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Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020

Does a California ballot initiative seek to overturn the state’s 1996 ban on affirmative action?

Tory Coffin, Gigafact
yes

California voters in November are being asked to consider a measure overturning a 1996 ban on state affirmative-action programs, which consider sex, race and ethnicity as preferential factors in public employment, contracting and education decisions.

Among other impacts, overturning the ban could change the racial balance at the state's universities. The University of California, which favors the measure, says Blacks and Latinos are underrepresented in its student body. Some Asian-American groups oppose the repeal of the ban, citing the lower ratio of Asian-American students at other institutions using affirmative action policies in admissions decisions.

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