Health Care Initiative Trends in California
Since California’s ballot measure process was created in 1911, citizens have placed 45 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 zero to six per decade. After 1980, however, health care issues have gained a stronger presence on the California ballot: nine health initiatives appeared on the ballot throughout the 1980s, and 13 appeared in the 1990s. And with at least two elections yet to come in the 2000s, Californians have already voted on ten health initiatives during this decade.
Health care-related measures have proven controversial over the years, and voters have rarely approved them. Since 1911, voters have passed only 11 out of 45, or 24 percent, 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 40 of the 45 health care-related initiatives in California history, or 89 percent, have appeared in general elections. Only five have appeared in primary or special elections, and none of them has passed (see Chart B).
