With important Propositions on the Nov. 6 ballot, a look at the State Ballot Measures shows that the future of our government is based on our votes.

Proposition 30: Temporary Taxes to Fund Education passed, despite a slow start, it pushed ahead towards the end of the night. This proposition increases taxes on earnings of over $250,000 for seven years and sales taxes by one-quarter cent for the next four years. This will generate about $6 billion annually over the next few years. California voters passed the proposition 53.9% to 46.1%. However, Ventura County voters rejected this Proposition 51% No – 49% Yes.

Proposition 34: Death Penalty did not pass. It would have repealed the death penalty and replaced it with life imprisonment, having no chance of parole. The Ventura County voters aided the rejection of Proposition 34: 57.3% -to 42.7%, according to the State Ballot Measures, California’s No votes won 52.8% to 47.2%.

Proposition 35: Human Trafficking passed in California. This means the approval of increased prison sentences for human trafficking convictions. It also requires convicted human traffickers to register as sex offenders.  80.2% of Ventura County Voters said yes and state wide the percentage was 81.1%.

Proposition 37 Genetically Engineered Foods Labeling did not pass. It would have required the labeling of food containing altered genetic material. This labeling process would have increased annual state cost from a few hundred thousand dollars to over $1 million due to regulation costs. Ventura County results show 56.4% said no and 43.6% said yes.  California voters were 53.1% No -to 46.9% Yes.