[RP TownTalk] Early voting and Ballot questions

Sat Oct 27 13:20:41 UTC 2012

With all due respect, Rob, I would echo your advice and would encourage
folks to read the League of Women Voters ballot guide for an unbiased
summary of these very important ballot initiatives.  There are two
questions, in particular, in which Maryland voters will be voting on the
civil rights of our neighbors -- and I would highly encourage folks to
think deeply about those issues rather than simply reading a summary from
the decidedly-conservative Washington Times...

Thanks, all.

-Heather
46th Avenue

On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 10:41 AM, Rob Oppenheim <oppenheim at email.com> wrote:

>  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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