What Is Proposition 62? Voter Guide for 2016 California Measures

LOS ANGELES, CA -- If it passes, Proposition 62 would repeal the death penalty and replace it with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Proponents say it will guarantee that no innocent person is executed and save taxpayers up to $150 million annually while opponents say it will allow murderers to live out the rest of their lives at taxpayers' expense long after their victims are gone.

Since California re-instituted the death penalty in 1978, 13 people have been executed. That’s less than the number of condemned inmates who killed themselves in that same timeframe. California taxpayers spent $5 billion to execute those 13 people put to death since 1978, said Jacob Hay, spokesman for Proposition 62. Conversely, abolishing the death penalty would save California $150 million annually, according the legislative analyst's office.

Proponents of the measure contend it's the only way to ensure an innocent person isn't executed while making sure current death row inmates would remain locked up for life while working to pay restitution to victims. Supporters include the author of the state's current death penalty law passed in 1976, Jimmy Carter and the Democratic, Green and Libertarian parties.

Opponents, contend the death penalty is the only punishment that can bring justice to the most heinous killers. Instead of abolishing the death penalty to save taxpayer money, the system should be reformed to speed up executions and reduce the cost of Death Row. Toward that end, they advocate Proposition 66, which would preserve the death penalty by trying to speed up a broken system that has ground executions to a halt for more than a decade.

Opponents include former the Republican party, former Gov. Pete Wilson and a wide swath of police associations and district attorneys.

According to the ballot summary, Proposition 62:

• "Repeals death penalty as maximum punishment for persons found guilty of murder and replaces it with life imprisonment without possibility of parole.
• Applies retroactively to persons already sentenced to death.
• States that persons found guilty of murder and sentenced to life without possibility of parole must work while in prison as prescribed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
• Increases portion of life inmates’ wages that may be applied to victim restitution. "

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8

Your polling place is listed on the back of the sample ballot you receive in the mail. It can also be found by visiting www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or by calling (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

For more on all of California's measures, see below:

• What Is Proposition 51?
• What Is Proposition 52?
• What Is Proposition 53?
• What Is Proposition 54?
• What Is Proposition 55?
• What Is Proposition 56?
• What Is Proposition 57?
• What Is Proposition 58?
• What Is Proposition 59?
• What Is Proposition 60?
• What Is Proposition 61?
• What Is Proposition 62?
• What Is Proposition 63?
• What Is Proposition 64?
• What Is Proposition 65?
• What Is Proposition 66?
• What Is Proposition 67?

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo: San Quentin's lethal injection chamber courtesy of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation