Californians on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted for Proposition 36, a ballot measure that strengthens penalties for people who have repeatedly been convicted of shoplifting or caught using and dealing hard drugs like fentanyl,

As California voters on Tuesday continue to cast ballots into the evening, they are expected to reverse course on a decade of progressive criminal justice reform, with polling showing overwhelming support for a statewide ballot measure to crackdown on retail theft and the deadly drug fentanyl.

California voters approved a ballot measure that would reclassify some misdemeanor theft and drug crimes as felonies, essentially undoing a previous ballot measure that big-box retailers and law enforcement officials have long blamed for increases in theft,

Supporters of Prop. 36 say it would help the state address homelessness, drug addiction and retail theft. Its critics call it a return to the failed policies of the war on drugs.

Now, certain drug offenses and thefts under $950 can be classified as felonies rather than misdemeanors if the suspected perpetrator has two or more past convictions for theft crimes.

Frustrated with what they see as rampant retail crimes, voters approved an initiative making shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders again and increasing penalties for some drug charges, including those involving the synthetic opioid fentanyl.