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This year in Maryland any registered voter is allowed to vote early.<br>
<br>
<b>Early voting </b>begins this Saturday, October 27, 2012 <br>
and goes through Thursday, November 1, 2012. (6 days).<br>
<br>
Early voting hours are 10 am - 8 pm each day, except Sunday is Noon
- 6 pm.<br>
(anyone in line at 8 pm will be allowed to vote.)<br>
<br>
Closest early voting location to Riverdale Park is the: <br>
College Park Community Center<br>
5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park, MD 20742<br>
<br>
A map to this early voting center is here: <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://mapq.st/S7pfh3">http://mapq.st/S7pfh3</a><br>
<br>
Or <b>vote on election day</b>...<br>
Tuesday, November 6, 2012, <br>
7:00am - 8:00pm at<br>
Riverdale Elementary School<br>
5006 Riverdale Road, Riverdale, MD 20737<br>
<br>
<h2>On The Ballot</h2>
<b>In our area (Riverdale Park) you can vote on</b>:<br>
<br>
* U.S. President <br>
<br>
* one U.S. Senate position: <br>
(Ben Cardin, Daniel John Bongino, Dean Ahmad, S. Rob Sobhani)<br>
(plus several announced write-in candidates - see League Of
Women Voters guide below)<br>
<br>
* one U.S. House of Representatives position (for District 05):<br>
(Steny H. Hoyer, Tony O'donnell, Arvin Vohra, Bob Auerbach)<br>
<br>
* Five Circuit Court Judges<br>
<br>
* Seven state-wide questions<br>
<br>
* Seven county questions<br>
<br>
Below is a brief summary of the Ballot Questions.<br>
<br>
I highly recommend reading the League Of Women Voters (LWV) ballot
guide - <br>
For our county: <a
href="http://pg1.lwvmd.org/n/sites/default/files/VG%202012%20General--Final%202.pdf">http://pg1.lwvmd.org/n/sites/default/files/VG%202012%20General--Final%202.pdf</a><br>
<br>
It has lots of good insight to the issues, and is perhaps more
balanced than my brief summary. <br>
<br>
(Other areas of the county and state have different ballots -<br>
to see other jurisdiction LWV guides, go here <a
href="http://vote.lwvmd.org/n/node/8414">http://vote.lwvmd.org/n/node/8414</a>
)<br>
<br>
<h2><b>Seven State-Wide Ballot Questions</b></h2>
<br>
<b>Questions 1 & 2: Constitutional Amendments adding additional
qualification requirements for Orphans' Court Judges</b> <br>
Basically it requires that these judges (who review deceased
person’s estate issues) be lawyers.<br>
"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".<br>
(Personally, I am specious of why lawyers want to take over
everything.)<br>
<br>
<b>Question 3: A Constitutional Amendment about Suspension And
Removal Of Elected Officials </b><br>
Changes the point at which an elected official who has been charged
with certain crimes is automatically suspended or removed from
office. <br>
Under existing law, an elected official who is convicted or pleads
no contest is suspended and is removed only when the conviction
becomes final. <br>
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 <br>
contest. <br>
<br>
<b>Question 4: A Referendum on the State's DREAM Act: </b><b>In-state
Tuition Rates for immigrants. </b><br>
<br>
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).<br>
<br>
In July 2011, opponents of the law collected enough petition
signatures to place the new law on the ballot as a referendum.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
<b>Question 5: A Referendum on the 2011 Congressional redistricting
plan (passed by the state and now in effect)</b><br>
The plan establishes the boundaries for the State’s eight United
States Congressional Districts based on 2010 census figures.<br>
<br>
Some (primarily Republicans but some Democrats) think the 2011
boundaries are too gerrymandered - although they did pass court
challenges.<br>
<br>
A vote "For the Referred Law" means: The 2011 Congressional
Districts would continue (until the next redistricting process in
2021). <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
<b>Question 6: </b><b>A Referendum on the Civil Marriage Protection
Act - that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry.</b><br>
A vote "For the Referred Law" means: Same gender couples will be
allowed to marry in Maryland beginning on January 1, 2013. <br>
A vote "Against the Referred Law" means: Same gender couples will
not be allowed to marry in Maryland. <br>
<br>
"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: <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/19/7-ballot-questions-could-shape-marylands-future">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/19/7-ballot-questions-could-shape-marylands-future</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Question 7</b><b>: </b><b>A Referendum on allowing 1 </b><b>additional</b><b>
casino</b><b> </b>and to allow all 6 casinos to have table games
(eg Roulette).<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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 <br>
<a
href="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">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><br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
A vote "Against Additional Forms And Expansion Of Commercial Gaming"
means: The current constitutional limitations regarding gambling in
Maryland would remain. <br>
<br>
<h2><b>Seven Ballot Questions for Prince George’s County </b></h2>
<b>Question A: County Council Redistricting Plan </b><br>
<br>
A vote FOR means the council can pass redistricting by a <b>resolution
</b>that does not require the county executive's signature.<br>
<br>
A vote AGAINST means a formal <b>Act </b>will continue to be
required to authorize redistricting, with the possibility of
Executive veto remaining. <br>
<br>
<b>Question B:</b><b> Multiyear Contracts</b><br>
<br>
A vote for means: the council can manage some contracts (spend
money) by a <b>resolution </b>(which does not require the county
executive's signature).<br>
<br>
A vote against means: A legislative<b> Act</b> (which must be signed
by the County Executive) will continue to be required to authorize
legislative action for certain personal service and multiyear
contracts. <br>
<br>
<b>Question C: Library Facilities Bonds </b>- enables the County to
borrow up to $45,150,000 to build and repair Library Facilities<br>
<br>
<b>Question D: County Buildings Bonds </b> - enables the County to
borrow up to $75,823,000 for repairing old and designing new County
Buildings.<br>
<br>
<b>Question E: Public Safety Facilities Bonds</b> - enables the
County to borrow up to $156,354,000 to repair/construct Public
Safety Facilities (including Fire Department Facilities).<br>
<br>
<b>Question F: Public Works And Transportation Facilities </b>-
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).<br>
<br>
<b>Question G: Community College Facilities Bonds</b> - enables the
County to borrow up to $156,047,000 for building/repairing Community
College Facilities<br>
<br>
Of course, Google the issues to learn still more or check out some
of the links at the end of this email.<br>
<h2><b>Links</b></h2>
<br>
For more early voting info (and other polling locations):<br>
<a href="http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/index.html">http://www.elections.state.md.us/voting/index.html</a><br>
<br>
Not sure where you are registered? Want to see a <b>sample ballot</b>?<br>
You can look up your voter registration specifics and see a sample
ballot and your polling place etc., here:<br>
<a href="https://voterservices.elections.state.md.us/VoterSearch">https://voterservices.elections.state.md.us/VoterSearch</a><br>
<br>
League Of Women Voters® in Prince George's County, Maryland <a
href="http://pg1.lwvmd.org/n/">http://pg1.lwvmd.org/n/</a><br>
<br>
Baltimore Sun's Maryland Election Guide 2012<br>
<a
href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-maryland-election-guide-2012-20120323,0,5630098.htmlstory">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-maryland-election-guide-2012-20120323,0,5630098.htmlstory</a><br>
<br>
ballot questions:<br>
<a
href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/bal-seven-ballot-questions-for-maryland-voters-20120911,0,5227684,full.story">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/bal-seven-ballot-questions-for-maryland-voters-20120911,0,5227684,full.story</a><br>
<br>
GOP confident in petition bid to challenge redistricting: <a
href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-congressional-map-20120702,0,6902032.story?obref=obinsite">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-congressional-map-20120702,0,6902032.story?obref=obinsite</a><br>
<br>
Washington Times: 7 ballot questions could shape Maryland’s future<br>
<a
href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/19/7-ballot-questions-could-shape-marylands-future/?page=all">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/19/7-ballot-questions-could-shape-marylands-future/?page=all</a><br>
<br>
Perhaps you can provide more insight and links?<br>
Please comment.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Rob Oppenheim
</pre>
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