The Nov. 5 Presidential Election ballot included ten statewide propositions. The Hill communities were divided in their support of the various propositions as they were for the elected officials.

Statewide six of the propositions were successful. These were Propositions 2 and 4, bond measures for schools and environmental projects, Prop 3, the constitutional right to marriage, Prop 34, restricts spending of prescription revenues, Prop 35, permanent funding for Medi-Cal, and Prop 36, increased sentencing for certain drug and theft crimes, All have received more “Yes” than “No” votes, but some results were close.

These four failed to achieve majority support: Prop 5, bonds for affordable housing and infrastructure, Prop 6, eliminates forcing inmates to work, Prop 32, raises minimum wage, and Prop 33, local government residential rent control. Of these four, the closest race was for Prop 32, minimum wage.

Prop 32, raising the minimum wage failed statewide and Riverside County voters also opposed it as did Pine Cove and Garner Valley (overwhelmingly with 67.4% opposed). But 53.1% of Idyllwild voters said “Yes” and Mountain Center voters were split. Thirty voted “Yes” and 30 voted “No.”

For three measures, the results were similar among all four precincts. While the percentages varied, each precinct supported Prop 36, which strengthened felony charges for various crimes, and Prop 35, which created permanent funding for Medi-Cal.

All agreed in opposition to Prop 33, strengthening rent control,

Props 2 and 4, the two bond measures were easily approved with 55% of their vote being “Yes”. Idyllwild, Pine Cove and Mountain Center each supported these measures with 60% of more their vote.

Interestingly, the Garner Valley voters were decisively opposed to both bonds. More than 56% of their voters chose “No.”

The local precinct results were similar for Prop 3, the constitutional right to marriage. The three jurisdictions at the higher elevations supported it – more than 70% in Idyllwild. However, Garner Valley voters were opposed, but narrowly with only 50.3% saying “No.”

Another interesting difference occurred for the results of Prop 6, eliminating involuntary work in State prisons. This proposition was defeated statewide. While 53.3% of all voters opposed it, more than 61% of county voters opposed it.

However, Idyllwild voters narrowly supported it with 50.4% saying “Yes.” The other three precincts opposed it, and Garner Valley cast 73.8% of its votes against this proposition.