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04 November 2008

Ballot questions. We all know about Prop 8 in California. What important ballot questions are happening where you are? →[More:]

MA has Question 1 about abolishing the state income tax. But more importantly is Question 2, which is about making possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil crime, punishable by a fine, rather than jail time. It's a step in the right direction, I think.

post by: Eideteker at: 10:02 | 25 comments

We've only got one - a city initiative to extend term limits for the mayor and city council from 2 two-year terms to 4 two-year terms. I think it's probably going to fail, which is a shame as our city council is plagued with scandals that stem partially from inexperience. I'm rather have 1 four-year term, but that's even less likely.

posted by muddgirl 04 November | 10:06

Our county has a ballot question AGAIN about whether our schools should require students to wear uniforms. I voted no again, and suspect it'll be defeated again.

posted by BoringPostcards 04 November | 10:08

There's a pretty hideous one named Amendment 2 on the Florida ballot.

“Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”

Notice it goes the extra step to outlaw the possibility of same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships through the "substantial equivalent" language.

This kind of thing really makes my blood boil.

posted by empyrean 04 November | 10:10

Notice it goes the extra step to outlaw the possibility of same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships through the "substantial equivalent" language.

Georgia's amendment (passed in 2004) does the same thing, even though the part barring civil unions and such didn't appear on the ballot. How that shit was legal, I'll never understand.

posted by BoringPostcards 04 November | 10:12

Our "controversial" amendments are 1 and 2. I voted NO on every one, except 3.

posted by LoriFLA 04 November | 10:15

MD has got the slots question on again (and another one about FINALLY FUCKING ALLOWING early voting).

posted by sperose 04 November | 10:27

Arkansas' ballot has an anti-gay-adoption/foster-parenting initiative (possibly better described as anti-unmarried-people, or perhaps anti-child) (here's the major opposition group's website).

Also a state lottery.

posted by box 04 November | 10:31

The local mayoral race in Eugene is interesting. It pits a progressive Dem v. a moderate Rep. The city is almost 50-50 split, red and blue, based on north and south, roughly. It will be decided by less than a hundred votes, out of 100K.

The only reason this "runoff" is being held is that students at U of O, when they voted in the primary, "undervoted" a lot of down-ballot issues.

posted by danf 04 November | 10:42

ugh, Amendment 2. no no no no no no no no no on that shit.

Amendment - was it 3? The one denying the legislature the right to prohibit the right to something something assess home improvements...that onewas confusing as all get out.

posted by casarkos 04 November | 10:52

We only had one and it was about more benefits for disabled veterans.

posted by rmless2 04 November | 10:52

King County, WA has a levy for Pike Place Market, one of the greatest places in the US and the soul of Seattle. I'm not eligible to vote for that one and so far no undecided voter has taken me up on the offer to personally cover the $37/yr for the next five years the levy will cost them in exchange for a 'Yes' vote.

There's also I-985 which is that douchebag Tim Eyman's plan to effectively outlaw HOV lanes and ensure gridlock forever. That's important.

And there are a few propositions on transit that, if they don't pass, will pretty much ensure that the greater Seattle area descends into a dystopian level of gridlock and peak oil fail. We'll see how that goes.

And there's a 'Right-to-Die' initiative. I'm happy to say that, unlike a lot of other regions, our only civil rights initiative is one to *increase* peoples' rights.

posted by stet 04 November | 11:06

We had 43 different items on our SF ballot -- 43!!! My foster gal got a vote-by-mail ballot -- she voted for Obama and against 8 and handed me the ballot to fill in the rest. My other foster kid is hugely learning disabled and poor attention -- I'm going to wait in line with him today (and let him go off and take breaks if he needs to) and help him fill out the ballot.

posted by Claudia_SF 04 November | 11:22

We have Amendment 48, which wants to define a human as a fertilized egg. Yeah, we all know where that is going... I actually haven't seen any polls on state issues here in Colorado, but I don't think that one is going to pass.

One of the other big ones is Amendment 47 which seeks to make Colorado a "Right to Work" state, and debilitating unions even more than they already are in this state. That one got a no from me as well.

posted by eekacat 04 November | 11:23

NY state's is pretty boring: That all people who take exams to qualify for government service jobs and who are on veterans disability don't actually even have to be receiving their payments to get the extra points. (I think; I read it over very quickly while in line.)

See a list of all of them here.

posted by TrishaLynn 04 November | 11:30

Oh, and I have a new favorite piece of ASCII art, and it's for the writers and supporters of Proposition 8 in California:

....................../´¯/)
....................,/¯../
.................../..../
............./´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
........../'/.../..../......./¨¯\
........('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
.........\.................'...../
..........''...\.......... _.·´
............\..............(
..............\.............\...

posted by eekacat 04 November | 11:40

Claudia - How are ya'll voting on Proposition R?

posted by danf 04 November | 11:40

Knox County wants has one about whether or not liquor by the drink should be allowed in the county. I voted yes...everyone should have the option of getting liquored up.

posted by meeshell 04 November | 12:16

Especially today.

posted by box 04 November | 12:21

None.

(Marriage and civil unions already killed/defined two years ago, no early voting here.)

posted by rainbaby 04 November | 12:23

Prop R -- lots of lefties are voting yes. Me, I voted no. I think it's beneath us and makes us look silly. (Sorry, I'm a boring sort.)

posted by Claudia_SF 04 November | 12:27

Prop R -- lots of lefties are voting yes. Me, I voted no. I think it's beneath us and makes us look silly. (Sorry, I'm a boring sort.)

Daughter is voting yes. I always vote as if my vote will DECIDE an issue, so I would probably vote no, regrettably.

It would feel good (this is the proposition that would name the SF Sewage Plant after Bush) but it would actually cost some money to change all of the signing, stationary, etc., not to mention down the line all of the maps, etc that would need to be changed (I used to own an LA map that had the "Richard M. Nixon Freeway" on it. . .that designation did not last long).

So yeah, I agree with you. . .as much as the teenage part of my brain wants it to win.

posted by danf 04 November | 13:39

Some interesting local candidates this year. We have a former boxer running. Former because, apparently, after enough head injuries they won't insure you to fight anymore.

I was uneasy about someone who is no longer allowed to hit people for a living due to excessive head injuries running for office. But, his opponant was a class-A douche, and the bag it came in, so there you go. I pretty much vote against anyone who uses liberal as a slur in ads as a rule.

posted by kellydamnit 04 November | 13:48

Medical marijuana and stem cell research from unused fertility clinic embryos are the two big proposals in Michigan.

posted by King of Prontopia 04 November | 16:24

I was uneasy about someone who is no longer allowed to hit people for a living due to excessive head injuries running for office. But, his opponant was a class-A douche, and the bag it came in, so there you go.

I'd like someone more experienced that Mesi, too, but I'd vote for a comatose Democrat over a principled Republican if it had a chance of flipping the state Senate. With the Assembly and govenor behind it, things look pretty good for a legislative affirmation of the right of same sex partners to marry.

posted by phlogiston 04 November | 22:19

Bingo. That's it exactly... the only reason we don't have marriage rights for all is the GOP control of the state legislature. And you know Patterson is all for it, after he made such a thing about how NY has to recognize marriages performed outside the state and country, regardless of gender.

posted by kellydamnit 05 November | 02:23

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