The 2025 election will be the first time I’ll be able to vote. As a newly-turned 18 year old, as well as someone with an openly political family, I’m excited to vote and to finally be able to have a say in a country I’ve been living in my whole life.
Another reason I’m so excited to be able to vote in this upcoming election is because of the controversial measure on the ballot this year: Proposition 50.
I can say with certainty that I will be voting “yes.” Even though I don’t always agree with my democratic representatives’ choices, or sometimes their lack thereof, I view supporting Prop 50 as something necessary. In a political climate that is increasingly polarizing and extreme, Prop 50 is a chance for Democrats to finally fight fire with fire.
Over my entire life, I’ve seen Republicans make major political and morally-gray decisions, and Democrats always trying to uphold a moral high ground. From the Supreme Court to the filibuster, only one party has been making these decisions, and gaining political power from them. I think that the Democrats’ standing back goes against the platforms they ran on, and doesn’t accomplish anything. While they can claim that they are the “fair,” the “just” and the “better” party, their actions only succeed in letting Republicans have their way. They are not considering the voters their lack of action might impact.
I think Prop 50 may be the first time the Democrats are deciding to fight, and to compromise their morals rather than step back and let the Republicans take control. While I don’t support gerrymandering, I believe Prop 50 is necessary to fight back and equalize the playing field for both parties. It would return the representation back to the baseline, and would tell other states that California is willing to do what it takes, even if that means doing something morally gray. I don’t think that elections can ever be fair if both parties don’t play by the same rules, and follow the same protocols.
The equalization of representation that Prop 50 will achieve is the first step in that direction.
Simone Dayton is a high school student in Marin County and an intern at the ‘Pacific Sun.’
