California voters started receiving the state’s official voter information guide in the mail. This guide provides a detailed look at each election and initiative on the November ballot.
Unsurprisingly, the guide includes plenty of information about the possible legalization of sports betting in California. Propositions 26 and 27 take up 40 pages of the 127-page guide.
What information is in the guide?
The guide includes the full text of each ballot initiative. It also includes official titles and summaries, as well as insight from legislative analysts.
Background information on Props 26 and 27 can be found on pages 16-27. This features arguments for and against the competing initiatives, as well as rebuttals. The full text of each initiative is available on pages 77-105.
The guide also contains information on the rights of California voters. Specifically, it cites the right to vote if you’re in line when polls close, the right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your voting precinct speak that language, and the right to report any illegal or fraudulent activity to the appropriate authorities.
More on arguments for and against California sports betting
Prop 26’s “argument in favor” section promotes the in-person sports betting measure as “the most responsible approach to authorizing sports wagering.” Prop 27’s section, meanwhile, highlights provisions that send portions of online sports betting tax revenue to homelessness and mental health programs.
The “argument against” section, however, pulls no punches. Representatives of the National Veterans Foundation, California Senior Advocates League and AFSCME specifically opposed Prop 26’s clause that would allow tribes to sue California cardrooms.
“The sponsors of Prop 26 made big profits staying open during COVID while their card club competition had to close. Now they want to put licensed and regulated card clubs out of business by giving private trial lawyers the enforcement powers held by the Attorney General to bury card clubs with frivolous lawsuits.”
Opponents of Prop 27 pointed out that the measure is backed by out-of-state online gambling corporations, such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
“These corporations have contributed more than $100 million to sell Prop 27,” reads the rebuttal written by officials from the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, the Alpha Project for the Homeless and Blue Lake Rancheria of California. “They aren’t spending that money to help California. They are doing it to enrich themselves.”
Visit the PlayCA voter’s guide for more insight on the two initiatives.
Other important Election Day information
All registered voters in California will receive vote-by-mail ballots, which will be mailed on or before Monday, Oct. 10. In-person voting options will also be available on Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Voters can also track and receive notifications about their ballots. California’s “Where’s My Ballot?” program allows residents to get updates by email, text message or phone call.
The government mailed just one voter information guide to each California household. To request additional copies, contact your county elections official or call (800) 345-VOTE.
