Shasta County voters head to the polls every election cycle thinking they’re making informed choices on big statewide issues. But too often, what shows up on the ballot is a carefully worded trap. California’s ballot propositions—sold with sunny titles and summaries cooked up by the Attorney General’s office—frequently hide the real costs, tax hikes, or policy shifts until after the votes are counted. It’s not accidental. It’s a feature of a system that lets politicians and s