Some activists think the language change, which spells out the removal of the right for same-sex couples to marry, could help add support to defeat the amendment. Read the change to the language after the jump...

Election officials in California made what could be an important change to Proposition 8's language yesterday. Prop 8, which was put forward by fundies to reverse the state's Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage, is on the ballot in November.

The original ballot language read:

[Prop 8] Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

The election official's change, however, gives the legislation a more straightforward read:

[Prop 8] Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments.

This is a small but important change in language. According to some polls, changing the language to denote the removal of rights can add up to ten points to the "no" votes. Many people might be hesitant to strip away an existing right, which this language change makes clear. Also, the addition of fiscal impact could sway many voters in California who have seen the financial windfall marriage equality has given the state.

Let's hope this new language, as well as the hard work of those fighting Prop 8, can stop this discriminatory amendment from passing.