Choices
Ballot Question
Proposition 3: Right to marry
Proposition 3 was placed on the ballot by the California Legislature to codify in the California state constitution that same-sex couples may be legally married in California. The California constitution currently states that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” This was added to the state constitution when Proposition 8 was approved by voters in 2008 – a measure that opponents of same-sex marriage added to the ballot via the voter initiative process. Prop 8 was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by a federal court in 2010. Proposition 3 would formally repeal Prop 8 language from the California constitution, essentially aligning the state constitution with existing law in California allowing same-sex marriage.