A new poll shows broad support from Californians to toughen up on retail theft and drug crimes.
The latest poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found a majority of likely voters support Proposition 36.
Driving the news: Proposition 36 would roll back parts of 2014’s Proposition 47, making property crimes worth $950 or less a felony if someone has two or more past convictions for certain theft crimes.
- Proposition 47 made those crimes a misdemeanor, which critics say led to the rise in retail theft across California over the last decade.
- Further, Proposition 36 would also lengthen some felony sentences and bring felony charges for fentanyl offenses.
The big picture: According to the poll, 60% of likely voters favor Proposition 36, while 21% are opposed.
- The remaining 19% are still undecided ahead of next month’s general election.
Zoom in: While Republicans are by-and-large the driving force behind Proposition 36, the poll found that a plurality of Democrats also support the measure.
- Democrats support Proposition 36 at a 47% rate, with 28% in opposition and 25% undecided. Republicans came in at 83% support, with only 6% in opposition. A majority of independent and third party voters support Proposition 36 as well, coming in at 58%.
- California’s youngest voters are the most likely to oppose the initiative, with 37% voting no, but that group even had a plurality of support at 42%. A majority of every other age group plans to vote for the initiative.
- Latino voters have the largest percentage of support among the Demographic breakdown, at 73%, while Black voters oppose Proposition 36 at a 37% clip. White and Asian voters were polled at 58% and 53% support, respectively.
What they’re saying: When asked why they support Proposition 36, 61% endorsed the following statement: “Those convicted of repeatedly breaking the law should receive harsher punishments.”
- On the other hand, 54% of “no” voters said their main reason for opposing the initiative is because “it focuses too much on punishment and not enough on rehabilitation.”
- The poll results for Prop. 36 complicate the perception that California voters have stepped away from the punitive policies of the turn of the century, and suggest that several communities, especially Latinos, have more nuanced views on drug crime and punishment today,” said IGS C-Director G. Cristina Mora in a statement.
Down the ballot: The poll also asked voters about Proposition 32 and Proposition 33.
- Proposition 32 would gradually raise the minimum wage in California to $18 per hour. The poll found that 46% of likely voters plan to vote “yes,” short of the 50% mark needed to pass.
- Proposition 33 would remove rent control bans across the state. The poll found that 37% of likely voters support the initiative, down from 40% in early August.
