Submitted by Chloe Hibben / Community Journalism
Currently in California, law states that individuals have rights to privacy as well as choice in abortion and other contraceptive options. Proposition 1 ensures that existing California laws provide individuals with the fundamental right to privacy in regards to their reproductive decisions including rights to abortion and to choose or refuse contraceptives. The measure would amend the Constitution to protect these fundamental rights in addition to prohibiting the State from denying or interfering with any individual’s reproductive freedoms. The amendment does not limit or narrow the existing rights to privacy and equal protection under the California constitution.
A quote pulled from the amendment states, “The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.”
The leading campaign that is in support of this proposition is YES on 1 in which is endorsed by members of the Democratic party and the Peace and Freedom party. Governor Gavin Newsom, and U.S senators Alex Padilla and Diane Feinstein have also openly endorsed and contributed funds to YES on 1. Some organizations involved in this campaign include Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign, California Medical Association and several others. These committees have contributed an estimated $14.9 million in support of Proposition 1.
In opposition to this amendment is California Together, No on Proposition 1. This campaign has endorsements by the Republican party such as former U.S Representative Tom Campbell, Senator Brian Dahle and Jim Patterson. More organizations that support No on Proposition 1 would involve California Alliance Pregnancy Care, California Conference of Catholic Bishops, Students for Life and several others. Together the campaign has raised an estimate of $292,000 in opposition to Proposition 1.
What does a Vote Yes mean vs a Vote No ?
A yes vote would mean a change in the California Constitution to bar state legislators from passing laws that could interfere an individuals right to abortion or contraceptive options.
A no vote would mean the individual’s right to abortion or contraceptive options are left unprotected in the California Constitution, meaning the California legislature would be able to repeal or limit these rights in the future.