Racial data initiative will get an early vote

[Freddie Stubbs]

MEASURE WILL BE ON RECALL BALLOT

As if a wild and uncharted campaign to oust a sitting governor weren't enough, the upcoming California recall election will feature a divisive dose of racial politics as well.

Voters in the nation's most demographically diverse state will soon consider the Racial Privacy Initiative, an effort to ban the state's collection and use of racial and ethnic data that was set for the March 2004 primary election, but will move to the recall ballot because of a wrinkle in election law.

So far, only one in four voters has even heard of the initiative, according to a Field Poll released today. But that is certain to change soon as both sides scramble to prepare over the next 60 to 80 days for a vote they thought was seven months away. Opponents admit they face a tough task in a short time: The poll found an approval ratio of 50 to 29.

Ultimately, it's not clear whether being part of the recall ballot will help or hurt the initiative's chances. What is likely, everyone agrees, is that the issue will prove just as controversial and divisive as previous California measures targeting illegal immigrants, affirmative action and bilingual education.

more: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/6372680.htm