SACRAMENTO (AP) – A record number of Californians turned out for the November general election. However, it wasn’t enough to edge out the 1964 presidential race on a percentage scale.

The Secretary of State’s office reported Dec. 13 that 13.7 million voters cast ballots, registering a 79.4 percent turnout among registered voters. Californians not only picked between Barack Obama and John McCain, but decided on measures ranging from same-sex marriage to a high-speed train.

The previous state record was 12.6 million in November 2004.

The highest percentage turnout in state history remains at 88.4 percent, when Lyndon Johnson beat Barry Goldwater in the presidential race.

The counties with the highest percentage turnout this year were Sonoma, Marin and Amador.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Final election results show that 599,602 more California voters cast ballots in favor of outlawing same-sex marriage than voted to keep such unions legal.

The official tally certified Dec. 13 by Secretary of State Debra Bowen has Proposition 8 passing 52.3 percent to 47.7 percent – the same spread the same-sex marriage ban held based on early results from the Nov. 4 election.

The final numbers indicate that Proposition 8 passed in 43 of the state’s 58 counties. The measure secured its greatest support in Kern and Tulare counties, where three-quarters of the voters approved it.

Opposition was strongest in Marin and San Francisco, where three-quarters of voters rebuffed Proposition 8.

Supporters of same-sex marriage have filed lawsuits to overturn the initiative.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The city council in Sioux City is considering a resolution that would declare its opposition to same-sex marriage.

The motion, a mostly symbolic gesture, is on the council’s agenda for Monday.

Councilman Brent Hoffman, who supports the resolution, says it’s important because it clarifies the council’s position and directs city departments, boards and commissions to stay in line with that position.

The resolution also asks for a statewide vote on whether same-sex marriage should be allowed.

Council members say the council is split 2-2 on the issue, with Councilman Dave Ferris the potentially deciding vote. He could not be reached for comment.

The council is set to meet at 4 p.m. on Monday.

Hoffman said his push for the resolution was prompted by a town hall forum hosted by same-sex marriage proponents that was set for Tuesday in Sioux City.

He said residents had been asking him whether the city endorsed the group’s message because the forum will be held at a public library.

The proposed ordinance addresses that question directly: “Citizens should not interpret the rent and use of any city facilities (for this purpose) by another organization as support for that organization.”

Councilman Jim Rixner said the resolution is wholly unnecessary.

“It’s just a sad day for the city. This resolution has nothing to do with the city’s business, and it’s a divisive issue,” he said. “The whole resolution is overreaching.”

Rixner said he’s worried the resolution will have a negative effect on city business, including the city’s Human Rights Commission, which investigates discrimination complaints in housing, employment and others.

Earlier this year, the council voted to add sexual orientation as one of the commission’s protected classes of citizens to bring the commission in step with state civil rights code.

The resolution comes a week after the Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments about whether Iowa’s same-sex marriage ban is constitutional. Two plaintiffs in the case, Varnum v. Brien, live in Sioux City.

A decision is expected next year.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) – An HIV-infected former inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas has been sentenced to up to eight years in prison for spitting on a corrections officer.

Shawn Quinnones, a 34-year-old transgender, was convicted by a Luzerne County jury in September. She was sentenced Dec. 16 to four years and three months to eight years and six months in state prison.

Quinnones was found guilty of assault by a prisoner, aggravated harassment by a prisoner and recklessly endangering another person.

Her partner, 27-year-old Anthony Gray, was convicted of aggravated harassment by a prisoner.

Prosecutors said the pair, who claim they are lovers, were upset that guards would not put them in cells next to each other. The incident happened in October 2006.

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – Supporters of legislation in Vermont to allow same-sex marriage are praising the findings of a New Jersey commission that studied the issue.

The New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission looked at that state’s civil union law – which is very similar to Vermont’s – and found it comes up short of offering equality to same-sex couples. The panel recommended that the state pass a law allowing same-sex marriage.

Beth Robinson of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force says the problems the New Jersey panel found with that state’s civil union law mirror her group’s concerns about Vermont’s law.

Her group wants the Vermont Legislature to pass a bill allowing full marriage for same-sex couples this coming session.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – The largest provider of HIV-related services in the Washington area is cutting staff and client programs.

The Whitman-Walker Clinic has announced it plans to close its northern Virginia office, which serves 1,100 clients, and shut an eight-bed residential addiction-treatment program in Washington. The nonprofit community health organization also will lay off 45 employees.

Whitman-Walker’s chief executive officer, Donald Blanchon, says the reductions are necessary because of the weak financial environment. Blanchon says government reimbursements for services haven’t matched the rising cost of care and private donations are down 29 percent from last year.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Disappointed by the passage of Proposition 8 in California, more than 100 gay-rights advocates are discussing ways to reach equality.

Proposition 8 was a ballot measure banning same-sex marriage in California. Upset by its approval by voters in November, Utah’s gay and transgender community called a town hall meeting on Sunday to lay out a plan to help pass the Common Ground initiative, a package of several bills enhancing legal protections for GLBT Utahns.

As part of the effort, the Utah Pride Center is filming testimonials to send to the Legislature in support of the bills.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A national gay rights group says it will deliver about 27,000 letters to Mormon church leaders next week, urging their public support of equality legislation in Utah.

The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign says its members tried to lobby church leaders via e-mail earlier this week, but the messages bounced back.

HRC spokesman Trevor Thomas said copies of the e-mails were delivered Monday.

Five bills proposing equal treatment or establish legal protections for the GLBT community are expected to come before the Legislature for consideration next month.

The Mormon church opposes same-sex marriage but has said it does not oppose civil unions or non-marriage legal rights for same sex couples.