I voted + College kids are hilarious

[Inspector Fowler]

This year in Colorado we had a HUGE amount of ammendments and referendums to vote on in addition to the normal elections. The ballot in my county was 5 pages long of tiny type. I don't know about other states, but it seems like in Colorado every damned special interest group feels like ammending the Constitution is the only way to get anything done. You would be shocked at the petty shit people want to tack on. I made a cheat sheet, obviously.

Anyway.

Obviously, on a college campus, the students have been getting hit HARD by the "register to vote, you apathetic bastards!" people. I've been laughing - I'd say 2/3rds of the clipboard toters are adorable blond girls - what better way to dispel apathy in college males? :D I don't know why they don't cater to the college females. Maybe surveys show they are more likely to already be registered.

The end result is that a LOT of them have been early voting, which is great! We have an early voting center right on campus. I feel very strongly about this - the nation exists because the founders felt they had no voice. No matter how small, I wish people would speak up more in the way that matters most, voting.

But here's the deal - most of these kids just think, "Obama vs McCain". They don't realize that Colorado has FIVE PAGES of crap that comes after it (hell, for all I know, other counties have even more!). So while I was waiting for a voting machine, I was watching these kids, and they were absolutely stumped.

I watched as student after student would turn the first page, and freeze...then read the complex language...and re-read it over and over. To their credit, though, they didn't give up! They took their time, and made the best decisions they could.

I'll be damned if I wasn't proud of them. I had an absolutely shitty day on Wednesday because it seemed like every student on campus felt like being a jerk, but not to my face, just behind my back. So today was nice, to be able to have some of my faith in their decency restored.

The cutest thing? The lady at the waiting place asked me, "Do you have a cheat sheet?" I said I did. She laughed and said, "Some of these kids made one, but they're so used to tests that they feel like they're actually cheating - like we expect them to memorize every number of every ballot initiative!" I laughed too...but I remember not too many elections ago when I felt like I was "sneaking" one into the vooting booth. :o

[Johan]

I think there ought to be a law about ballot initiative language. It's often quite confusing, and unless you've heard or read about the initiatives previously, you're often left with a line behind you and nobody to help you figure it out.

Perhaps the polling place should hand out "cheat sheets" to those in line...

[GigaFuzz]

I know the political and voting systems over there are very different to our own, but I do get the impression that your elections can be overly confusing or time consuming for the voter.

Over here you get a piece of paper with a bunch of names on, and you put a cross next to the one you want, and yet we still have problems with low turnout. I can't imagine the problems when you give them 5 pages to read through.

[Food Nipple]

I think there ought to be a law about ballot initiative language. It's often quite confusing, and unless you've heard or read about the initiatives previously, you're often left with a line behind you and nobody to help you figure it out.

Perhaps the polling place should hand out "cheat sheets" to those in line...

If it's plainly worded, vote yes. If you can't make heads or tails out of it, they're probably trying to get something past you so vote no.

[Inspector Fowler]

Let me clarify:

A month or more before the election, you get a "blue book" in the mail. It shows you every single issue that will be on the ballot. It lists the actual wording, plus a simplified version. There are "pros" and "cons" for every issue. It tends to be very balanced, and I believe that each side has the ability to look it over on any issue and make suggestions or corrections.

The "cheat sheet" is me taking that blue book, deciding how I want to vote, and then making a list. That way, I don't even have to waste time reading the wording of "Amendment 46 Discrimination and Preferential Treatment by Governments", I just see "46" and vote "yes" or "no". So the cheat sheet just tells me how I want to vote.

Here is my cheat sheet MINUS how I actually voted:


Larimer County Issues:
TREATMENT FACILITY: Yes or No
HIDDEN VIEW ESTATES LID NO. 2008-1: Yes or No
All Public Improvement Districts: Yes or No
Ammendments:
46: Yes or No
47: Yes or No
48: Yes or No
49: Yes or No
50: Yes or No
51: Yes or No
52: Yes or No
53: Doesn’t Matter (Ammendment was pulled)
54: Yes or No
55: Doesn’t Matter (Ammendment was pulled)
56: Doesn’t Matter (Ammendment was pulled)
57: Doesn’t Matter (Ammendment was pulled)
58: Yes or No
59: Yes or No
Referendums:
Referendum L: Yes or No
Referendum M: Yes or No
Referendum N: Yes or No
Referendum O: Yes or No

Those elections are on top of 1 president, 5 Senate/Representatives, a DA, 2 county commissioners, and 10 judges. So having a cheat sheet cuts it from 15 minutes to 3.

In case you couldn't tell, they make getting an Ammendment on the ballot about as hard as sneezing in Colorado.

[Johan]

A month or more before the election, you get a "blue book" in the mail. It shows you every single issue that will be on the ballot. It lists the actual wording, plus a simplified version. There are "pros" and "cons" for every issue. It tends to be very balanced, and I believe that each side has the ability to look it over on any issue and make suggestions or corrections.

We have three referendum issues for this election. There's no "blue book" in my state, just poorly worded legalese in the polling "booth" and a populace at the bottom of the educational barrel in achievement.

We're screwed down here, but we can take some solace in knowing that...something out there must be worth taking solace in. Your blue book, for instance! ;)

[Generation ABXY]

I haven't gotten anything in the mail like that (the blue book), and I've had a devil of a time finding a list of the issues online. Come Tuesday, if there's more than the two propositions I've been called about, I'm just going to have to wing it.

[ClannerDelta]

I went and voted today, was perplexed by all the little giggles in the booths as I walked to mine.

I finished the first side then flipped it over. I then noticed what the giggles were for. Justice Cummings and Justice Funk were your two choices. I smiled a little bit once I realized what people were giggling about.

Ah, potty humor. Is there anything better? :p

[pomeroy]

Ah, potty humor. Is there anything better? :p

Babies doing funny things.

Like biting their brother's finger. Or just cracking up.

[ShivaX]

We have three referendum issues for this election. There's no "blue book" in my state, just poorly worded legalese in the polling "booth" and a populace at the bottom of the educational barrel in achievement.

We're screwed down here, but we can take some solace in knowing that...something out there must be worth taking solace in. Your blue book, for instance! ;)

We should vote for guys to make sense of that and vote on our behalf. These "representatives" would look into the issues and have a deeper knowledge of them and make an informed call based on what they think is best for the people who hired them. If those people disagree with those positions they can just pick new people who mirror their beliefs more closely.

[Purple Santa]

No blue books here. But we do have "free holders" in this state of mine. Well adopted state. I'm not from NJ originally. So I found out this year I get to vote on a "free holder" mostly I found this out due to one of my classes I'm taking. I went on wikipedia to find out what one was. Basically I found out these are the buzzards that rule my particular county.

[Typical Michael]

I waited in line for 3 hours for early voting. Then at the end of the line, these jokers tried cutting in. It almost came to fisticuffs, but they finally backed down. After that long in line, you know who has been there and who hasnt.

I had forgotten how these things were worded, I feel bad for people without decent reading comprehension.

[ShivaX]

I actually wasn't sure if one of these would be on there this year for me, so I checked and got a chuckle.

Iowa Voting Exemptions Act passed the state legislature as House Resolution 3. The measure, if passed, would amend the Iowa Constitution by changing the language used to describe people who cannot legally vote.

The wording in the Constitution "idiot or insane person" wiil be changed to "person adjudged mentally incompetent to vote."

I'm loving the fact that the law is currently "idiot or insane person," for some reason.

[Johan]

Three ballot measures (constitutional amendments) in SC. (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/South_Carolina_2008_ballot_measures)

Article X would be amended so as to provide that the funds of any trust fund established by law for the funding of post-employment benefits for state employees and public school teachers may be invested and reinvested in equity securities subject to the same limitations on such investments applicable for the funds of the various state-operated retirement systems.

South Carolina Amendment 2, which provides that the funds of any trust fund established by law for the funding of post-employment benefits for state employees may be invested and reinvested in equity securities.

Article X would be amended so as to provide that the funds of any trust fund established by law for the funding of post-employment benefits for state employees and public school teachers may be invested and reinvested in equity securities subject to the same limitations on such investments applicable for the funds of the various state-operated retirement systems.

South Carolina Amendment 3, which provides that the funds of any political subdivision of the state that have been set aside for the funding of post-employment benefits for the political subdivision's employees may be invested or reinvested in equity securities.

Look the same? The second one applies to state employees, the third to local government employees. :rolleyes: The first regards raising the age of sexual consent from 14. Because, you know...we finally figured out that FOURTEEN is a bit young. :rolleyes:

Honestly, how many people are going to understand what the hell those are talking about? Many will not...

[ShivaX]

Honestly, how many people are going to understand what the hell those are talking about? Many will not...

Good lord, if I saw anything remotely like that on the ballot I'd probably just vote "no" for everyone I ever saw again for the rest of my life. Just seems safer that way. Whatever they want, they can't have it, because it sure looks like they're trying to pull a fast one.

[wyeast]

We have a "voter's pamphlet" similar to CO's blue book. Full text, simplified, then posted statements for/against (for the measure). Often times I'll be swayed by who posted a statement, depending on how I feel about them.

Yes, I am looking at you, Steve Doell, you dirty little fuck. Thought you could slip in an opposition argument as "Argument in Favor"? I think not. :mad:

Plus it's vote by mail, so sometimes when I'm feeling uppity I'm able to verify their claims by researching online before I tick the box.
:D

[Food Nipple]

Look the same? The second one applies to state employees, the third to local government employees. :rolleyes: The first regards raising the age of sexual consent from 14. Because, you know...we finally figured out that FOURTEEN is a bit young. :rolleyes:

Note to self: Cancel vacation to South Carolina.

[Re3x]

I think there ought to be a law about ballot initiative language. It's often quite confusing, and unless you've heard or read about the initiatives previously, you're often left with a line behind you and nobody to help you figure it out.

Perhaps the polling place should hand out "cheat sheets" to those in line...

I agree. The way these things are written sound like "YOU WANT KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL!" Instead of a 10% tax increase for school administration.

[Generation ABXY]

I agree. The way these things are written sound like "YOU WANT KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL!" Instead of a 10% tax increase for school administration.

We actually have something similar coming up this time around. In one of the two issues I've heard about, they want to allow slot machines in order to give more money to the schools. And, frankly, I considering voting against it no matter how they word it. I have nothing against slots, mind you, but I recently found that the schools just spent oodles of money on new, electronic signs so that they could look even better when the Governor came to visit.

You're going to further - and excuse the expression - pimp out a recently remodeled school for something like that, and you except me to just roll over when you decide you need more money for books? I'm all for new books, but I'm not going to essentially write you a blank check for pointless expenditures. :mad:

[Smoof]

I've actually been procrastinating reading through my voter guide because of all the fucking amendments. Plus, I'm not entirely sure which parties I'd like to go with for Senate yet.

Yes, I'm in Colorado
Yes, I'm a college student
Yes, I've voted before, I'm twenty-four.

[KingGorilla]

I think there ought to be a law about ballot initiative language. It's often quite confusing, and unless you've heard or read about the initiatives previously, you're often left with a line behind you and nobody to help you figure it out.

Perhaps the polling place should hand out "cheat sheets" to those in line...

The Gay Marriage Ban proposal in California is being carried out based on this. A No Vote means that you are for gay marriage, and a Yes Vote means that you are against Gay Marriage. In a state with, arguably, the most pro-gay population, there are polls showing a 50/50 split.

I swear there is something about clear and concise language in most constitutions.

[Rock Bandit]

Note to self: Cancel vacation to South Carolina.

That's a defeatist attitude. We've got two days to get to South Carolina. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of condoms, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. HIT IT!!

[Reverant]

New Mexico's absentee ballot has a brief description of each referendum that explains what it's for and how much money it is. Absentee ballot voting is so easy, I wish I could always vote this way.

[Inspector Fowler]

New Mexico's absentee ballot has a brief description of each referendum that explains what it's for and how much money it is. Absentee ballot voting is so easy, I wish I could always vote this way.

You can't? In CO you don't need to prove that voting in person will be a hardship/impossible. You just say, "Send me a ballot." And there it comes.

[Food Nipple]

That's a defeatist attitude. We've got two days to get to South Carolina. We got a full tank of gas, half a pack of condoms, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. HIT IT!!

Dare to dream

[Johan]

Dare to dream

The impossible dream? ;)

[Inspector Fowler]

I've actually been procrastinating reading through my voter guide because of all the fucking amendments. Plus, I'm not entirely sure which parties I'd like to go with for Senate yet.

Yes, I'm in Colorado
Yes, I'm a college student
Yes, I've voted before, I'm twenty-four.

Black and Gold, Green and Gold, or one of those "other" colleges?