What Is Proposition 66? Voter Guide for 2016 California Measures

LOS ANGELES, CA — If it passes, Proposition 66 would change procedures for state court challenges to death sentences, designating the Superior Court for initial petitions and limiting successive petitions.

Proponents say it would speed up the appeal process and save millions of dollars, while opponents say it would increase the risk of executing an innocent person.

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 time frame. Supporters of Prop 66 contend it will fix the broken system, speed up executions and bring justice and closure to victims' families while saving taxpayers millions.

RELATED: Voters to Make Make Life or Death Decision with Dueling Death Penalty Measures

Proponents include the Republican party and dozens of California sheriffs and district attorneys.

Opponents of the measure contend it increases the risk of the ultimate miscarriage of justice: the execution of an innocent person. They argue that instead of reforming the death penalty, abolishing it, as Proposition 62 does, would save taxpayers $150 million annually.

SEE ALSO: Full Presidential Election Results As They Come In

California taxpayers spent $5 billion to execute those 13 people put to death since 1978, said Jacob Hay, spokesman for Proposition 62. Opponents of Proposition 66 include Jimmy Carter, the Democratic, Green and Libertarian parties and the NAACP.

According to the ballot summary, Proposition 66:

• Changes procedures governing state court appeals and petitions challenging death penalty convictions and sentences.
• Designates superior court for initial petitions and limits successive petitions.
• Establishes time frame for state court death penalty review.
• Requires appointed attorneys who take noncapital appeals to accept death penalty appeals.
• Exempts prison officials from existing regulation process for developing execution methods.
• Authorizes death row inmate transfers among California prisons.
• Increases portion of condemned inmates’ wages that may be applied to victim restitution.
• States other voter approved measures related to death penalty are void if this measure receives more affirmative votes

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