#ballotpedia

[cornistasiathecoblinking]

Missouri! It's the last day to register to vote! do it today (RIGHT NOW!!) so you can make a difference on Nov. 5th!

OCTOBER 9TH (TODAY!!!) IS THE LAST DAY THAT YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE IN MISSOURI FOR THE NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION

Click here ^ to register! It's easy!

Once you're registered you can check your polling location (the place you go to vote), learn about absentee voting, the election machines, acceptable forms of ID for voting, and when polls are open on this page. After you register, I highly recommend checking in with the local county clerk's office to ensure your registration was filed properly (this can take up to 10 days, iirc) once a week or so until they confirm it.

Once you're registered you can check your polling location (the place you go to vote), learn about absentee voting, the election machines, acceptable forms of ID for voting, and when polls are open.

PLEASE CHECK BELOW ABOUT WHAT WILL BE ON THE MISSOURI BALLOT!

Ballot Measures and Issues are as follows: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

-Amendment 2 (Amend Missouri Constitution to: allow Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate sports wagering online) (the "sports betting" amendment)

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: State governmental entities estimate onetime costs of $660,000, ongoing annual costs of at least $5.2 million, and initial license fee revenue of $11.75 million. Because the proposal allows for deductions against sports gaming revenues, they estimate unknown tax revenue ranging from $0 to $28.9 million annually. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.

 Fair Ballot Language: 

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to permit licensed sports wagering regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission and restrict sports betting to individuals physically located in the state and over the age of 21.  The amendment includes a 10% wagering tax on revenues received to be appropriated for educational institutions in Missouri. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding licensed regulated sports wagering. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

READ MOR ON AMENDMENT 2 HERE

-Amendment 3 (the "abortion amendment", removes Missouri's ban on abortion as well "require the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care"-full text that will be on the ballot can be found on this page under Amendment 3.

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings, but unknown impact. Local governmental entities estimate costs of at least $51,000 annually in reduced tax revenues. Opponents estimate a potentially significant loss to state revenue.

 Fair Ballot Language: 

A “yes” vote establishes a constitutional right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid; removes Missouri's ban on abortion; allows regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient; requires the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care; and allows abortion to be restricted or banned after Fetal Viability except to protect the life or health of the woman. A “no” vote will continue the statutory prohibition of abortion in Missouri. If passed, this measure may reduce local taxes while the impact to state taxes is unknown. --DO NOT LET THIS SCARE YOU! A YES ON 3 GIVES REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM BACK TO THE MISSOURI PEOPLE! PLEASE PROTECT WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE! PLEASE PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY!

READ MORE ON AMENDMENT 3 HERE

-Amendment 5 (allows the addition of exactly one more gambling boat license on a specific portion of the Osage River)

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: State governmental entities estimate one-time costs of $763,000, ongoing costs of $2.2 million annually, initial fee revenue of $271,000, ongoing admission and other fee revenue of $2.1 million annually, and annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.

 Fair Ballot Language: 

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue an additional gambling boat license to operate an excursion gambling boat on the Osage River, between the Missouri River and the Bagnell Dam. All state revenue derived from the issuance of the gambling boat license shall be appropriated to early-childhood literacy programs in public institutions of elementary education. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding gambling boat licensure. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes. -- THOUGH I WONDER IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN WRITING THAT GUARANTEES THAT MONEY WILL GO TO THE SCHOOLS?

READ MORE ON AMENDMENT 5 HERE

-Amendment 6 ("Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel? State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact."

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel? State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact.

 Fair Ballot Language: 

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for current and former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, and circuit attorneys to ensure all Missourians have access to the courts of justice. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees related to current or former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and circuit attorneys. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

READ MORE ON AMENDMENT 6 HERE

-Amendment 7 (the "ranked choice voting" amendment; "make the Constitution consistent with state law by allowing only citizens of the US to vote, prohibit ranking of candidates by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue, and require the plurality winner of a political party primary to be the single candidate at the general election")

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

 Fair Ballot Language: 

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to specify that only United States citizens are entitled to vote, voters shall only have a single vote for each candidate or issue, restrict any type of ranking of candidates for a particular office and require the person receiving the greatest number of votes at the primary election as a party candidate for an office shall be the only candidate for that party at the general election, and require the person receiving the greatest number of votes for each office at the general election shall be declared the winner.  This provision does not apply to any nonpartisan municipal election held in a city that had an ordinance in effect as of November 5, 2024, that requires a preliminary election at which more than one candidate advances to a subsequent election. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to make any changes to how voters vote in primary and general elections. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

READ MORE ON AMENDMENT 7 HERE. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY STRANGE ABOUT THE WORDING!

-Proposition A (minimum wage increase to $15/hr, by incremental yearly increases until 2026 where it will reach $15/hr) (edited)

Do you want to amend Missouri law to: State governmental entities estimate one-time costs ranging from $0 to $53,000, and ongoing costs ranging from $0 to at least $256,000 per year by 2027. State and local government tax revenue could change by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.

 Fair Ballot Language: 

A “yes” vote will amend Missouri statutes to increase the state minimum wage beginning January 1, 2025 to $13.75 per hour and increase the hourly rate $1.25, to $15.00 per hour beginning January 2026. Annually the minimum wage will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index.  The law will require employers with fifteen or more employees to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked. The amendment will exempt governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions from the minimum wage increase. A “no” vote will not amend Missouri law to make changes to the state minimum wage law. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

READ MORE ON PROP A HERE

Practice makes perfect! Click here to view the Sample Ballot so you know what you're looking at on November 5th!

I know it seems like this is a LOT of information (and it is! I'm tired of looking at it!!) but it's *designed* to be a lot of information to scare regular folks like you and me from voting in our best interests!

THIS ELECTION IS NOT ONE TO SLEEP ON! WE NEED EVERY VOTE, EVERY VOICE TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF OUR FREEDOMS! PLEASE VOTE NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR FUTURE!

WHEN AMERICA COUGHS THE WHOLE WORLD WILL CATCH A COLD!

VOTE BLUE! VOTE DEMOCRATS!

Worried about remembering everything? Take an index card and write down all the measures you're voting for! Keep it in your pocket and use it to help you remember when you're at the polls!

Worried about your conservative family finding out? That's the neat thing! They don't have to know! You don't have to tell them! It's private!

[mbrainspaz]

voting in texas really be like

current guy------

Experience: President of Company Inc.

Occupation: Deeply religious individual

democrat challenger-----

Experience: 48 years of law enforcement experience as a patrol officer and Agent with the Alcoholic Beverage Commission

Occupation: Retired police sergeant

[blackwomanvibes]

🌻 How To Live Your Best Ace Life! 🌻♠|Properly Complete Primary Voting Ballot| @BlackWomanVibes Ep26

It’s election season and Massachusetts had our primary elections on September 3rd. Let’s go over the proper way to vote for politicians without stanning them or a political party. As an Anarchist, I don’t have vested interest in the political system. I don’t believe liberation will ever be on the ballot but that doesn’t mean that Socialist shouldn’t run for office locally. As an Ace (Asexual) life outside of cishet patriarchal normativity often is lonely. Even as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, we are often relegated as a mystery due to the lack of media/social representation of Asexuals and being replaced as a + sign after the Q in LGBTQ(+). Amatonormativity may rule the day, but we still exist as the alternative and that’s beautiful. 💜🖤🩶🤍 Like the content? Support the content creator cashapp: $BlackWomanVibes 🔮 🧿

[wendykw]

I use Ballotpedia.org. Based on your home address, it has all the candidates for each office, party affiliation, and results for those that answered questionnaires.

Please don't tune out when you get to the non-partisan section of your ballot this November. First off, where state Supreme Court justices are elected, Republicans are trying their darndest to elect candidates who will destroy reproductive freedom, gut voting rights, and do everything in their power to give "contested" elections to Republicans. Contrast Wisconsin electing a justice in 2023 who helped rule two partisan gerrymanders unconstitutional, versus North Carolina electing a conservative majority in 2022, who upheld a racist voter ID law and a partisan gerrymander that liberal justices had previously struck down both of.

Second, local judicial offices will make infinitely more of an impact on your community than a divided state or federal legislature will. District and circuit courts, especially, are where criminalization of homelessness and poverty play out, and where electing a progressive judge with a commitment to criminal justice reform can make an immediate difference in people's lives.

It's a premier example of buying people time, and doing profound-short-term good, while we work to eventually change the system. You might not think there will be any such progressive justices running in your district, but you won't know unless you do your research. (More on "research" in a moment.)

The candidates you elect to your non-partisan city council will determine whether those laws criminalizing homelessness get passed, how many blank checks the police get to surveil and oppress, and whether lifesaving harm reduction programs, like needle exchanges and even fentanyl test strips, are legal in your municipality. Your non-partisan school board might need your vote to fend off Moms for Liberty candidates and their ilk, who want to ban every book with a queer person or acknowledgement of racism in it.

Of course, this begs the question — if these candidates are non-partisan, and often hyper-local, then how do I research them? There's so much less information and press about them, so how do I make an informed decision?

I'm not an expert, myself. But I do think/hope I have enough tips to consist of a useful conclusion to this post:

Plan ahead. If you vote in person, figure out what's on your ballot before you show up and get jumpscared by names you don't know. Find out what's on your ballot beforehand, and bring notes with you when you vote. Your city website should have a sample ballot, and if they drop the ball, go to Ballotpedia.

Ballotpedia in general, speaking of which. Candidates often answer Ballotpedia's interviews, and if you're lucky, you'll also get all the dirt on who's donating to their campaign.

Check endorsements. Usually candidates are very vocal about these on their websites. If local/state progressive leaders and a couple unions (not counting police unions lol) are endorsing a candidate, then that's not the end of my personal research process per se, but it usually speeds things up.

Check the back of the ballot. That's where non-partisan races usually bleed over to. This is the other reason why notes are helpful, because they can confirm you're not missing anything.

[originalleftist]

If your ballot is anything like mine, judicial elections are a big part of it.

And since the judges aren't neatly identified by party, and their rulings can often be complex, it can require quite a bit of research and thought to figure out who to vote for (you should still check candidates' backgrounds regardless, as Republicans have been trying to run candidates as Democrats, but its especially crucial for judges).

So, here are some resources that may be useful:

Ballotpedia:

Blue Voter Guide (for Democrats, obviously):

Blue Voter Guide was how I found out which of the state Supreme Court judges up for reelection in CO voted for, or dissented on, the ruling to disqualify Trump.

State government sites may have more information- here's the 2024 Judicial Performance Evaluations for my state (Colorado):

I have also been informed that state Bar Associations will often have rankings of judges.

And of course, you can check local news outlets.

But, be aware of potential bias in all sources.

PLEASE REBLOG AND SHARE THIS WIDELY.

[n0thingiscool]

I question the usefulness or validity of Ballotpedia anymore since they voluntarily stoped doing Judgepedia.

[fuggnuckets]

He’s going to win in November I know it

[solarpunkani]

My mom spontaneously hit me last night—in the middle of me streaming no less—with the “Hey let’s go early vote TOMORROW” bomb so now I’m trying to do research and

Why aren’t local officials answering the ballotpedia surveys?! Half of them don’t even have WEBSITES or SOCIAL MEDIAS linked

How the FUCK am I supposed to know who the fuck you are and what the fuck you stand for

[galwednesday]

USA Ballot Measures Nov. 2024

41 states (and Washington DC) have ballot measures this year! Even if your state's electoral college result isn't in question, you may have ballot measures to vote on alongside the presidential election and state-wide elections.

Below the read more link is an alphabetical list of each state with ballot measures. Each state name links to the Ballotpedia.org page for that state's ballot measures, which will be updated with new developments as election day nears (some ballot measures are still tied up in court as of when I'm making this post in late September, so the approved ballot measures may change before you vote). Ballotpedia has information on each ballot measure, including what a yes/no would mean, arguments for and against, who supports/opposes each measure, and the full text of the measure.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Utah

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

But wait, there's more!

We also have 2024 ballot measures for:

Washington, D.C.

Local ballot measures

Check the full Ballotpedia.org list of local ballot measure elections in 2024 to see if there are any in your area!

[maeamian]

Hey friends, countrymen, lovers, etc. this post is just for the Americans out there, but if any of you all need help figuring out what steps you need to take to vote or where to find a voter guide for your region (Ballotopedia is a solid starting point if you want to see what's on your ballot) I'd be happy to help out, just shoot me a message, I can promise I'll find an answer for you in the first case and I'll do my best in the later.

[rebloggingrexan]

oh this is fantastic! thank you! adding some stuff i've posted before about voting (these sites and links are only for the US, unfortunately)

__

note to future self about how i fairly efficiently handled researching candidates. this probably isn’t the ideal way to do it, but live and learn. (what i’m thinking when i say that is “hopefully/maybe i’ll actually, y’know, pay attention to the news to SOME level.”) 

it’ll be good to see this in the future if i eventually handle it differently, even tho the main reason i’m making note is so i’m not, again, making my process from scratch in a few years.

one thing i’d especially like to do differently is start reading and marking in the voter guide right when it gets delivered, instead of only in the last day or two. it’s easy enough: just read while eating breakfast and dinner, and maybe set aside an extra 15-20 minutes every couple nights too. it’s really not too long a process

anywho:

(.01) read their blurbs in the voter guide and mark as “checkmark” (for okay), “X” (for no), “?” (for “idk what this bit means” / look up more on the candidate), “O” (for okay; this is my choice and fill in on practice ballot)

(.02) look them up using duckduckgo if that feels needed, NOT Google or a search engine that has search results biased toward what i’ve searched in the past. or look up questions using duckduckgo. like one judge of the superior court candidate said he’d never lost a case and i was like “uh, idk if that’s possible / responsible / misleading.” i also sometimes looked up “(name) scandals” because some of the wording or described experience sounded sketchy

• find your polling place

the order of resources i look at when learning about candidates:

(1) look at politicians' positions on votesmart.org

(2) (California only) see if they answered questions on ballotpedia.org

(3) (California only) see if there’s additional information on votersedge.org, which i haven’t fully figured out how to navigate, so i get to the relevant page by using duckduckgo to look up  “(name) votersedge.org”. and often candidates running for the same position will be listed in a list on the right too (as of summer 2022)

Ways to Live in Direct Opposition to Capitalism

I am by no means an expert in any of these things I’m gonna talk about, so keep that in mind! I am just making a compilation of things I know of that we can do to lessen the stranglehold the capitalist lifestyle has on us while enriching our lives, our surroundings, and the lives of others. Please add anything I miss or correct anything I may be getting wrong! Anyway here goes!

Use what you have, fix what’s you can, make what you can, accept from others, thrift what you can, and finally purchase as a last resort.

This is advice I have seen float around here a couple of times that can apply to a lot of things including clothing, furniture, food, and more besides. It’s meant to be done roughly in that order as it applies to what you’re wanting/needing/doing. It’s about preventing waste, promoting self-capability, having a heightened reliance on your community, and consciously rejecting the ingrained habit many of us have to just purchase things or services.

Here’s where you can read about growing an indoor garden!

Here’s where you can read about sewing things yourself!

Here’s an online site for giving and receiving items for free!

Here is where you can find a local Mutual Aid to get things from, learn skills from, give do, volunteer for, etc. (in the U.S.)

Be politically active! (from a U.S. perspective)

Vote for every election. Know your representatives and those who will be competing in the next election. Vote without ignorance and without falling for unfounded claims. While operating within the system that actively oppresses us will not bring about the future we want, it can serve as damage control (preventing worse candidates from taking office) and it can potentially create a national atmosphere more open to change.

Here’s a good article about getting more involved in the U.S. political process.

Here’s a site that will show you how to register to vote, when and where elections are held, and more!

Here’s good advice on finding protests in your city!

Here’s some readings on unionizing! It’s your legal right to unionize!

Here’s a more user friendly site for learning about unions!

Be active within your community!

Developing strong, motivated, capable, knowledgeable, and inclusive communities is the ultimate way to combat the relentless and bleak present and future. When you’ve worked on the things above and have gotten good at it (or even if you haven’t gotten good at it yet), start spreading what you know and what you can do with others!

Give your neighbors, coworkers, and friends some of the vegetables you’ve grown.

Invite your community members to volunteer events.

Talk to folks about how to vote, when you’re doing it, etc.

Take part in Mutual Aids to teach what you’ve learned or whatever you may be an expert in! Invite neighbors, friends, and coworkers when you take part in the Mutual Aid!

Accept your community. Take them for who and what they are. Discrimination is the enemy of cooperation. You have much more in common with everyone in your community than a single billionaire or corporation. We’re all passengers on this spaceship earth.

Do it one step at a time!

Obviously we can’t do all of these things at once. Do what you can when you can, and you’ll start to notice real change in your life!

Our online communities where we talk about our visions and hopes are fantastic, but they have little impact if we don’t actually get up and do the real work that change requires.

Want to be better, and keep hope for the future!

Harbor and nourish that desire to be a better person and to be the change you want to see in the world. You need to be hungry for a better future if you plan to make it through the rough times when everything feels pointless and without hope. Reach out to others when you’re down, and be someone others can lean on when their lives get hard.

That’s it! Please interact with this, spread it to others, and add your own thoughts and ideas! It’s important that we do the real work to get the change we crave!

[croc-odette]

i'm going over my ballot (kind of late) to turn in tomorrow but reminder to check out knock LA if you're looking for some advice on progressive voting in LA county or on california state/national elections. it's usually a pretty clear and curt recommendation that also serves as a little bit of gossip. this year they're highlighting which politicians have spoken up about gaza and a ceasefire. currently they are recommending barbara lee to replace feinstein's seat on the senate, which would be a big improvement.

[rhapsodomancer]

my usps daily digest has told me that my ballot for the primaries has come!!

[weirdbabs]

also ballotpedia gives you way more informatation that the packets sent by the state. prop 34 is supposed to make it so that if youre receiving money from the state from MediCal then 98% of your funds has to go to direct patient care. sounds good right?

but then you look at the supporters of the prop and its the republican party and the howard jarvis taxpayers association whos against props 2 (bond for school repairs), 4 (bond for the environment to help w natural disasters), and 33 (rent control). why are these 2 for this prop? especially when it makes the MediCal rx that newsom put forward permanent. they hate newsom

well then you look at whos opposing it and its the AIDS Healthcare Foundation who say that it was made to stop them from trying to help the most vulnerable in our country get rent control, bc if it passes theyll no longer be able to make donations like they have been for props like 33 (a prop that has been on every election and has to keep fighting bc the opposition has so much money theyre putting forth)

and then you see this argument against the prop, only to scroll down and see that the top donor for prop 34 is the california apartment association to the tune of nearly 40 MILLION, which is more than double the 15.7 mill that the opposition has in total

[cynicalclassicist]

All elections are important. You might not change your state, but you could make life a little better for some people in your area.

And of course, don't forget to vote on the big issues too!

My two cents on voting is to not forget about local stuff. You may live in a very conservative state that doesn’t amount to much on the national scale (i do) but even if you might not effect the presidential election, you still have a sway on ballot issues and local representatives.

For example, I live in Arkansas. Right now there’s an issue everyone is making a fuss over. It would require a county vote on whether or not a casino can be put there. The state has sold 4 of the 5 casino rights to out of state groups to open casinos here. You could argue it’s good for the economy but casinos suck. Poison in my opinion. I think the least they could do is require citizen approval. Not like I would want a casino in my town.

Stuff like that is important too. Always keep an eye on local issues. At least check ballotpedia.org on the issues before you vote.

[swagyna]

currently looking thru the ballotpedia for the 2024 presidential elections and tbh the independent options don't look that bad