Yes on Prop 8 passes

Staff reports • The Desert Sun • November 4, 2008

Yes on Prop 8 passes
Proposition 8, the measure to ban gay marriage in California, has passed.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting at 1 p.m. , the voter initiative amendment that would define marriage as between a man and woman passed with 52.5 percent of the vote.

"This is a great day for marriage," said Ron Prentice, chairman of ProtectMarriage.com. "The people of California stood up for traditional marriage and reclaimed this great institution ... we trust that this decision will be respected by all Californians," he said.

No on Prop 8 officials said today the race is still too close to call.

"Based on turnout estimates reported yesterday, we expect there are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted," said Geoff Kors, of the executive committee on the No on Prop 8 campaign in a statement on the group's Web site.

The state of California reported 5,220,694 votes (52.2 percent) for Yes on 8 while 4,792,873 (47.8 percent) have voted against the measure, remaining virtually unchanged even as results continue to trickle in. About 96.4 percent of precincts have reported.

The proposition would amend California's state constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. Earlier in the year, the California Supreme Court issued a ruling making such marriages legal under the state's constitution.

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