Proposition C — November 2020

From the San Francisco November 2020 Nonpartisan Voter Guide.

If this charter amendment passes, San Francisco residents of voting age — which could also change this year (see Proposition G) — could be appointed to city policy bodies even if they aren’t citizens. Proponents say people on the city’s oversight boards don’t represent the city demographically, as 62% of the local population consists of people of color, whereas boards are 50% white. Noncitizens are currently barred from serving on city commissions and boards.

Other language changes would include changing references to “both men and women” to “people” and adding all “ages, sexes, and gender identities.” Changing the language from citing a specific age requirement to “voting age” would provide flexibility to allow for potential changes to the voting age through Proposition G, which could lower the voting age from 18 to 16. 

This measure was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote from the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Shamann Walton said at the time that undocumented residents have long been active in civic organizing, and this change would create an opportunity for them to have a more direct say in how the city is run.

No official opposition filed a statement with the department of elections, but the Republican Party opposes the measure and wrote in a paid statement that if the measure had distinguished between documented and undocumented — they use the term “legal” and “illegal” — immigrants, they would have no opposition.

The controller’s analysis estimates minimal fiscal impact if the proposition is approved.

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