California’s Lieutenant Governor, Abel Maldonado, has made public appearances in the last few months, in which he advocates for Proposition 14 and also holds himself out as a champion of voting rights. However, his record while he was in the state legislature does not suggest that he was interested in expanding voting rights.

In 2000, he voted “No” on AB 1094, which changed the deadline for a voter to register to vote from 29 days before an election, to 15 days. The bill passed and was signed into law.

In two different legislative sessions, he voted against the National Popular Vote Plan: AB 2948 in 2006, and SB 37 in 2008. The National Popular Vote Plan, if passed by California and enough other states, would end any future occurrences at which someone could assume the presidency even though that person had polled fewer popular votes than another presidential candidate. Both bills passed the legislature but both bills were vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A 2008 poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed that 70% of Californians support the National Popular Vote Plan.

In 2007, he voted against SB 439, which would have provided that voter intent should control whether a write-in vote is valid. Specifically, the bill would have said that if a voter write-ins on the ballot the name of a declared write-in candidate, that vote should count, even if the voter forgot, or didn’t know, to “X” the square next to the name. The bill passed but was vetoed.

In 2007, he voted against AB 1294, which said that any general law city or county is free to use Instant Runoff Voting for its own city or county elections. Current law lets charter cities implement IRV for its own elections, but does not let general law cities or counties make this decision. The bill passed but was vetoed. All popular votes during the last ten years in California charter cities, asking the voters if they wish to use IRV for their own cities, have passed.

In 2008, he voted against AB 583, which passed and was signed into law. It provides that in June 2010, the voters vote on whether to repeal a State Constitutional ban on public funding for candidates. The existing ban applies not only to the state, but to any local government. This measure is Proposition 15. Polls indicate that it is leading.

The Independent, from Great Britain, has this story about the Green Party of Great Britain. Polls indicate that the party is likely to elect its first member of the House of Commons. The election is May 6.

This Los Angeles Times story mentions that the campaign in favor of California’s Proposition 14, the “top-two” ballot measure set for the June 8 ballot, has $2,800,000 on hand. Most of it was raised from wealthy individuals and large corporations, aided by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fund for ballot issues. The story also mentions that the opponents have raised very little money, and therefore backers are optimistic.

There is a vigorous campaign against Proposition 14, carried on around the state in public meetings of civic groups, and in radio debates. In 2004, when another “top-two” measure was on the California ballot, opponents raised $600,000; proponents raised several million dollars; and the measure was defeated.