Tuesday’s Election Day.
Thank goodness. I feel a bit like Abigael Evans; I, too, am ready for “Bronco Bamma” and Mitt Romney to go away.
I did not early vote. The early voting locations and times weren’t convenient to me. I’ll vote after work on Tuesday. The subway train will get back at 7 o’clock, I drive past the polling place (which closes at 8 o’clock). All will be good.
I have my sample ballot here. Let’s walk through it.
President
There are four choices — Obama (Democratic), Romney (Republican), Gary Johnson (Libertarian), and Jill Stein (Green). There’s also a list of roughly 20 write-in candidates I can choose from, including Virgil Goode (Constitution), Rocky Anderson (Justice), and that old standby, Santa Claus (Independent).
I’m leaning toward Jill Stein or Rocky Anderson. I live in a non-battleground state, and two weeks ago Lawrence O’Donnell made an impassioned plea for non-battlegrounders to vote their conscience. Maryland will safely cast its Electoral votes in favor of President Obama in December, so I can vote for whomever I wish, knowing that the realistic candidate I would rather see in the Oval Office will win the state.
Why not Gary Johnson? If he ran on a platform of single payer universal health care, I’d consider him. If he ran on a platform to end forced mediation in contract disputes, I’d consider him. And if he didn’t want to nuke the economy, I’d consider him.
Senator
There are four choices here, but in functional terms Ben Cardin is running unopposed.
Representative
There are three choices here, but in functional terms Dutch Ruppersberger is running unopposed.
Judges
I have no idea on these. However, all three are running unopposed.
Question 1
Requires judges of the Orphans’ Court for Prince George’s County to be admitted to practice law in this State and be a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar.
I have no opinion on this.
Question 2
Requires judges of the Orphans’ Court for Baltimore County to be admitted to practice law in this State and be a member in good standing of the Maryland Bar.
I have no opinion on this.
Question 3
Changes the point at which an elected official charged with certain crimes in automatically suspended or removed from office.
I’m for this. Under current law, a convincted official can remain in office until all the appeals are final.
Question 4
The Maryland DREAM Act.
I’m for this.
Question 5
Establishes the boundaries for the State’s eight United States Congressional districts based on recent census figures.
I really don’t care on this one. This ballot question is aimed at overturning the redistricting after the last census for a redo. Here’s an analysis of what’s at stake, and while I understand it, I can’t muster much enthusiasm. Ideally, the state would redistrict on a non-partisan basis, but that’s not how it’s done, and overturning the map seems, to me anyway, like a pointless second whack at the apple.
Question 6
Same-sex marriage.
I’m voting in favor of this.
Here’s a commercial that’s playing a lot on television. I like it:
Question 7
Authorize table games at Maryland’s slots parlors, and allow the construction of a new casino in Prince George’s County.
I’m voting against this.
Firstly, I voted against the original slots parlor question four years ago. I’m simply being consistent.
Secondly, the pro-Question 7 advertising has decided to slam West Virginia, as seen in this commercial:
And I don’t think you care about the three pages of bond ordinances. I surely don’t. 🙂
I was on a conference call with Obama for America on Friday, and they believe the signs favor them. They even think that North Carolina is in play, and early voting turnout there definitely favors them.
I wonder if there are any election night parties going on I could attend.
It’s been a long campaign. When Wednesday comes, I’ll be glad to see it done.