[RP TownTalk] Early voting and Ballot questions

Thu Oct 25 14:41:28 UTC 2012

This year in Maryland any registered voter is allowed to vote early.

*Early voting *begins this Saturday, October 27, 2012
and goes through Thursday, November 1, 2012.  (6 days).

Early voting hours are 10 am - 8 pm each day, except Sunday is Noon - 6 pm.
(anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.)

Closest early voting location to Riverdale Park is the:
College Park Community Center
5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park, MD 20742

A map to this early voting center is here: http://mapq.st/S7pfh3

Or *vote on election day*...
Tuesday, November 6, 2012,
7:00am - 8:00pm at
Riverdale Elementary School
5006 Riverdale Road, Riverdale, MD 20737

    On The Ballot

*In our area (Riverdale Park) you can vote on*:

* U.S. President

* one U.S. Senate position:
     (Ben Cardin, Daniel John Bongino, Dean Ahmad, S. Rob Sobhani)
     (plus several announced write-in candidates - see League Of Women 
Voters guide below)

* one U.S. House of Representatives position (for District 05):
    (Steny H. Hoyer, Tony O'donnell, Arvin Vohra, Bob Auerbach)

* Five Circuit Court Judges

* Seven state-wide questions

* Seven county questions

Below is a brief summary of the Ballot Questions.

I highly recommend reading the League Of Women Voters (LWV) ballot guide -
For our county: 
http://pg1.lwvmd.org/n/sites/default/files/VG%202012%20General--Final%202.pdf

It has lots of good insight to the issues, and is perhaps more balanced 
than my brief summary.

(Other areas of the county and state have different ballots -
to see other jurisdiction LWV guides, go here 
http://vote.lwvmd.org/n/node/8414 )

    *Seven State-Wide Ballot Questions*

*Questions 1 & 2: Constitutional Amendments adding additional 
qualification requirements for Orphans' Court Judges*
Basically it requires that these judges (who review deceased person's 
estate issues) be lawyers.
"Requires judges of the Orphans' Court [...] to be admitted to practice 
law in this State and to be a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar".
(Personally, I am specious of why lawyers want to take over everything.)

*Question 3: A Constitutional Amendment about Suspension And Removal Of 
Elected Officials *
Changes the point at which an elected official who has been charged with 
certain crimes is automatically suspended or removed from office.
Under existing law, an elected official who is convicted or pleads no 
contest is suspended and is removed only when the conviction becomes final.
Under the amended law, an elected official is suspended when found 
guilty and is removed when the conviction becomes final or when the 
elected official pleads guilty or no
contest.

*Question 4: A Referendum on the State's DREAM Act: **In-state Tuition 
Rates for immigrants. *

In 2010, Maryland passed its DREAM Act providing in-state tuition rates 
to immigrants (including undocumented immigrants) who can show that 
their parents have been paying state income taxes for several years 
(along with some other requirements like attendance and graduation 
requirements).

In July 2011, opponents of the law collected enough petition signatures 
to place the new law on the ballot as a referendum.

A vote "For the Referred Law" means:  An individual who meets the 
criteria can pay tuition at in-county rates at community colleges and 
in-state rates at four-year institutions.

*Question 5: A Referendum on the 2011 Congressional redistricting plan 
(passed by the state and now in effect)*
The plan establishes the boundaries for the State's eight United States 
Congressional Districts based on 2010 census figures.

Some (primarily Republicans but some Democrats) think the 2011 
boundaries are too gerrymandered - although they did pass court challenges.

A vote "For the Referred Law" means: The 2011 Congressional Districts 
would continue (until the next redistricting process in 2021).

A vote "Against the Referred Law" means: The General Assembly would have 
to vote on another bill that would define Congressional Districts in 
time for the 2014 primary election.

*Question 6: **A Referendum on the Civil Marriage Protection Act - that 
allows gay and lesbian couples to marry.*
A vote "For the Referred Law" means:  Same gender couples will be 
allowed to marry in Maryland beginning on January 1, 2013.
A vote "Against the Referred Law" means: Same gender couples will not be 
allowed to marry in Maryland.

"Of the seven ballot questions, same-sex marriage likely will receive 
the most national attention as supporters hope to make Maryland the 
first state ever to approve gay marriage by public vote. Thirty-one 
states have rejected it." from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/19/7-ballot-questions-could-shape-marylands-future

*Question 7**: **A Referendum on allowing 1 **additional**casino***and 
to allow all 6 casinos to have table games (eg Roulette).
The expected location of the additional casino is at National Harbor in 
Prince George's County. However, the final decision about where to 
locate the 6th license is left up to the commission.

There are always pros and cons regarding gambling. But know that the big 
expensive TV ads against it are funded by existing casinos in other 
states that don't want the competition and not by people concerned about 
funding schools. I found this Washington Post editorial helpful
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-it-makes-sense-to-vote-yes-on-marylands-question-7/2012/10/23/00b81360-1a2b-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_story.html

A vote "For Additional Forms And Expansion Of Commercial Gaming" means:  
An increase in the types of gambling in Maryland (adding table games), 
an additional authorized location, change the distribution of gambling 
proceeds, and an increase the hours that gambling facilities can operate.

A vote "Against Additional Forms And Expansion Of Commercial Gaming" 
means: The current constitutional limitations regarding gambling in 
Maryland would remain.

    *Seven Ballot Questions for Prince George's County *

*Question A: County Council Redistricting Plan *

A vote FOR  means the council can pass redistricting by a *resolution 
*that does not require the county executive's signature.

A vote AGAINST means a formal *Act *will continue to be required to 
authorize redistricting, with the possibility of Executive veto remaining.

*Question B:**  Multiyear Contracts*

A vote for means:  the council can manage some contracts (spend money) 
by a *resolution *(which does not require the county executive's signature).

A vote against means: A legislative*Act* (which must be signed by the 
County Executive) will continue to be required to authorize legislative 
action for certain personal service and multiyear contracts.

*Question C: Library Facilities Bonds *- enables the County to borrow up 
to $45,150,000 to build and repair Library Facilities

*Question D: County Buildings Bonds * - enables the County to borrow up 
to $75,823,000 for repairing old and designing new County Buildings.

*Question E: Public Safety Facilities Bonds* - enables the County to 
borrow up to $156,354,000 to repair/construct Public Safety Facilities 
(including Fire Department Facilities).

*Question F: Public Works And Transportation Facilities *- enables the 
County to borrow up to $193,383,000 for Public Works and Transportation 
Facilities (including roads and bridges, parking lots, and maintenance 
facilities).

*Question G: Community College Facilities Bonds* - enables the County to 
borrow up to $156,047,000 for building/repairing Community College 
Facilities

Of course, Google the issues to learn still more or check out some of 
the links at the end of this email.

    *Links*

For more early voting info (and other polling locations):
http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/index.html

Not sure where you are registered? Want to see a *sample ballot*?
You can look up your voter registration specifics and see a sample 
ballot and your polling place etc., here:
https://voterservices.elections.state.md.us/VoterSearch

League Of Women Voters® in Prince George's County, Maryland 
http://pg1.lwvmd.org/n/

Baltimore Sun's Maryland Election Guide 2012
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-maryland-election-guide-2012-20120323,0,5630098.htmlstory

ballot questions:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/bal-seven-ballot-questions-for-maryland-voters-20120911,0,5227684,full.story

GOP confident in petition bid to challenge redistricting: 
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-congressional-map-20120702,0,6902032.story?obref=obinsite

Washington Times: 7 ballot questions could shape Maryland's future
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/19/7-ballot-questions-could-shape-marylands-future/?page=all

Perhaps you can provide more insight and links?
Please comment.

-- 
Rob Oppenheim

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