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willow_redJust finished working my way through the absentee ballot, going to hand it in tomorrow. For those who are interested, here's how I voted on the issues and why.
First off, I'm really glad to have gotten the Analysis of the 2004 Ballot Proposals booklet from my mom. The only thing I was sent in Boulder was a (not as good) booklet with the text and arguments for and against the local issues. This other booklet, which apparently gets sent to Aurora but not Boulder, had excellent background on each of the statewide issues and summaries of arguments for and against. If anyone wants to flip through the booklet, you're welcome to.
Also, for those who know zero about the judges (ie everyone), check out the Commissions on Judicial Performance web page. This group posts bios and surveys about each judge up for retention, along with their own recommendation.
Okay, on to the actual ballot issues!
Amendment 34 - Construction and Lawsuits - I went with no on this one, since the current process sounded pretty good to me, and I think lawsuits get ridiculous enough as it is. The current fine limits seem to cover costs fairly, and allow for an amount of punitive damages as well.
Amendment 35 - Tobacco Tax Increase - Yes. Colorado has the lowest tobacco tax in the nation, and I like the idea that the additional funds would go toward health care and anti-smoking programs. For those who don't like that their cigarettes will now cost more, I say that there are cheaper, more efficient, and less painful ways of killing yourself if you are so inclined. Perhaps that sounds harsh, but I enjoy breathing and not having extreme eye pain, thanks.
Amendment 36 - Electoral Vote Split - I went back and forth on this one a lot before deciding to vote yes. I am not a fan of the winner-take-all system we currently have, and I'd like to see third parties gain some vague ground. Colorado isn't that important to elections, and never will be. However, it upsets me that this measure would take effect in the same election when it is approved. That isn't right, IMHO. *shrug* If it passes, the lawyers will have a field day, so let 'em.
Amendment 37 - Renewable Energy Mandate - Semi-reluctant yes. Renewable energy is good, but insistence on solar power being 4% of this is bad. Solar panels are crazy-expensive, and the costs have not gone down like other technologies tend to. But hey, I already put my $5 per month to WindSource, so here's my vote too. *eats organic, sugar-free granola like a good Boulderite*
Referendum A - State Employee Stuff - I had to read through this information twice before deciding to vote no. There are some good things, like adding sex and age discrimination to the list of no-nos, but there were enough things on the other side to sway me, such as having state employees on their own governing board and foreign outsourcing of contracts.
Referendum B - Obsolete Text - Total yes. There's some wacky stuff in the Colorado Constitution.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mackys, too bad you didn't get to see a copy of this booklet before voting; all the text to be altered is in here. One item refers to a requirement for a position that no longer exists. Another removes a reference to something that needed to happen in 1968. The rest are unconstitutional regulations on voter and candidate eligibility. The only argument against this is that leaving in old language makes the document all cute and historical.
Referendum 4A - FasTracks - Yes, I think trains in the Denver Metro area would be cool, and I would make use of them, so long as the fares aren't crazy-expensive. *continues munching granola, puts flower in hair*
Referendum 4B - SCFD - Heck, yeah! SCFD sponsors cool stuff! Plus, the argument against is so weak, it's funny.
County Issue 1A - Open Space - Yes, this is what I love about Boulder, and I'm willing to pay for it. *lights some incense while continuing to snack on granola*
County Issue 1B - Fire Fighting - This one was confusing, but I eventually came up with no. It seems that Boulder wants its own helicopter to fight fires, and the arguments for were easily addressed by the arguments against.
County Issue 1C - Taxes Already Collected - I said yes on this one. Several other counties in the state already have this measure in effect, and honestly, Boulder County can have my $18 [vague estimate based on the info I saw and the cost of my home].
As for the humans running for office, well, let's just say that the Republicans really pissed me off this year.
Google appears to be down(!) right now, but if anyone can find an online version of Research Publication No. 527-6, put out by the Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly, please post a link in the comments. That's the booklet I used as a reference on most of the above.
Edit: I found it! Analysis of the 2004 Ballot Proposals (.pdf). The booklet is 60 pages long, but the analysis part is only the first half. The second half is the actual text that would be changed, if you care about that. (FYI, info on ballot issues from previous elections, or the current one in Spanish, can be found on this page.)
First off, I'm really glad to have gotten the Analysis of the 2004 Ballot Proposals booklet from my mom. The only thing I was sent in Boulder was a (not as good) booklet with the text and arguments for and against the local issues. This other booklet, which apparently gets sent to Aurora but not Boulder, had excellent background on each of the statewide issues and summaries of arguments for and against. If anyone wants to flip through the booklet, you're welcome to.
Also, for those who know zero about the judges (ie everyone), check out the Commissions on Judicial Performance web page. This group posts bios and surveys about each judge up for retention, along with their own recommendation.
Okay, on to the actual ballot issues!
Amendment 34 - Construction and Lawsuits - I went with no on this one, since the current process sounded pretty good to me, and I think lawsuits get ridiculous enough as it is. The current fine limits seem to cover costs fairly, and allow for an amount of punitive damages as well.
Amendment 35 - Tobacco Tax Increase - Yes. Colorado has the lowest tobacco tax in the nation, and I like the idea that the additional funds would go toward health care and anti-smoking programs. For those who don't like that their cigarettes will now cost more, I say that there are cheaper, more efficient, and less painful ways of killing yourself if you are so inclined. Perhaps that sounds harsh, but I enjoy breathing and not having extreme eye pain, thanks.
Amendment 36 - Electoral Vote Split - I went back and forth on this one a lot before deciding to vote yes. I am not a fan of the winner-take-all system we currently have, and I'd like to see third parties gain some vague ground. Colorado isn't that important to elections, and never will be. However, it upsets me that this measure would take effect in the same election when it is approved. That isn't right, IMHO. *shrug* If it passes, the lawyers will have a field day, so let 'em.
Amendment 37 - Renewable Energy Mandate - Semi-reluctant yes. Renewable energy is good, but insistence on solar power being 4% of this is bad. Solar panels are crazy-expensive, and the costs have not gone down like other technologies tend to. But hey, I already put my $5 per month to WindSource, so here's my vote too. *eats organic, sugar-free granola like a good Boulderite*
Referendum A - State Employee Stuff - I had to read through this information twice before deciding to vote no. There are some good things, like adding sex and age discrimination to the list of no-nos, but there were enough things on the other side to sway me, such as having state employees on their own governing board and foreign outsourcing of contracts.
Referendum B - Obsolete Text - Total yes. There's some wacky stuff in the Colorado Constitution.
mackys, too bad you didn't get to see a copy of this booklet before voting; all the text to be altered is in here. One item refers to a requirement for a position that no longer exists. Another removes a reference to something that needed to happen in 1968. The rest are unconstitutional regulations on voter and candidate eligibility. The only argument against this is that leaving in old language makes the document all cute and historical.Referendum 4A - FasTracks - Yes, I think trains in the Denver Metro area would be cool, and I would make use of them, so long as the fares aren't crazy-expensive. *continues munching granola, puts flower in hair*
Referendum 4B - SCFD - Heck, yeah! SCFD sponsors cool stuff! Plus, the argument against is so weak, it's funny.
County Issue 1A - Open Space - Yes, this is what I love about Boulder, and I'm willing to pay for it. *lights some incense while continuing to snack on granola*
County Issue 1B - Fire Fighting - This one was confusing, but I eventually came up with no. It seems that Boulder wants its own helicopter to fight fires, and the arguments for were easily addressed by the arguments against.
County Issue 1C - Taxes Already Collected - I said yes on this one. Several other counties in the state already have this measure in effect, and honestly, Boulder County can have my $18 [vague estimate based on the info I saw and the cost of my home].
As for the humans running for office, well, let's just say that the Republicans really pissed me off this year.
Google appears to be down(!) right now, but if anyone can find an online version of Research Publication No. 527-6, put out by the Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly, please post a link in the comments. That's the booklet I used as a reference on most of the above.
Edit: I found it! Analysis of the 2004 Ballot Proposals (.pdf). The booklet is 60 pages long, but the analysis part is only the first half. The second half is the actual text that would be changed, if you care about that. (FYI, info on ballot issues from previous elections, or the current one in Spanish, can be found on this page.)
