In Other Political News
With the control of the Senate down to the absolute wire, hinging on Virginia, I thought I'd take a look around the country and see what some of the other things that people were voting on yesterday. Here's what I found:
Voted NO to medical marijuana/legalizing marijuana:
Colorado, by 60% (they were actually voting to legalize it outright)
Nevada, by 56% (they were actually voting to legalize it outright)
South Dakota, by 52% (medical marijuana)
Voted YES to minimum wage increase:
Arizona, by 66%
Colorado, by 53%
Missouri, by 76%
Montana, by 73%
Nevada, by 69%
Ohio, by 56%
Voted YES to ban gay marriage:
Colorado, by 56%
Idaho, by 63%
South Carolina, by 78%
South Dakota, by 52%
Tennessee, by 81%
Virginia, by 57%
Wisconsin, by 59%
One on the bubble:
Arizona is currently in a "too close to call" stage on this issue. HOWEVER, with 99% precincts reporting, they are at 51% NOT TO BAN.
Corollary: Domestic Partnerships:
Colorado voted NO by 53%
Voted NO for a Parental Notification restriction on minors getting abortions:
California, by 54%
Oregon, by 55%
Corollary: Abortion Ban:
South Dakota voted NO by 56% (This was a repealing of the abortion ban that South Dakota enacted (via the legislature) last year. This would have been a massive challenge to Roe v. Wade, and possibly the construct of "right to privacy" itself. I was thrilled to see the people do a grassroots signature gathering to put the issue on the ballot, and even more thrilled to see a solid number vote it down.)
Randoms:
Voted YES to "English as the official language":
Arizona, by 74%
Voted NO to a $1,000,000 "Voter Reward":
Arizona, by 66% (This would have established a "voter reward" random drawing every 2 years. If you voted in the primaries or the generals, you would be eligible. Top prize, $1 million. Goal was the increase voter turnout. Arizona wasn't having it.)
Voted YES to restricting affirmative action:
Michigan, by 58% (this is specifically in the school system admissions process...this is particularly significant as the Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that considering race was okay in admissions processes at the Univ. of Michigan. Apparently, the people of the state didn't agree.)
Voted YES to *allowing* stem cell research:
Missouri, by 51% (The wording says "all stem cell research and therapies *consistent* with federal law. "Consistent" is an interesting word. This will be VERY interesting to see if/how it conflicts with the federal mandate on the topic in practice. The initiative does, it should be noted, specifically forbid human cloning.)
Voted NO to stripping judicial immunity:
South Dakota, by 90% (I cannot describe how delighted I was to see this not only shut down, but shut down this hard, and in a state like South Dakota. This makes me very, very happy.)
Any of these surprise anyone? Percentages, topics, or results?
~Aramada
Voted NO to medical marijuana/legalizing marijuana:
Colorado, by 60% (they were actually voting to legalize it outright)
Nevada, by 56% (they were actually voting to legalize it outright)
South Dakota, by 52% (medical marijuana)
Voted YES to minimum wage increase:
Arizona, by 66%
Colorado, by 53%
Missouri, by 76%
Montana, by 73%
Nevada, by 69%
Ohio, by 56%
Voted YES to ban gay marriage:
Colorado, by 56%
Idaho, by 63%
South Carolina, by 78%
South Dakota, by 52%
Tennessee, by 81%
Virginia, by 57%
Wisconsin, by 59%
One on the bubble:
Arizona is currently in a "too close to call" stage on this issue. HOWEVER, with 99% precincts reporting, they are at 51% NOT TO BAN.
Corollary: Domestic Partnerships:
Colorado voted NO by 53%
Voted NO for a Parental Notification restriction on minors getting abortions:
California, by 54%
Oregon, by 55%
Corollary: Abortion Ban:
South Dakota voted NO by 56% (This was a repealing of the abortion ban that South Dakota enacted (via the legislature) last year. This would have been a massive challenge to Roe v. Wade, and possibly the construct of "right to privacy" itself. I was thrilled to see the people do a grassroots signature gathering to put the issue on the ballot, and even more thrilled to see a solid number vote it down.)
Randoms:
Voted YES to "English as the official language":
Arizona, by 74%
Voted NO to a $1,000,000 "Voter Reward":
Arizona, by 66% (This would have established a "voter reward" random drawing every 2 years. If you voted in the primaries or the generals, you would be eligible. Top prize, $1 million. Goal was the increase voter turnout. Arizona wasn't having it.)
Voted YES to restricting affirmative action:
Michigan, by 58% (this is specifically in the school system admissions process...this is particularly significant as the Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that considering race was okay in admissions processes at the Univ. of Michigan. Apparently, the people of the state didn't agree.)
Voted YES to *allowing* stem cell research:
Missouri, by 51% (The wording says "all stem cell research and therapies *consistent* with federal law. "Consistent" is an interesting word. This will be VERY interesting to see if/how it conflicts with the federal mandate on the topic in practice. The initiative does, it should be noted, specifically forbid human cloning.)
Voted NO to stripping judicial immunity:
South Dakota, by 90% (I cannot describe how delighted I was to see this not only shut down, but shut down this hard, and in a state like South Dakota. This makes me very, very happy.)
Any of these surprise anyone? Percentages, topics, or results?
~Aramada