All Posts Tagged With: "Ballot"
Cindy Sheehan on the ballot in Frisco’s 8th District!
It was confirmed today that Cindy Sheehan has delivered more than the required 10,000 signatures to ensure her place on the ballot this November in California’s 8th District as an Independent challenger to incumbent Democrat Nancy Pelosi. This is just the sixth time in California history that this has happened.
Sheehan has garnered nationwide support for her candidacy as people have come to realize that a successful challenge to Pelosi is the best chance for drastic policy change in Washington. Under Pelosi’s ineffectual leadership, Congress’ approval rating has free fallen to a historical low of just 9%. Sheehan has been an outspoken critic of Pelosi, citing her failure to end the Iraq war and advance articles of impeachment against George W. Bush as reason for her challenge.
Most recently, she was removed from the ‘non-impeachment’ hearings for standing up and calling it exactly what it was: A toothless sham.
Left Coasters Confused About Complex Ballot
Scores of Ballot Propositions Escape Voter Attention
The California Attorney General’s Office is changing the language in the summary for Proposition 8 that will appear on the November ballot. Prop 8 is the initiative to amend the state constitution to ban homosexual marriage. The summary originally intended to amend the state constitution so “only marriage between a man and a woman” is valid or recognized in California. That language is still included in the new summary, but in an effort to reverse the California Supreme Court’s decision to allow same-sex couples to marry they’ve added wording that says the state constitution would be amended to “eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.”
A July 18, 2008 Field Poll found the proposition getting a 51% “no” vote and 43% “yes” - Democrats and those with no party affiliation oppose the proposition, Coastal Californians compose 69% of all voters, and tend to be more liberal and oppose it. Evangelicals favor the amendment by better that two to one. Catholics are split. Those affiliated with other religions or not religion overwhelmingly oppose it. Observers doubt the new wording imposed by the Attorney General will significantly shift those numbers. A prior ballot initiative tried to impose a ban on homosexual marriage but was declared unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court in June.
Twelve propositions have qualified for the November ballot and the legislatures could add more. Only Proposition 4 to require parental notification before their minor child receives an abortion has any “awareness” and only 45% say they are aware of it but their vote is split 48% “yes” to 38% “no.” By a 56-30% margin Californians say they’ll OK $9.9 billion to build a high speed north-south rail line; Proposition 2 forcing more humane treatment of farm animals is favored 63-21%; Proposition 7 requires utilities to generate 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2010 and half by 2025 is favored 63-24%; Proposition 11 would establish a commission to redistrict the state’s senate, assembly and board of equalization members is narrowly support 48-30%. “Awareness” averaged below 20% on all other propositions.
There are scores of other issues on ballots around the state, for instance: San Franciscans will vote on legalizing prostitution in that city.