Election and Other News
Election News
Making their voices heard at the polls, Californians voted on a number of candidates and measures that may affect their privacy rights.
California voters elected Democratic State Senator Debra Bowen, who prevailed in a tight race for Secretary of State over Republican incumbent Bruce McPherson. Bowen has authored significant privacy legislation in California, including security freeze legislation, and campaigned on a platform focused on privacy rights, including security and reliability questions surrounding the use of electronic voting machines.
Californians have rejected Proposition 85, with 54% of voters voting no on the measure, which would have prohibited abortion for a minor until 48 hours after a physician notifies her parent or legal guardian, except in cases of medical emergency or a parental waiver. Proposition 85 was similar to last year’s Proposition 73, which lost by a six percent margin. Opponents of the measure argued it would endanger at-risk minors and threaten privacy rights. In 1997, the California Supreme Courtstruck down as violative of the right of privacy guaranteed by article I, section 1, of the California Constitution, a law requiring minors to obtain parental consent or court approval prior to an abortion. American Academy of Pediatrics v. Lungren, S041459.
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