An Opinion on Straight-Ticket Voting

[mrdreamjeans]

I voted last Friday, taking advantage of early voting here in Texas. I was pleased (and surprised) to see large numbers of folks at the courthouse doing the same. I'm in a town of 13,000 and two rooms were devoted to early voting, one for last names A-L and one for M-Z. There were spots for four people at a time to sit down and fill in paper ballots and one electronic machine that everyone avoided. One of the precinct workers said she thought people were scared of it; I said aloud that most people believe that an electronic vote can be altered and prefer a paper trail.

I take voting seriously. I've voted in every election since I was 18. I turned 18 the year that they changed the age from 21. My voting record has been all over the place, reflective of the amount of research I did on the issues and my knowledge of the candidates. I've gotten more independent over the years, more progressive, though I would stop short of calling myself a liberal. (Though my family would disagree:) The one thing I have never done is vote a straight ticket ... make that mark at the beginning of the ballot which makes reading the rest of the ballot irrelevant. There have been times where my choices have nearly been a straight ticket ... but I took the time... made the effort to mark a choice in each and every race.

I was all over the place with my vote this year. I voted for Democrat, Independent and Libertarian candidates and in a couple of local races where I know the candidates personally, two moderate Republicans. I was appalled at the number of uncontested slots, particularly in the judicial races, which in Texas are partisan. I'm curious ... when you see a race uncontested ... just one candidate on the ballot, do you automatically vote for them? Or if they aren't of your party affiliation, do you leave it blank? I debated with myself over that one. Regardless, I encourage everyone to vote. More than at any other time in my 34 years of voting, I believe we need major change from the status quo.

In other news ... After a tense weekend, my Mom's back surgery is scheduled for Wednesday morning. She will be in rehab in Bryan for three weeks. During that time, my brother and his wife will take Dad to their home. I will take care of this house and our dog Dixie and make daily trips to see Mom. The tense time was from being caught in the middle between my sister who believes that Dad would benefit from being in a care facility during that time and my brother (and especially his wife) who believe Dad should come with them. At least everyone understood that leaving me to take care of Dad alone would not work. Please say a prayer ... or your equivalent for my Mom tomorrow. Everything should be fine, but she's nearly 75 and I'll take all the support for her I can.

Comments

[pagerbear.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I like the idea of electing judges. The hoi polloi are notoriously susceptible to marketing, and marketing is not what makes a good judge.

But then, would appointed judges be any better? I guess there might be some chance of impartiality if there are checks and balances and local judicial appointments have to be ratified by local governmental bodies, which one assumes should be bipartisan.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You've hit the nail on the head. I'd like to see non-partisan elections of judges. The public would have to become informed about the decisions history of the various candidates, but at least the lawyers running for the judicial positions wouldn't have to be beholden to the political parties.

[bearhedded.livejournal.com]

We had 2 rows of non-partisan judges, but they were all unopposed....I left 'em all blank. Those little ovals are a bitch to fill in neatly!

My well-wishes to your mother may be interrupted by a short shreek tomorrow......flu shots at work! I get jabbed at least once a day in the fingers, but, I nearly faint at needles!

[bardcat.livejournal.com]

I am a serious voter who votes straight democrat.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I appreciate that! The thought behind my statement about straight-ticket voting is from the example of my father. On our Texas ballot ( no referendums), you can just check off a party. One mark and you're out the door. Dad said he did it in a previous year, not because he liked all of the candidates the Republicans offered up , but because it was easy. I wonder how many seniors make that choice ... especially when they face an unfamiliar electronic machine. Thanks for responding!

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

Electing judges just seems bizarre to me. We don't do that here (and we do everything perfectly ;-)Surely they should be appointed on merit.

Sending your Mom my love and support, and a bit on the side to you too.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I appreciate the support for Mom. I've always believed the judiciary should be as independent as possible from identification with a political party. Our supreme court justices are appointed for life; because of this, they often wind up surprising the president and the administration that nominates them. With life-time appointment comes independence. However, in the Texas judiciary races, they are elected as Republican or Democrat.

[elfkat.livejournal.com]

In California the ballot doesn't tell you the party affiliations of judges so you have to read the biographical material which can come in a think book. We vote yes or no on them in the regular elections. In a primary eletion you choose from a number available. I don't think California has the straight ticket option. You have to vote for each candidate and each proposition.
I've voted in every election since 06/06/72 which was the first election in California 18 year olds could vote in. I stupidly voted for Nixon then but who at 18 is truly wise?

And I think this may have been the most important time I voted.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I like the way California does it ... though I wonder how many people really take time to read the background and platforms of the judicial candidates. I would be one of them, but that's just me ... and I'm sure you:)

I voted for the first time in the same year. Sad to say, I voted for Nixon too. I was an 18 year old with a draft number of two. The Viet Nam war ended that year. I guess you can say that was my focus:)

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

I voted for the first time in 1972 as well. I think I voted for McGovern, but I've had some sleep since then. :) I had a very low draft number (in the upper 200s) and a student deferment, but was glad to see the war end.

In Oklahoma, the judges don't run against each other, we just vote whether to keep the current ones in office or not. I have no idea what happens if we vote to throw one out of office, though. I voted "no" on all the judges once just to be contrary.

Good luck with your mom, I'll keep her in my thoughts.

[scottokc.livejournal.com]

Oops! Some judges do run against each other, but there are some judges where we vote wheter to retain them or not. I voted absentee, and I only was able to vote on whether to retain some judges or not.

[elfkat.livejournal.com]

Oh and I'll be thinking and sending energy to your mom if tha's okay with you?

Hugs!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I would love it if you would send energy Mom's way! She's being optimistic, very ready to get through the procedure and see if she can be relieved of pain. I will be with her every step of the way.

Big Hugs, my friend!

[use2bshy.livejournal.com]

I left to poll with one question, are there no Democratic, Independant or Libertarian Justices?

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

I know! That's what I said too. But it goes with the money-making scheme, at least in Houston.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I was appalled at that too! On my ballot in Washington County, the only contested judicial races featured Republicans vs Libertarians... otherwise, the Republicans were unchallenged ... a travesty!

[use2bshy.livejournal.com]

Sounds exactly like the Denton county ballot

Vote TX!

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

. You leave blank the uncontested ones if you don't want to vote for the only candidate for that slot.

. You said it cowboy: I was appalled at the # of uncontested slots too. Over 1 1/2 page, and they were all GOP! Sigh, I guess that's TX for you... But every time I turned that wheel, I leaned on it like, "Here, take this, Imperialist motherfuckers!" Boy, dii it feel guuud!!! LOL

. I may post a lil' story about straight-ticket later on, but gotta wait for PA to finish voting 1st :0)

. Prayers for your mom. Love your dad. Try. I know. :-)

. HUG

Re: Vote TX!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Thanh ... I appreciate the sentiments behind both of your final statements.

What a difference times makes ... When I did vote at 18 in my first election in Houston, you couldn't find a spot to vote in the Republican primary. The state was overwhelmingly Democrat. Funny enough, I didn't agree with much of what the Democrats stood for at the time.

In the 70s, being a Republican meant you believed in a smaller, less intrusive federal government and you kept your nose out of peoples' personal lives. That changed with the religious right's take over of the party. Now, being a Republican means less governmental interference, unless of course we disagree with how you live your life! And since the Bush Administration, it no longer means smaller goverment. It means cutting taxes and increasing spending. Hopefully, the country is waking up!

HUGS!

Re: Vote TX!

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

Well, today makes happiness complete: Dems seized Senate as well! Ouf! The devil's wings are finally really clipped. I was a lil blue last night going to bed with the Senate still unclear. But today I'm basking in all of this goodness. It's like the end of Lord of the Rings, isn't it?

VICTORY HUG!!!

I'm taking a little break from all this politics. Bath.

Time to say things like "Did I tell you how wonderful you are?" Well, you are.

HUG - again.

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

While I take scrupulous care to avoid politics (especially the partisan type) in my classroom, I did walk in this morning and, without comment, wrote one word on the chalkboard: VOTE!

A few years ago one of my grad students said to me "I don't vote... never have, never will." I was taken aback, but kept my cool and didn't comment. She is now a profesor (in Texas, I think)... I'm somewhat regretful that I didn't at least give her a good piece of my mind and sorry I didn't tell her what an idiot she was (is).

I admit that I voted a straight Democratic ticket (would there ever be a gay Democratic ticket? =0) ..... but first I carefully read every single name on the ballot to make sure that I wasn't voting blindly.

Prayers for your mom - though I swing somwhere between agnostic and atheist, I've always believed in prayers just the same. So I'm sending some out on her behalf, and some for you too. May it all go well, may pain be banished, and may inner peace reign. Big Hugz my friend !!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! I wouldn't be surprised if she was a professor in Texas:) Probably doesn't vote, but still believes it's her right to complain about the government. I believe you only get to bitch if you take time to vote:)

Thanks for the prayers ... Mom's surgery began four minutes ago. I'm writing this from the hospital waiting room. Dad's with me. My sister Colleen will be here in two hours.

Big HUGS!