I know we're all deeply, deeply caught up in the presidential race, but I want to take a moment and highlight the fact that a lot of ballot measures are going to be voted on tomorrow, too. Most are anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-immigrant. Basically, the ballot-initiative process allows voters in certain states to directly pass measures, bypassing the legislature. Miriam already linked to a great voter guide, and my colleague Dana Goldstein highlighted several initiatives to watch.
These measures are all important because, at a time when America seems likely to elect the most liberal president of my lifetime (not that that's saying much...) and there is an overall feeling of hope, the motivations behind these initiatives are truly backwards and bigoted. As Katha Pollitt put it recently, "The culture war may fail at the top of the ticket, but it still has enough juice to do damage further down."
Here's my own list of what to watch tomorrow, down the ticket. The way states vote on these measures will say as much about our country as whether or not we elect our first black president.
ANTI-GAY
Proposition 8 in California: Would overturn the state Supreme Court's recent decision in favor of marriage equality. (Vote NO.) Our previous posts on Prop 8 are here, here and here.Amendment 2 in Florida: Would ban marriage for gay couples and domestic partnership for all couples. (Vote NO.) More at Bilerico and Pam's House Blend.
Proposition 102 in Arizona: Dana notes, "Arizona became the first state in the nation to reject an anti-gay marriage amendment in 2006, but they're likely to pass the measure this year, now that it has been stripped of language that also denied domestic partnership benefits to hetero couples." Did you catch that? UGH. (Vote NO.) Alex at Bilerico has more, and Dana highlights some of the ads airing in Arizona and in Florida.
Act 1 in Arkansas: This initiative would bar all unmarried couples -- gay, hetero, whatever -- from adopting or foster-parenting children. The language affects hetero couples, too, but, as Alex points out, "it's directly targeted at queer couples, since [Focus on the Family]'s arm in that state has been trying to get it through ever since the Arkansas Supreme Court struck down their ban on gays and lesbians adopting in 2006." (Vote NO.)
Question 1 in Connecticut: Lindsay at Female Impersonator explains that this initiative would allow the state constitution to be changed -- essentially clearing the way for anti-gay and anti-choice amendments to be tacked onto it. (Vote NO.)
ANTI-CHOICE
Amendment 48 in Colorado: Would define all fertilized eggs as full human beings with constitutional rights. See my previous post on the subject. It's hard to convey just how radical this amendment is. (Vote NO.)Measure 11 in South Dakota: Dana sums it up: "Two years ago, voters rejected a total abortion ban that did not include an exception for the health or life of the pregnant woman. Now that exceptions have been written into the measure, a recent poll showed the fight too close to call, with 44 percent of South Dakotans in favor of the ban, 44 percent opposed, and 12 percent undecided." (Vote NO.) Cara has more details, and here are our previous posts on Measure 11.
Proposition 4 in California: Would require parental notification for all minors seeking an abortion. Cara writes, "This is dangerous legislation, which would violate the rights, health and safety of teens if it were to be passed." (Vote NO.)
ANTI-IMMIGRANT
Measure 58 in Oregon: Alas, a Blog summarizes: "This Bill Sizemore measure mandates 'that school districts limit foreign-language instruction for non-English-speaking students to one or two years, depending on their age.' Because if a kid takes more than one or two years to learn English, then screw 'em!" (Vote NO.) More at Blue Oregon.
ANTI-EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Amendment 46 in Colorado: Anti-affirmative action activist Ward Connerly has a long history of pushing for so-called "civil rights initiatives" to ban programs that work to eliminate the gaps between white dudes and everyone else. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter said, "Amendment 46 undercuts Colorado and destroys years of progress on education, health care and workforce development." (Vote NO.)Initiative 424 in Nebraska: This is another Connerly anti-affirmative action initiative that would re-write the state constitution to eliminate equal-opportunity programs. (Vote NO.) Dana has more on Connerly's rhetoric.
CNN has a full list of initiatives that are up for a vote tomorrow, and will update that page as results come in. I'm hoping that voters stand up for gay rights, women's rights, immigrant rights and equality, and choose not to pass these initiatives. I am really, really hoping.
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I'd also like to add that regarding Question 1 in Connecticut, the Connecticut constitution requires the question about a convention on the ballot every 20 years, and this just happens to be one of those years. Anti-choice, anti-gay rights groups only started to push for a yes vote after the ruling on same-sex marriage a few weeks ago in October, so it's very clearly a move to try and add "one man, one woman" language into the state constitution.
If colorado's Amendment 48 passes, do you think they'll let pregnant women vote twice?
Possible upside? :-\
hm. I don't think that's worth it, really, but I think it's worth asking.
Also, I already voted against Prop 8 and Prop 4 in California.
Something that I've come across, though, in regard to Prop 8, is a couple of people say they are voting yes not because they oppose gay marriage, but to "preserve democracy."
Their logic is as follows:
Californians voted to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
Mayor Newsom flaunted the wishes of Californians by marrying gay couples in SF.
Therefore, vote for a constitutional amendment to prove to Mayor Newsom that he was wrong...?
They seem to conveniently forget that *our* particular democratic system also has checks and balances, like the court systems. And that our constitutions are in place, in part, to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
I find it really frustrating though, because it's all this self-important anger at one person; "well, I'll SHOW HIM" kind of posturing, and it is effectively denying a number of us Californians equality in the constitution. Bah.
If you broaden the definition of choice to ALL control over your own body then you should remember Washington State's Initative-1000, Death with Dignity. Vote Yes!
Re. Colorado Amendment 48 and the possibility of banning birth control:
AAAAHWTFGRISWOLDSUPREMELAWOFTHELANDPEOPLE!
Don't forget Missouri's Amendment 1, which makes English the official language in which all official public policy business is to be conducted.
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Missouri_Constitutional_Amendment_1_(2008)
P.S. Who knew there was a ballotpedia?
Act 1 in Arkansas is a special kind of disgusting. They didn't just want to ban gay people from adopting/fostering, because they didn't want to sound like bigots. Instead, it's all unmarried couples, shrinking the foster care pool even more.
Way to stand up for children, you disgusting, heartless bigots.
In reply to the Arkansas ballot initiative...I find it so hypocritical that these people (assuming the religious fundamentalists are primarily the people that are for this initiative banning adoption by all unmarried couples/gay couples/domestic partners etc.)...are the same types who scream out against abortion rights and supposedly want everyone to adopt these unwanted babies. Of course we all know that hatred of gay people runs just as deep as their hate for women. It just proves all along what we already know, that they don't give a shit about children...They only care about denying rights to others and promoting their HATE FILLED AGENDAS. Unfortunately, I'm sure that there are so many people out there who buy into this crap...because many of these look poised to actually pass. God, where do all these bigots come from?!?!
Jo, someone commented on another site that if the "personhood" initiative passes, than Colorodo women are going to be claiming a lot of dependents on their taxes each year. (Obviously that comment was just poking fun of the stupidity of this initiative because most intelligent people can only imagine all the thousands of legal problems this would cause along with all the other problems...endangering women's choice & health, could possibly ban BC, etc.)
I wish I could vote on a ballot initiative that would ban any and all racists/homophobes/misogynists/bigots/etc. from putting THEIR HATE FILLED ballots initiatives on state ballots.
Don't forget to vote Yes on Prop 2 in California to give farm animals better lives. All animals, including those raised for food, deserve to be treated humanely.
Oh my. I had no idea about most of these, how frightening. It seems religious fundamentalism is at the root of this problem...
Are there any POSITIVE ballot initiatives anywhere? I'm tired of being on the defensive; I want to vote "yes" to something.
I can't speak for any other states, but Missouri has some decent proposals - Prop A would increase taxes on casinos to fund education, Prop B would improve Medicaid home care access, and Prop C would force electric companies to pretty drastically increase their investment in alternative energy sources in the next decade. See? There's hope for liberal agenda items.
...and then Missouri also has to vote on a constitutional amendment making English our state language. *facepalm*
I live in Oregon but I wanted to second Tiffany's call for yes on Washington's Death with Dignity act (Initiative 1000). Oregon is currently the only state with legal assisted suicide. Although it is legal right which is rarely used (unlike same-sex marriage or abortion rights), it's another way in which the government can recognize personal autonomy.
I just voted "yes" on I-1000. A person should have control over their own body, and if they don't want to die in extreme pain, they shouldn't have to. They should be able to choose when they want to die.
Prop 424 in Nebraska, should it pass, will destroy funding for several programs in my math department at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. (I'm a first year grad, and one of the biggest reasons I'm here is UNL's attitude towards women in math) We're one of the most gender-equal departments in the country, and every year we host one of the most well-respected undergraduate conferences, NCUWM, with the specific purpose of encouraging women to continue in higher mathematics. Our All Girls All Math summer camp is pretty much one of a kind. I'm just personally offended and disgusted that this proposition could undercut the math department's success.
voted a big NO on measure 58. that was an easy one. another one of bill sizemore's measures. i didn't have to think twice.