by Nick Burns/WEST BERKELEY

Local democratic campaign volunteers worked furiously into the night preparing for tomorrow’s historic election. Armed with cell phones, area residents manned tables at Berkeley’s United Democratic Campaign office to encourage voters to cast their ballots. Children of volunteers also participated in phone banking efforts, leaving messages pleading for residents to reelect Mayor Tom Bates and vote against Proposition 8, which seeks to ban gay marriage by amending the state constitution.

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By Ali Winston

On November 4, California voters will decide on two crucial law and order ballot measures – Propositions 6 and 9.

Proposition 6, or the Runner Initiative, would divert money from California’s general fund to the justice system, including the state’s troubled prison system. Prop 6 would increase penalties for drug-related crimes and also allow prosecutors to petition courts to try juveniles as young as 14 adults if they are involved in “gang-related” felonies. Local authorities would also be required to check the citizenship status of anyone arrested, booked or convicted of a crime.

Proposition 9, or the Victims Rights and Protections Act, is billed as a victims-rights initiative that would increase restitution payments from offenders to victims and notify victims’ relatives about all public criminal hearings concerning the offender. It would also extend the time between parole hearings from five to 15 years.

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