Ballot questions (as in the questions we encounter after marking our picks of various candidates)

SIGforum

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/5710093115

October 18, 2024, 10:13 AM

Ozarkwoods

Ballot questions (as in the questions we encounter after marking our picks of various candidates)

They word those issues in a way that makes it hard to determine how to vote sometimes on purpose. We usually look up the voting issues and a sample ballot before reaching the polling location. This weekend is my task to research all the issues and candidates before we go on Tuesday to vote early.

October 18, 2024, 12:06 PM

Rey HRH

quote:
Originally posted by Beancooker:
Arizona’s ballot is fairly straightforward, but I read into each proposition and what all it entails, before making a selection.

I agree. The propositions themselves are obscure especially those amending existing law.

I go to the summary table that says what yes and no votes mean and the effect.

Then I go look to see who are for and against and I read their arguments within the context of who they are.

"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.

October 18, 2024, 01:19 PM

Mustang-PaPa

Texas can be a bit confusing with the wording at times. You really have to pay attention.

October 18, 2024, 07:04 PM

Expert308

quote:
Originally posted by joel9507:
quote:
Originally posted by sigfreund:
One thing I’ll give Colorado credit for is that the voting guides make it clear what a vote means

About the only thing CA did right was their voter guides, which also were excellent.

Oregon also publishes a pretty good voter's guide that helps a lot in deciding what's what. I got used to having it, living there for 45 years and I guess I just assumed that all states did the same. When I moved to Idaho I learned otherwise.

Sometimes what the measure is presented as, is only a smokescreen for the real purpose. We've got one of those next month. I proposes to allow "open primaries" so that Independent voters can vote in primary elections. What's NOT talked about is the OTHER thing it would do: institute ranked-choice voting.

November 01, 2024, 06:51 PM

KSGM

If your state has a handy guide, please check it out. If it doesn't, please do some research or ask a friend you trust to have done research.

An acquaintance of mine was frustrated to learn that he voted against his wishes.

This presidential election is drawing out large numbers of voters. People who otherwise wouldn't vote are voting. This means there's a disproportionate number of folks answering these tricky questions from an uninformed position. It's a good election cycle to sneak some weird, vague stuff in there!

November 01, 2024, 07:47 PM

Gustofer

quote:
Originally posted by Expert308:
We've got one of those next month. I proposes to allow "open primaries" so that Independent voters can vote in primary elections. What's NOT talked about is the OTHER thing it would do: institute ranked-choice voting.

We've got the same effort going on here, in addition to an all abortion all the time one. With any luck at all, all three of them will fail miserably, but these days I just don't know.

And I agree that these initiative processes should go away. Making laws is why we hire legislators.