[Rumor]

In 1996, Prop 215 was a huge decision in California.

This year, Prop 8 is a huge decision in California.

How exactly are these propositions assigned a number? It doesn't seem like they go in sequence. Do they start off at the beginning every voting cycle? Or does it go by calendar year? Or something else?

[mduell]

Why didn't you try Google?
Originally, initiative and referendum petitions were given a number starting at 1 each year. This tended to be confusing as often famous initiatives such as Proposition 13 might be confused with another initiative in a later year if there were more than 12 proposals on the ballot in any year. Starting in 1982, the proposition numbers were not reused but would continue to increment until at least a decade had passed from when a particular one had appeared on the ballot, eventually resulting in proposition numbers exceeding 200. Starting with the 1998 ballot, the count was reset back to 1 and will be reset every 10 years.

[Rumor]

I tried Wikipedia, but I used different search parameters. Obviously, I used the wrong ones.

It's an odd concept the way they have it set up.

[- - e r i k - -]

Wikipedia search always seemed sketchy to me.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

I tried Wikipedia, but I used different search parameters. Obviously, I used the wrong ones.

It's an odd concept the way they have it set up.

"california proposition" in wikipedia will get you there.