Prop 2 is Most Popular Citizen Initiative in California History

With the November 4th election soon to be certified and the final ballots counted, the YES! on Proposition 2 campaign announced today that the measure attracted more than 8 million votes in favor of Prop 2—giving it the highest raw vote total of any California citizen initiative. Proposition 2 requires that certain farm animals be given enough room to stand up, turn around and stretch their limbs.

"Prop 2's common-sense message—that all animals, including those raised for food, deserve to be treated humanely—resonated deeply and broadly with millions of Californians, despite a multi-million campaign by agribusiness interests," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.

Additional facts about Prop 2:

• Despite an $8.5 million agribusiness campaign against it, Prop 2 won 63.5 percent of the vote, winning in 46 of 58 counties and attracting more "yes" votes than any citizen initiative in California history. 
• Prop 2 won by a wider margin than Obama's landslide victory over McCain in California.
• Prop 2 won throughout the state – in urban, suburban, and rural areas, and was preferred by men and women; Democrats, Independents and Republicans; and Caucasians, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Latinos.
• Prop 2 earned commanding majorities in Democratic strongholds like Los Angeles County (67 percent) and San Francisco (72 percent), but also performed well in Republican counties like Kern (53 percent), Orange (60 percent), and Placer (55 percent). Important swing counties, such as Riverside (62 percent), Sacramento (60 percent), San Bernardino (62 percent), and San Diego (66 percent) also approved the measure.
• Prop 2 supporters collected nearly 800,000 signatures in the petitioning phase of the campaign and distributed 2.5 million leaflets during the final weeks of the campaign, thanks to a strong field operation.
• The issue also garnered major national media – with the Oprah Winfrey Show, Ellen DeGeneres, New York Times Magazine, and many other news and talk outlets covering the issue in depth.

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Yes on Prop. 2 – Californians for Humane Farms, sponsored by The Humane Society of the US, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians and public health professionals. For more information, visit YESonProp2.com.