Copyright© 2000 by School Services of California, Inc.
Field Poll Shows Mixed Projections for Education
Under Propositions 38 and 39
Very positive projections have been made by the respected Field Poll regarding the prospects for the defeat of Proposition 38 regarding vouchers, but the passage of Proposition 39, regarding the 55% threshold for school bond elections, remains up in the air.
Based on an October telephone poll to a statistically selected sample of California voters the Field Poll reflects:
Proposition 38 (Vouchers): Yes 36% No 52% Undecided 12%
Proposition 39 (Bond Threshold): Yes 46% No 34% Undecided 20%
Voter preferences were tallied after the voter was read the official ballot summary. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points
Unfortunately, the results on Proposition 39 reflect slightly reduced support since the last poll in August. The yes vote has declined 2% and the no vote has increased by 3%. Recent television ads featuring both Governor Gray Davis and former Governor Pete Wilson should be helpful to the Proposition 39 causes, however.
According to the Sacramento Bee, total spending on the two ballot measures has now topped $56.1 million with much of it being poured into television and radio ads.
School Services recommends a "yes" on Proposition 35 and 39 and a "no" on Proposition 38.
--Ken Hall