PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Californians and the Initiative Process, November 2005
Mark Baldassare

November 2005

Some findings of the current survey:

Voters Are Angry

• 60% of California voters considered the special election a bad idea.
• 68% said things in California are generally going in the wrong direction.
• Only 17% of special election voters think they can trust elected officials to do what is right always or most the time.
• 78% of the special election voters think that the state government is run by a few big interests rather than for the benefit of all of the people.
• Majorities disapprove of the governor’s performance in office (56%) and the job performance of the state legislature as well (66%).
• An overwhelming majority (76%) disapprove of the way that the two branches of government are working together in making public policy.
• Voters support the idea of limiting initiatives to November general ballots (53%), requiring the governor to have the approval of the legislature before calling special elections on initiatives (54%), increasing public disclosure of funding sources for initiative campaigns and signature-gathering efforts (85%), and requiring televised debates on initiative measures (77%).

This is the 61st PPIC Statewide Survey and the fourth in a series of surveys focusing on Californians and the initiative process, as well as state and national issues. This special survey series is funded by The James Irvine Foundation.