Californians to vote on whether to end Daylight Saving Time in state

It’s almost time to turn the clocks back one hour to mark the end of Daylight Saving Time. But some Californians think it’s time for a change.

Proposition 7 on Tuesday’s ballot would allow the state legislature to pass year-round daylight saving time with a two-thirds vote and permission from the federal government. That would mean no more falling back, no more springing forward.

Supporters of this idea say the practice is outdated and that certain studies show an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in the days following a time change, because of disrupted sleep patterns. They also say changing our clocks twice a year leads to hundreds of millions spent on unnecessary electricity and fuel costs.

Those who oppose year-round daylight saving time say more people will make the morning commute to work or school in the darkness during the wintertime, which could lead to more traffic accidents.

They also say it would make California out-of-sync with neighboring states.

Felipe Meza of Laguna Niguel thinks it’s time to do away on-and-off Daylight Saving Time in California.

“It takes a little bit to readjust your time clock,” Meza said. “So why not just do away with it? Right now a lot of other states have gone that route, and I think we should also.”

“I like falling back and I like springing forward,” says Mark McIntyre of Santa Barbara. “I think it just produces a lot more safety. The speeders that go down our streets when little kids are trying to get their way onto the bus [in the morning]… they need the daylight.”

While Californians can vote on Proposition 7 on Tuesday, Daylight Saving Time ends in California at 2 a.m. Sunday morning.