Question for Virginia Voters (political content)

[Sebastian (a lady)]

I'm living overseas and trying to complete my absentee ballot.

 

There are three proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. I'm coming up dry on commentary on them one way or the other. Pretty much all I'm finding is sites that have the text of the amendment (either in the short ballot form or in the longer full text form).

 

Anyone have suggestions where I can find info (or even opinions) about the possible effect of the proposed amendments? I love that I CAN do an absentee ballot, but it makes you realize how much of the discussion you are missing by not being able to listen to local radio or read the little articles in the back section of the paper.

 

Update: I checked the restrictions on political discussion and I think we can do this without running astray. But if you'd rather PM me, that's fine. I don't mind opinion from either side of the aisle, as long as I can see what the point of view is. Donning rhino skin.

Edited September 27, 2010 by Sebastian (a lady)

[Margo out of lurking]

There are a few Congressional seats that I'm keeping my eye on, and I wasn't even aware of the issues you posted until now.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

There are a few Congressional seats that I'm keeping my eye on, and I wasn't even aware of the issues you posted until now.

 

One of my pet peeves in the year when I worked a poll for a candidate was the number of voters who didn't know what was on the ballot. But I think I deciding that unless you are listening regularly to local radio that it is tough to hear several sides of what the implications of these would be.

 

I think I've got an opinion on two of the amendments. At least in a general philosophical way.

 

But I just don't have enough context to figure out the one about the rainy day fund. I can't decide if I think this would be prudent (putting away money in good times to smooth the peaks and valleys) or foolish (encouraging profligacy because there is a bigger safety net or perversely encouraging raising taxes to the contingency fund is raised at the same time that the general fund is also being enlarged).

[Margo out of lurking]

The first two amendments seem to have a pretty clear purpose. These are the only issues where I can find any dissent.

 

It's the third one (rainy day) that's interesting. The proposed changes to the current Constitution are simple, just replacing the word "ten" with the word "fifteen." I can find only one group in support of it (Arlington County Democrats), no other information at all, for or against.

[TravelingChris]

We are absentee voters too. It is interesting how you come to your conclusions without any negative ads too. We are voting in Florida. We also have constitutional amendments that I have to research. I think I spend at least two hours per election researching the ballots and the candidates. I thought it would be less for the regular election since I know which party's candidates I am supporting and I already screened them with the primary but the ballot measures and the judges are a different matter.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

We are absentee voters too. It is interesting how you come to your conclusions without any negative ads too. We are voting in Florida. We also have constitutional amendments that I have to research. I think I spend at least two hours per election researching the ballots and the candidates. I thought it would be less for the regular election since I know which party's candidates I am supporting and I already screened them with the primary but the ballot measures and the judges are a different matter.

 

There have also been elections where I've just had to decide that I couldn't gather enough reliable info to vote for a particular office. I'm usually of the "don't vote; don't gripe" viewpoint. But I can't see voting for someone if I just don't have enough to base it on.

[TravelingChris]

Oh I agree about not voting for positions where you can't find information. I have often done that, particularly when we were living overseas and voting in California. We would be voting for non partisan park board members or community college district members. If we had no information about anyone running, we just didn't vote in those races.