Get Out There and Vote! (lawyer, public school, assessments)

[ocnjgirl]

I voted before work. I'm glad our polls open at 6, rather than 7 like PA. One complaint, I didn't understand the public question, even the interpretive statement. I had to call a friend yesterday who interpreted it for me in simple English. Most times I do get the interpretive statement, and have to wonder if they wanted voters to be confused about this one!

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by mike0421

I see my issue has transcended state lines. I had the same problem, just having voted, but I did so with little enthusiasm.

Here's another reason to vote, though: constitutional amendments and/or bond questions. These are often overlooked, but they have more impact, potentially, than who is running for a particular office.

same here - there's been no change in 30+ years here, not hopeful they'll be any after tonight.

totally agreed about the questions even though last election i TOTALLY forgot about voting on it.

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by tahiti

same here - there's been no change in 30+ years here, not hopeful they'll be any after tonight.

totally agreed about the questions even though last election i TOTALLY forgot about voting on it.

The ballot supervisor of elections where I live conveniently put it on the flip side of the paper, Tahiti. I wonder how many didn't bother to turn their ballot around to see it. IMO, that's where the real meat of the matter is. With very little exception, the leaders we churn in and out every 2, 4 and 6 years overreach, gridlock ensues, and as you say, nothing changes. But where change DOES potentially happen is on these ballot questions and bond issues. They fire you up with emotional issues such as abortion and gay rights, while they steal the gold right out of your teeth. If I am making it sound like it's wasted time, though, it isn't. Calico is right, you have an obligation to go out there and cast your vote.

[Calico696]

Originally Posted by ocnjgirl

I voted before work. I'm glad our polls open at 6, rather than 7 like PA. One complaint, I didn't understand the public question, even the interpretive statement. I had to call a friend yesterday who interpreted it for me in simple English. Most times I do get the interpretive statement, and have to wonder if they wanted voters to be confused about this one!

I felt the same way about the question. Just didn't get it. Researched on it for days, in the end I skipped it. Couldn't vote yes or no since I really didn't understand what either would mean.

[doc1]

I voted early this morning hereby giving me the right to complain in good conscious.

[PhillyPhilsPhan]

I was more than happy to vote against anything with a D today to register my extreme displeasure with the creep in the White House. Not as happy to vote for those with a R. We simply need one or two more political parties. The system is rigged.

[JERSEY MAN]

I voted, I always vote. Then in 6 months I want to vote the same bums out.

[Informed Info]

The ballot question was about not letting gov't borrow from pension funds, paid family leave funds and workers comp funds.

If you voted "yes": you voted for it to NOT be allowed.

If you voted "no": you voted for it to BE allowed.

[njkate]

Originally Posted by Sawdustmaker

The ballot question was about not letting gov't borrow from pension funds, paid family leave funds and workers comp funds.

If you voted "yes": you voted for it to NOT be allowed.

If you voted "no": you voted for it to BE allowed.

I'm having a hard time figuring out why people had a difficult time understanding the question

To me a very important question....we needed an amendment to keep the grubby politicians hands out of funds like UI Disability, pensions...that's why they are all underfunded as they became slush funds for the politicians

Thank goodness it passed

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by njkate

I'm having a hard time figuring out why people had a difficult time understanding the question

To me a very important question....we needed an amendment to keep the grubby politicians hands out of funds like UI Disability, pensions...that's why they are all underfunded as they became slush funds for the politicians

Thank goodness it passed

I had to google the question - it was not written well & everyone I've spoken to voted no because they didn't know that yes meant no.

Vote Yes on Constitutional Amendment to Protect Your Unemployment Insurance Tax Dollars

Ballot Question Analysis (http://www.lwvnj.org/ballot_2010_q.shtml - broken link)

Reasons one might vote YES
# Passage will require that worker benefit funds be used for the purpose for which they are collected.
# Some of these worker benefit funds are currently in poor financial shape, in part because of the diversion of money collected for them. Passage would help avoid this problem in the future.

Reasons one might vote NO
# Passage will limit the ability of the Legislature to make decisions based on the State’s financial needs at any given time.
# This ballot measure does not address whether the amounts currently collected for these programs are sufficient to support the programs into the future, or whether the programs themselves should be reformed.