2016 California Proposition 56

Proposition 56

Cigarette Tax
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 8,980,448 64.43% No 4,957,994 35.57% Valid votes 13,938,442 95.40% Invalid or blank votes 672,067 4.60% Total votes 14,610,509 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 19,411,771 75.27%
Results by county Yes   80–90%   70–80%   60–70%   50–60% No   60–70%   50–60%
Source: California Secretary of State[1]

Proposition 56 is a California ballot proposition that passed on the November 8, 2016 ballot. It increased the cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, effective April 1, 2017, with equivalent increases on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine.^[2] The bulk of new revenue is earmarked for Medi-Cal.^[3]

A September 2016 poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed that 59% of likely voters supported Proposition 56, 36% opposed it, and 5% did not know how they would vote.^[4] A September 2016 poll from USC Dornsife / Los Angeles Times showed 63% percent of registered voters in favor of Proposition 56, 32% opposed, and 6% unknown.^[5]

Proposition 56 was approved with 64% of the vote.^[6] Two previous attempts to increase the state cigarette tax narrowly failed with Proposition 86 in 2006 and Proposition 29 in 2012. Proposition 56 was the first increase in the state cigarette tax since Proposition 10 in 1998. With the passage of Prop. 56, California's cigarette tax increased from $0.87 per pack to $2.87, increasing its rank from 35th-highest in the country to ninth-highest.^[6]

See also

• California Proposition 99 (1988)
• California Proposition 10 (1998)
• Cigarette taxes in the United States

References

1. "Statement of Vote - November 8, 2016, General Election". December 16, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
2. "Proposition 56. California General Election November 8, 2016. Official Voter Information Guide". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
3. "Cigarette Tax to Fund Healthcare, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute". Legislative Analyst's Office.
4. Baldassare, Mark (September 2016). "Californians & Their Government: Statewide Survey" (PDF). Public Policy Institute of California. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
5. "USC-Dornsife/LA Times Poll". USC Dornsife September 2016 Poll. September 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
6. Gutierrez, Melody; Whiting, Sam (November 9, 2016). "Prop. 56: Voters approve cigarette tax". SFGate. Retrieved December 7, 2016.

External links

• Yes on 56