What Is Prop 7: Permanent Daylight Saving Time Measure Explained

LOS ANGELES, CA — Think of this one as the night owls versus the early birds. If Proposition 7 is approved, California leaders would have the go-ahead to try to make Daylight Savings Time permanent, eliminating the need for Californians to change their clocks twice a year.

Permanent Daylight Savings would end the need for twice annual ‘Spring Forward’ and ‘Fall Back’ clock changes. It would mean darker winter mornings with later sunsets.

Proponents of the measure argue that the twice annual time changes are irritating and cause sleep deprivation, hurting health and productivity. Opponents say the measure would put California time out of sync with the rest of the country for half the year, and it could be a safety issue with kids leaving for school in the dark during the winter.

Even if voters approved Proposition 7, that doesn’t mean a change to Daylight Savings is a sure thing. The federal government would still have to sign off on it.

Californians have been switching their clocks back and forth since 1949 when Daylight Saving Time was implemented.

“We started this practice to conserve energy during wartime, but studies show that this is no longer the case,” the bill’s sponsor Rep. Kansen Chu told East County Today. “We are no longer saving energy, and studies have shown this practice increases risk of heart attacks, traffic accidents and crimes. It is time that we as a state reconsider whether this is still beneficial to our residents.”

According to the official ballot argument in favor of the measure, heart attack and stroke risks go up between 8 and 10 percent immediately after clock changes, electricity use spikes by 4 percent, and children struggle to get up for school in the morning.

But opponents of the measure say it will create confusion and tries to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. Furthermore, Californians will spend their winter mornings in the dark.

“Being on permanent Daylight Saving Time will put us out of sync with our neighbors,” warns the official ballot statement against the measure. “Those of you who like to wake up with the sun will wake up in the dark. You’ll be getting your family ready for the day in the dark; your kids will be walking to school or waiting for the school bus before the sun rises. For those of you who get your exercise or attend religious services before work, you’ll be doing it in darkness.”

No fundraising has been reported for or against the measure, and there isn’t an organized campaign for against it, according to Ballotpedia.

A SurveyUSA poll shows broad support for the measure with 58 percent of voters in favor of it to 21 percent against.

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)