Californians Oppose AIDS Quarantine, Poll Shows

SAN FRANCISCO — Californians are overwhelmingly opposed to a ballot measure that would subject AIDS patients to possible quarantine, according to a poll released Thursday.

Proposition 69, sponsored by followers of Lyndon LaRouche, is opposed by a margin of 80% to 15% when LaRouche’s name is linked to the measure, the California Poll showed.

In another sample, in which the measure was hypothetically posed as being sponsored by the state Legislature and the governor, voters opposed it by a 68% to 24% margin.

“Voters are overwhelmingly rejecting the basic concept,” pollster Mervin Field said. “LaRouche adds some points to the opposition, but basically the measure is being rejected on the merits.”

The measure, which will be on the June 7 primary ballot, is the same as a 1986 LaRouche initiative that was rejected by voters, 71% to 29%.

Proposition 69 would require doctors and local health officials to report the names of AIDS patients and those who test positive for AIDS antibodies to state health agencies. The two groups would then be subject to state quarantine and isolation regulations.

The poll results were based on a representative sample last month of 769 registered California voters. The sample was divided into two subsamples. The margin of error for these subsamples is 5%.