Widespread coalition is opposing noncitizen voting ballot measure in Santa Ana

The Orange County Register, the Santa Ana Police Union, the Mayor, “Santa Ana Citizens for Voting” and a business community PAC are among those actively opposing Measure DD on the November ballot in Santa Ana, which if passed, would allow for noncitizen voting in city elections.  Whether it passes or fails, the outcome of Measure DD will potentially have national significance for the effort to expand noncitizen voting in California and the nation.

Measure DD has been controversial from its origin.  It was placed on the ballot late last year in a contentious 4-3 vote of the City Council, with the Council majority overruling city staff recommendations on the wording of the ballot measure to add favorable language.  But this summer, Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly A. Knill ruled in favor of a lawsuit and ordered removal of wording she found to be biased and illegal, violating the California Elections Code by creating a prejudice on the ballot to encourage voters to vote for the measure.  The Judge’s Order is available here: https://usjf.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hearing-on-Petition-1.pdf.  

The more neutral presentation of the measure is now on ballots and voting in Santa Ana is underway.

Other than ballot arguments, there is no visible sign of a campaign in favor of Measure DD in Santa Ana, such as signs, telephone calls, direct-mail, door-hangers, canvassing, or electronic advertising.

However, a significant coalition of Santa Ana residents and stakeholders has arisen in opposition to the measure:

• Ballot arguments in opposition to the measure have been signed by prominent Santa Ana residents, and the measure is opposed by Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua;
• The Orange County Register has editorialized against Measure DD, stating “(r)ather than meddle with local elections, Santa Ana should focus on making sure the city is well-run before meddling in elections”;
• The Santa Ana Police Union has reportedly spent $9,000 on a mailing to Santa Ana residents opposing measure DD;
• A business community group “Save Santa Ana,” supported by real estate interests, is including No on DD in its campaign messaging against two other measures on the Santa Ana ballot.
• A political action committee named “Santa Ana Citizens for Voting” has spent over $31,000 on campaign materials including 1,000 street signs stating “Protect Citizen’s Rights – No on DD”.  A copy of the signage appears at the end of this release.

James V. Lacy, who brought the successful lawsuit challenging the biased wording of the original ballot measure language said, “it looks to me like the proponents of noncitizen voting in Santa Ana were relying entirely on rigged ballot language to pass their measure.  They failed at that because of our lawsuit.  They have now made another big mistake in not putting up a campaign to actually ask voters for their support, and it looks to me like Measure DD is going to lose.”