Why A Vote on Establishing an Independent Sikh State in Punjab Is Coming to California
A Novel Referendum Tests Whether Democracy Can Quell Violence—and Go Global
On January 28, Californians will finally get to cast ballots in a historic vote on whether to create a new independent country.
Why is this the first you’re hearing of this election? Because the only Californians who can vote in the election are Sikhs. The proposed independent country would be in Punjab, a state in northern India.
But that’s no reason to overlook what might be the most important election in the Golden State next year.
Indeed, the Khalistan referendum, as this ballot measure is known, is worthy of your attention for two …
