If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gets his way, Californians will vote on many complex ballot measures this November. Of course, like most voters on statewide initiatives in the past, the people who will turn out for the special election will be far whiter, far older, far more conservative and far wealthier than the average California voter.

This “dual constituency” problem is only one of many issues facing the state’s initiative structure. Speaking on campus last week, former state Sen. Dede Alpert predicted that former Gov. Hiram Johnson — the governor who helped usher in the progressive reforms like the initiative and the recall almost 100 years ago — would be turning over in his grave if he could see us today.

To begin with, the implementation of the initiative, designed to give voters direct power, has been hijacked by the special interest groups it was supposed to eliminate. Today, only those who can shell out $2 million for paid signature collectors can actually put their measures on the ballot, and only those who can spend at least another $5 million actually ever see their measures pass.

The initiative has also had a tragic effect on public policy, essentially tying the hands of professional legislators. Unlike most other states, California’s initiatives have no “sunset” clause and lawmakers cannot modify outdated measures. As a result, archaic relics like Proposition 13 are likely playing a major role in our current budget crisis, something that all students feel in their wallets.

In the short term, the governor must drop his threats of a special election and actually compromise with the Legislature. In the long term, the state’s initiative process needs major reform.