California votes to split into three states this November

If Tim Draper's “Cal 3” initiative receives most of the votes, a long process can begin to divide modern-day California into North, South and Central.

Draper has been struggling with this initiative for six years. Initially, he planned to divide it into six new regions.

But, however, it is the first time in 150 years that this election is decided at the state vote.

If the proposal becomes reality, it would be the first division of a country since Virginia and West left Virginia in 1863.

The new state of California would focus from Los Angeles to Monterey.

Northern California would include Sacramento and Bay Area.

“The states would enable better infrastructure, better education and lower taxes”, Draper told Los Angeles Times last summer after submitting the proposal.

“The states will respond more to us and can co-operate and compete in favour of citizens”.

Is that a new idea?

The idea of dividing California has existed for more years than the state itself.

Since the establishment of California in 1850, there have been more than 200 efforts to divide it. The efforts have come from lawmakers, county directors or pro-division individuals, like Mr. Draper.

In 1859 California sent the convention a proposal to separate south from the north, but the Civil War left few places for lawmakers to worry about such matters.

Since then, other efforts have circulated without much attention.

In 2012, and 2014, Draper proposed to divide California into six countries, an initiative that failed to enter the polls.

But on September 3, 2017, he turned this idea into the center of attention.

A spokeswoman for Cal-3, Peggy Grande, told Washington Post that California is not a country that keeps all states in one.

Grande said that dividing three parts would make it easier for lawmakers to focus on specific problems, giving greater attention to smaller areas.

“These problems do not disappear, but solutions become more representative for people who influence”, she told newspapers.

But what would change nationally?

California has 55 votes in electoral college, and these votes have gone to the Democrats historically.

If Cal-3 is approved, it could change, and the Democrats would not be very pleased to allow separation.

Based on election data from the Centre for Policy, the University of Virginia, South California could become a wavering state if change is approved.

Cal-3 would also add four senators to the US Senate.

What are the chances of the proposal being approved?

The US constitution allows the creation of new states, but does not make the process easy. According to Article 4, no state can be added to the Union without the consent of the legislatures of the states involved, as well as without the consent of Congress.

That means that if Cal-3 is going to succeed with voters, the approval should also come from the California legislature. Then the request would go to Washington for federal approval.

For now, the effort is unlikely to be positive, especially if history is considered. But on November 6th, Californians will have the opportunity to give their opinion by vote.