But first things first. The ballot is two pages long and lists 20-odd items to vote for (or against), divided into sections. The first thing I did is survey it item by item, looking at each choice available. Somewhat like looking over a physics or math exam before commencing.
Saturday p.m. I completed the first section which included choices for:
- Federal office (President, VP)
- U.S. Senator
- Representative to the 117th congress, District 5
- State Senators
-- District Attorney
- County Commissioner
What boggled my mind in the left hand section (for president-vice president options) was seeing 19 additional options for those offices plus a 'write in'. Thus, 20 extra ways for numbnuts to waste their votes in a critical election.
The second section - 'Questions and Issues'- entailed voting - or not - for proposed changes to the Colorado constitution. I filled in these 'no brainer' sections early Sunday morning which included:
Amendment B: Repeals the Gallagher Amendment of 1982, which limited the residential and non-residential property tax assessment rates so that residential property taxes amounted to 45% of the total share of state property taxes and non-residential property taxes amounted to 55% of the total share of state property taxes
Amendment C: Requires charitable organizations to have existed for three years before obtaining a charitable gaming license instead of five years; allows charitable organizations to hire managers and operators of gaming activities so long as they are not paid more than the minimum wage.
Amendment 76: Amends the Colorado Constitution to state that “only a citizen” of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older can vote in federal, state, and local elections, instead of the existing language that says “every citizen” who is 18 years old can vote.
Amendment 77: Allows voters in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek to vote to expand allowed gaming types and bet limits.
Proposition EE: Increases taxes on tobacco, creates a new tax on nicotine products such as e-cigarettes; dedicates funds to education and health programs
Proposition 113: Joins Colorado into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, awarding Colorado's electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.
Proposition 114: Reintroduces gray wolves on public lands
Proposition 115: Prohibits abortion after 22 weeks gestational age.
Proposition 116: Decreases the state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%
Proposition 117: Requires voter approval of new enterprises that are exempt from TABOR if their revenue is greater than $50 million within its first five years.
Proposition 118: Establishes a program for paid medical and family leave
The 'no brainer' choices for an avowed liberal or progressive, included: Amendment C (No); Amendment 76 (No); Proposition EE (Yes); Proposition 113 (Yes); Proposition 114 (Yes), Proposition 115 (No); Proposition 116 (No) and Proposition 118 (Yes).
Other issues required somewhat more contemplation. For example, was it justified (or fair) to take the choice for gaming out of residents' hands in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek (Amendment 77)? But the beauty of mail voting is that it allows time for considered choices. True, many would have made these before going to a polling place, but for many of us the choices aren't so clear cut so require more deliberation.
Anyway, we now plan to look for the nearest drop boxes to deposit our ballots - away from any Trumpian potential meddlers or bullying pests and minus the chance for mail havoc and its attendant delays.
What was most heartening after we each completed our ballots by Sunday evening, was comparing the primary ballot issues using the Colorado Springs Independent Ballot Issue Guide and the state voters' Blue Book and seeing that in no case did we cancel each other's vote out.
See Also:
by Steven Rosenfeld | October 12, 2020 - 6:01am | permalink
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