June 6, 2006 Election Information

In this primary election, the political parties will select the candidates for state and federal offices who will run in the November general election. In additon, Proposition 82, if passed, would provide universal preschool. EdSource has put together this page of election-related resources to help you understand the issues, evaluate Proposition 82, and make informed decisions for voting on June 6.

Proposition 82
Elected Positions
Get Involved
Resources and Links

Proposition 82: Preschool Education

Proposition 82, on the June 6 California ballot, would make preschool available free for all 4-year-olds in the state regardless of family income by raising the tax rate on the state's high-income earners. This 4-page brief outlines its key provisions and addresses considerations and concerns being debated around this measure.

The USC California Policy Institute, a nonpartisan, multi-issue research organization, has developed a report that looks at available research related to the potential impact of Proposition 82: Prop 82: Understanding Universal Preschool from a Research Perspective.

Elected Positions

Many of the people on your ballot have significant power over education in California.

For nonpartisan information about each of the candidates, visit www.smartvoter.org, a website developed by the League of Women Voters. On the site, you can enter your zip code to see your ballot, complete with all of the candidates running for each position and more information about each candidate.

U.S. Senate

Traditional wisdom holds that the federal government has little impact on public school operations beyond the programs for special groups of children such as the poor and disabled. However, as the passage and implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act have demonstrated, this may be changing. (Candidates' websites -- scroll down for list)

Governor

The governor wields financial control by preparing and submitting the annual budget. He appoints the members of the State Board of Education, which develops education policy for K-12 public schools. The governor also proposes new laws, and approves or vetoes bills submitted by the Legislature. (Candidates' websites -- scroll down for list)

State Legislature

Most laws affecting public education in California are written by our state Assembly and Senate. The Legislature also decides on the state budget. (Candidates' websites -- scroll down for list)

Superintendent of Public Instruction

The top school official in the state manages California's Department of Education and enforces state laws and regulations about education. (Candidates' websites -- scroll down for list)

Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved in the election process.

• First and foremost, vote! The last day to register to vote in the June 6th primary election is May 22, 2006. The last day to apply through the mail for an absentee ballot is May 30.
• Contact your County Election Office (interactive map) if you have questions about your voter registration status, absentee ballot, or polling place location.
• If you're not registered, the Easy Voter website lists several easy ways to do so: Register to Vote Now.
• Work at your local polling place. Contact your Registrar of Voters for more information.

Resources and Links

• The Easy Voter Guide provides user-friendly, nonpartisan voting information about the upcoming election in California, including information about primary elections, political parties, candidates for elected positions, and California statewide propositions. From this site you can download a 16-page PDF in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
• The League of Women Voters Smart Voter site allows you to enter your zip code to view your personalized ballot, find out more about candidates and their views on certain issues, and register to vote.
• The Secretary of State's Cal-Access site provides information supplied by state candidates, donors, lobbyists, and others about campaign finance. If you are interested in who is contributing money, who is receiving money, and how it is being spent, this is the site for you.
• The Secretary of State's Elections and Voter Information site provides a wealth of California election information online, including information about voter registration, descriptions of the candidates and measures on the ballot, and voter resources, such as multilingual voter services.
• The California Online Voter Guide is a clearinghouse of election information and website links produced by the California Voter Foundation (CVF). It features nonpartisan information on the statewide propositions and all of the congressional, legislative, and statewide constitutional office candidates in this election.