(HEMET, Calif.)—California voters approved Proposition 3 repealing the wording in its 2008 Proposition 8 that defined marriage as only between a man and a woman, the AP reported Tuesday.

According to the AP, with 53 percent of votes counted,  61% of California voters approved the initiative.

“History has been made! Californians have overwhelmingly voted *YES* on Prop 3, officially removing discriminatory language from our state’s constitution and affirming the right for all to marry, regardless of gender or race. This victory is a powerful statement that love, freedom, and equality are core values for all Californians,” the group YesOnProp3 said on its Instagram.

California voters approved the measure by 61% with all precincts partially reporting as of Nov. 6 at, 2:16 p.m according to the California Secretary of State website.

Prop 8 was passed in 2008 and was controversial due to its difficult-to-understand terminology on the ballot, according to the Los Angeles Times. Since then, efforts have been made to repeal the ballot but have not passed.

Tuesday’s outcome was anticipated. According to a poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California on Sept. 9, 68% of voters supported the measure with, 31% opposed with the majority of the supporters being Democrats and Independents. In San Francisco  87% of residents said they planned to vote yes and 70% of Los Angeles residents.

The campaign had large donations from organizations such as the California Teachers Association, the California Nurses Association Political Action Committee, Equality California, and even some members like Los Angeles City Council member Kevin De Leon and Assembly Member Liz Ortega.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom showed his support in a 20- second Instagram reel where he partnered with actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson encouraging voters to pass Prop 3.

“What are we going to do today?—Vote Yes on 3!” Newsom said.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in California since 2013, but the lingering language of Prop 3 was offensive to many in the LGBTQ+ community. The success of Prop 3 does not affect whether same-sex couples are allowed to marry. By design, the wording of the proposition  was simple and easy for voters to understand in contrast to the language of Prop 8, which some voters found confusing.

With news that Prop 3 had passed, Riverside Pride, a nonprofit organization supporting the measure, posted on their Instagram story, “Some positive news to celebrate, thank you to everyone that helped enshrine marriage equality in California!”

“This vote is a victory for fairness, justice, and love. We are grateful to all those who voted to reaffirm the freedom to marry and protect loving couples and families across CA who deserve to have their marriages protected and respected under the law,” Equality California, a supporter and funder of Prop 3  said on its X account.