and special election ballots for the first time.
Despite this change, a full 42 of the 47 health care-related initiatives in California history, or 89% have appeared in general elections. Only 5 have appeared in primary or special elections, and none of them has passed (see Chart B).
Note: The above article includes data through May 2009.
