Proposition 54 was a proposition in the state of California on the October 7, 2003, special election ballot. It failed to pass with 2,796,035 (36.1%) votes in favor and 4,940,773 (63.9%) against. It was placed on the ballot through the initiative process.
Proposition 54 would have prevented the state of California from using racial classifications in most of its business. Its official title was the "Racial Privacy Initiative." Supporters of the measure said it was the first step towards a "colorblind" society, while opponents felt that it would make it more difficult for the state to provide services and identify and correct racial disparities.
This issue might normally have been more contentious had it not been overshadowed by the 2003 California recall election on the same ballot.
The question before voters was:
- Should state and local governments be prohibited from classifying any person by race, ethnicity, color, or national origin? Various exemptions apply.
Official summary
Summary of Legislative Analyst's Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:External links
