CA: Proposition 8 Ballot Language Change

Election officials in California made a small, but important change to Proposition 8’s ballot language.
Via Bilerco Project:
The original ballot language read:

[Prop 8] Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

The election official’s change, however, gives the legislation a more straightforward read:

[Prop 8] Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments.

This is a small but important change in language. According to some polls, changing the language to denote the removal of rights can add up to ten points to the “no” votes. Many people might be hesitant to strip away an existing right, which this language change makes clear. Also, the addition of fiscal impact could sway many voters in California who have seen the financial windfall marriage equality has given the state.