What are you voting for?

Is no one voting for anything other than their congressmen?

The ballot issues in Massachusetts (where I live and vote) aren't my issues. There are questions about whether convenience stores can sell alcohol, whether political candidates can run under more than one party and a question about collective bargaining for home childcare workers.

The first issue is a toss-up on an issue I don't know or care much about, I probably won't vote on this. The second I don't know much about, but am inclined to vote against just as it sounds strange, but will take the time to read the argument before election day. The third issue I am inclined to vote for... but I am open to being persuaded.

The big election for us is Governor. My candidate, Deval Patrick, is comfortably ahead although his opponent is shamelessly throwing mud. Fortunately she doesn't have much charisma.

I will probbaly vote "yes" on #1 just because I don't see any drawback to doing so and I'm all for increasing someone's ability to doing things (i.e. eliminating unnecessary restrictions).

#2, as you said, is just a really odd question and I haven't been able to make heads or tails of it yet. I'm inclined to vote "No" just because it sounds so odd.

#3 I'm inclined to vote "No" on but I'm also confused on it. I don't really understand it since they don't work for the state to begin with. It sounds like they want to unionize (which is fine if that's what they want to do) but they are, themselves, the employers.

These are home day care providers that get state subsidies to take care of children from low income families. I can see them having some sort of group to haggle with the state over how much they are compensated but the initative also gives them the power to negotiate state regulation of the day care industry itself. If the state says a day care provider must have a fire extinguisher in the home they could force collective bargianing session to negotiate whether or not the state could implement the regulation.

I'm all for them being able to negotiate how much they get compensated but the initative seems to go well beyond that. Regulations should be developed and approved in the usual manner IMO and should be outside of the realm of collective bargianing.

Our big election is the gubernatorial, too. The incumbent crook, Doyle, is in the lead by a small margin, but has yet to break the 50% mark in any poll. Why anyone would vote for him is beyond me, and am expecting a sound defeat come the election.

Sounds like some rather boring votes you guys have... no wonder no one else want to post on here.

The undiscovered country.

Initiatives, Referendums Important in 2006 U.S. Elections

By Michelle Austein
Washington File Staff Writer


Washington - In November, many voters will decide on more than their next leaders. They will weigh in on a variety of issues including how their taxes are spent or what rights their state constitutions guarantee.

As of July, more than 100 ballot measures, or items other than candidates nominated for office that appear on a ballot, will be presented to voters in 25 states, according to the Initiative and Referendum Institute, part of the University of Southern California School of Law.

Ballot measures, including initiatives and referendums, give voters an opportunity to enact or repeal laws, endorse proposed laws, determine how funds will be raised or spent and approve or reject potential amendments to the state constitution. Some states also use ballot measures to seek the recall of an elected official, as in California, where in October 2003 voters decided that Governor Gray Davis should not remain in office. Arnold Schwarzenegger succeeded Davis.

The most common ballot measures are initiatives, which in 24 states allow citizens to vote on proposals that have garnered a set number of signatures by on a petition. In eight states, petitions for legislative action first are submitted to the state legislature, which can choose to act on the petition or allow the voters to decide.

Each state has its own rules governing how ballot measures are placed on the ballot, but there are many common requirements. For example, each state has requirements about how many petition signatures are needed for the initiative to be placed on the ballot. The required number usually is based on a percentage of votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. The average number of signatures required is 7.23 percent of those votes for a legislative initiative and 9.17 percent for a constitutional amendment, according to the institute.

Between 1904 and 2005, 2,153 initiatives have appeared on state ballots; 41 percent of those were approved by the voters, according to the institute's data. The average number of ballot measures has increased over the past 20 years, said John Matsusaka, president of the institute, in an interview with the Washington File.

Ballot measures often can be a good indicator of how strongly the electorate feels about an issue. If support for an issue turns out to be stronger than expected, state and national lawmakers would take notice, Matsusaka said. Because of the potential for national impact "some groups deliberately use the initiative process to jumpstart the legislative process and send signals to national lawmakers," he added. A ballot measure's popularity also could affect a race for political office by increasing voter participation.

There is no provision for nationwide ballot measures in the United States. Although many opinion polls show this would be popular, Matsusaka said, it would take an amendment to the U.S. Constitution for this to be an option.

MORE THAN 100 BALLOT MEASURES EXPECTED FOR NOVEMBER

The more than 100 propositions set to appear before voters during November's midterm elections will cover a wide range of topics including funding education, establishing lotteries and changing immigration laws.

The United States elects members of Congress every two years and a president every four years. Some states elect governors to four-year terms during midterm elections, which this year will be on November 7, 2006.

How states spend certain funds is an issue on which many citizens will vote. For example, Florida voters will consider an initiative that would require the state to use tobacco settlement money on a public relations campaign to prevent teen tobacco use. Several states are considering raising cigarette taxes and allocating that money to tobacco prevention and education.

Matsusaka said the most common issues appearing on ballots in 2006 are state constitutional amendments dealing with gay marriage and with eminent domain (the government's right to seize private property). As of July, seven states will include measures on their ballots asking voters if they want marriage to be defined as between one man and one woman; one state ballot will offer a provision to authorize domestic partnerships that grant same-sex couples most of the legal rights of married couples. Seven states will have amendments on banning use of eminent domain for private purposes.

Among the more unusual ballot measures this election year is Arizona's Voter Renew Act initiative, which would award $1 million to a randomly chosen voter after each election as a way to encourage voter turnout.