California goes to the polls in special election

LOS ANGELES - California voters went to the polls in a special election called by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has put his reputation as a winning reformer on the line in a bid to reshape the state's political landscape.

Californians have eight measures to consider, ranging from the right of parents to know when their daughters are having an abortion to the way legislative districts are drawn, and many are being watched closely across the nation.

The election has become an epic showdown between Schwarzenegger, the popular film star swept into office as a political outsider in 2003, and the state public employee unions whom he says "run California."

Schwarzenegger, who has seen his approval ratings drop in the past year in the face of furious attacks by his big labour foes, voted near his home in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Brentwood, telling reporters he was "very optimistic"

as he entered the polls with wife Maria Shriver.

Recent polls have shown the Republican governor is trailing on all four of the initiatives he backed in the face of bitter opposition from the unions, who have spent more than US$100 million ($146.64 million) to defeat him in the costliest initiative campaign in California history.

"It's a much bigger battle than I thought it would be," Schwarzenegger said at a campaign stop outside San Francisco on Monday, adding: "It's a tremendous fight." Aides to the governor believe he will surprise pollsters and pull out wins in at least three of the propositions, citing internal tracking polls.

Political experts say much depends on turnout in a special election that has turned off many voters still weary from the recall campaign that toppled former California Governor Gray Davis and swept Schwarzenegger to power.

Among his pledges during that campaign was to seize power from special interests and his Prop. 75 targets the unions that collect hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year and wield huge influence in Sacramento.

Proposition 75 would require union bosses to get permission from members before spending the dues on political causes and experts say if it passes it could trigger a wave of similar reforms across the country.

Schwarzenegger has also campaigned for Prop. 74, which would require teachers to wait an additional three years before earning tenure; Prop. 76, which would limit increases in state spending; and Prop. 77, which would take power to draw legislative districts away from legislators and give it to a panel of retired judges.

Also on the ballot are an initiative that would require doctors to notify parents before performing an abortion on girls under the age of 18; two measures regulating prescription drug prices; and Prop. 80, which would repeal provisions of 1996 electricity deregulation.

- REUTERS