A ballot measure that will increase the penalties for low-level thefts and drug possession has overwhelming support from California voters, according to a new study from the Public Policy Institute of California.
The poll, released Wednesday evening, shows that 71% of voters are likely to vote yes on the initiative, while 26% would vote no. California Republicans favor the ballot measure the most, with 85% saying they would vote yes. About 63% of Democrats and 73% of independents also said they would vote yes.
A “yes” vote on Prop. 36 would roll back provisions of Prop. 47, a voter-approved initiative that reduced some felonies to misdemeanors and set a $950 threshold for shoplifting charges.
Proposition 36 would also create a new treatment-focused court process for some drug possession crimes and require courts to warn people convicted of selling or providing illegal drugs to others that they can be charged with murder if they keep doing so and someone dies, according to the state’s Legislative Analyst Office.
“When asked how important the outcome of the vote on Proposition 36 is, three in four likely voters say it is very (41%) or somewhat important (36%). Those who would vote yes on the measure are three times more likely than those who would vote no to call it very important (51% to 16%),” according to the study.
Despite millions being allocated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to cities and counties targeting organized retail crime, shoplifting crimes continue to be an issue.
A study by the Council of Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan research organization, showed that shoplifting incidents in New York and Los Angeles had increased by over 60% between 2019 and the middle of 2023.
Recently, Newsom signed a “smash and grab” law that would increase penalties for individuals who take, damage, or destroy property while committing any felony.
The study also evaluated likely voters’ views on other ballot measures, such as Prop 3, which would enshrine marriage rights in the state constitution, and Prop 35, which would provide permanent funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services.
The poll was conducted between Aug. 29 and Sept. 9 among 1,071 likely voters. The sampling error is plus or minus 3.7%.
