Time Running Out for $5.5 Billion California Stem Cell Ballot Initiative

Backers of a proposed $5.5 billion, stem cell ballot initiative are pressing on with their cyberspace campaign to assure that the measure will qualify for the November ballot despite "a landscape (that) is changing on a daily basis."

But as the campaign's website notes, "Time is running out."

No fresh figures for the number of signatures have been released since early this month. The campaign has also extended to this Thursday its self-imposed deadline for collecting 950,000 signatures. The campaign originally hoped to have the signatures in hand last Saturday.  

At stake is the financial life of the California stem cell agency, which is running out of money and is expected to begin the process of closing its doors next fall unless it receives an infusion of cash. The ballot initiative needs 623,212 signatures of registered voters to make the November ballot.  At last report, it had 935,000. However, the disqualification rate of signatures on petitions can run as high as 50 percent. 

County election officials are also working under Covid-19 conditions, which can mean a reduced work force and limited hours for verifying signatures. At some point, moreover, the mechanics of printing and delivering the ballot information that must go to nearly 20 million voters come into play for state election officials. 

Responding to a query from the California Stem Cell Report, campaign spokeswoman Sarah Melbostad released a statement yesterday that said:

"This new virtual signature gathering effort was launched just last week, and as it takes time to count the incoming signatures by mail, we do not have an updated number to share. 

"The campaign is aiming to give the counties as much time as possible to verify signatures, however the landscape is changing on a daily basis, and adapting to new challenges during these uncertain times requires nimble decision-making and flexibility. 

"Voters can continue to visit our website https://caforcures.com/help-us-qualify/ to sign the petition and learn how they can help ensure the continuation of treatments and cures that could save or improve the lives of millions."

The stem cell measure is not the only initiative that is facing problems. It could well be that the governor may take some sort of emergency action to extend deadlines for all of them. 

Earlier this month, the stem cell campaign launched an "unprecedented" electronic, mail-in effort to gather the final number of signatures that were judged to be needed. It is a daunting process to conduct online and then have the petitions returned in the mail. 

The campaign web site stresses the urgency and pressing need for more signatures. "The campaign must gather the last 35,000 signatures through mail-in submissions by April 16th," the web site says.