California voters ban affirmative action in public programs with Proposition 209

California voters approve Proposition 209 on November 5, 1996, amending the state constitution to bar public institutions from granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. The measure affects public university admissions, state contracting, and public employment. Supporters describe it as a ban on preferences, while opponents say it dismantles tools used to address racial exclusion. The measure becomes a national model for state-level restrictions on affirmative action and changes access debates in one of the country's largest states.