California Election Clarification:
Lux was confused about the way the California Recall Election works. Instead of answering in the comments, I decided to make it a separate post. Here is her question:

So let me get this straight... you can vote yes or no on the recall, and even if you vote "no", you can still vote for a candidate? Is the current governor on the ballot?

I'm confused. What if the recall gets voted down - then it doesn't matter who got the most votes?

You got it Lux.

First vote yes or no on recall.

Then vote for who you want if the recall passes, even if you voted no on the recall.

If the recall fails, then the second part is moot. If it passes, then person with most votes wins. So you could have someone with 10% of the vote , but if that is the highest, she or he wins (something that could happen with more than 180 people running).

Yes, it is the most idiotic election ever.

And no, the current governor is not on the replacement list (although people debated whether he could get on it or not - I am glad he did not try, it would have made the matter just all the more ridiculous).

With the hoopla surrounding the recall, there has been little talk about a proposition that also appears on the ballot.

[Aside - California has a system where you can put legislation on ballots for the electorate to vote on. While from a populist perspective this may seem like a good idea, the whole process has been ursurped by special interests. So what you get is radical agendas cloaked in what appears to be common sense laws.]

Anyway, the Proposition (it is known by its number - 54) is a constitutional ammendment for the state that would end Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color, or National Origin. After reading the arguments pro and con, I voted against it.

Truth be told, I was going to vote against it anyway because:

1. I usually vote against propositions. The electorate never reads the fineprint in the legislation (yes it gets printed up and mailed out to every registered voter), so the don't know what they are voting for.
2. I am a staunch supporter of Affirmative Action - yes there are things that need to be fixed, but it is still needed.

There was also some other proposition that I did not even look into. I voted against that one as well (see above).

Now you all know more than you ever wanted to know about the California election. There will be a quiz tomorrow.