It may seem unAmerikan but I like doing research on the candidates and issues before I vote. I usually google all candidates, issues, and read the arguments of both sides, and review newspaper editorials. Two of my big resources have have also been The League of Pissed off Voters and Progress Ohio.
After I do my research, I write up my how to vote list and then email it to my friends and family. I like to think I get more than one vote because I have both people I persuade and people who blindly follow me.
If you would like to look at sample ballots in Franklin county you can do so here and in the left column selecting sample ballot.
Here is how I am encouraging people registered in my state and district to vote this year:
President & Vice President (Federal)
Barack Obama President
Joe Biden Vice President
For Attorney General (State of Ohio)
Richard Cordray
I am a big fan of Richard Cordray. I have seen him work hard as current Ohio State Treasurer. I’ve seen him reach out to Latinos and to volunteer and be a liaison with Latino leaders. What few times I’ve spoken to him, I’ve found him to be genuinely interested in leaving this world better than he found it.
For Representative to Congress (15th District)
Mary Jo Kilroy
I first meet Mary Jo Kilroy in 1997 when she hosted organizational meetings for the Farm Labor Organizing Committee. She has for decades been a big supporter of labor rights. She has fought in the trenches and is one of the strongest people I’ve meet in my life. She has dedicated her life to representing the disenfranchised.
For State Senator (16th District)
Danielle R. Blue
Sadly with both candidates running for State Senator, I seem to be unable to find any substance in terms of where they stand on issues. However, in terms of endorsements by candidates I am much more likely to vote for Danielle R. Blue the Democratic candidate.
For State Representative (24th District)
Ted Celeste
For County Commissioner (there are two seats in the running)
For Clerk of Court of Common Pleas
Maryellen O’Shaughnessy
For Franklin County Treasurer
Edward Leonard
For Franklin County Coroner
Jan M. Gorniak (check out the link as it compares both candidates, then you’ll really want Dr. Gorniak to be the coroner).
For Member of the State Board of Education (6th District)
Kristen McKinley
Justice of the Supreme Court
Joseph Russo (His site always freezes up my computer which is why I am not providing the link)
Justice of the Supreme Court
Peter Sikora
Judge of the Court of Appeals 10th District
John A Connor
Judge of the Court of Appeals 10th District
Richard D. Brown
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Shawn Dingus
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas Probate Division
Eric Brown
State Issue 1
Proposed Constitutional Amendment To Provide for Earlier Filing Deadlines for Statewide Ballot Issues
(Issue 1 at the League of Women Voters)
I am reluctantly voting YES on issue 1. Neither side has done any work on persuading voters one way or another. In the end I based my decision on two things; first it is being brought forth by Dan Stewart. Secondly I discussed it with one of my favorite lawyers, defenders of the constitution and the masses, El Pocho Abogado, upon looking over the amendment, he didn’t “see anything wrong with it”. As such I am hesitantly voting YES on issue 1.
State Issue 2
Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Authorize the State to Issue Bonds to Continue The Clean Ohio Program for Environmental Conservation and Revitalization
YES Clean Ohio in support of issue 2
State Issue 3
Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Authorize the State to Issue Bonds to protect private property rights in ground water, lakes, and other watercourses.
YES
(although I can’t find any information for or against this issue…geez people).
State Issue 5
Referendum on legislation making changes to check cashing lending, sometimes known as “Payday Lending,”fees, interest rates and practices.
I am more firm in my yes on this issue then my stance on all the other issues combined. Payday lending is predatory and needs to be regulated.
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
State Issue 6
Proposed Constitutional Amendment to amend the constitution by initiative petion for a casino near Wilmington in southwest Ohio and distribute to all Ohio Counties a Tax on the Casino.
This is an issue where you feel like no matter how you vote the bad guys are going to win.
I am encouraging a NO vote on issue 6 …based a huge deal on the arguements listed here
Issue #14-19
Are Proposed Bond Issues for the City of Columbus
YES on Bond Issues 14-19 I actually agree with the Columbus Dispatch on this one (shocking I know) and they do a good job of summing up why we should vote YES.
Issue #75
Proposed Bond Issue and Tax Levy Columbus City School District.
YES…I always encourage YES when it comes to more money for our city schools. My only problem with this, is that I think how we fund schools in this state is unjust. Children in Upper Arlington public Schools do not receive the same education as children in Columbus Public Schools, and this has more to do with how we fund education in our state and our country.
Elenamary,
I agree with you on a number of your picks, but especially Issue 5. I think a lot of folks are going to be confused about issue 5 because the industry has been so deceptive throughout the campaign. I think most Ohioans don’t believe payday lending is good for their communities or our state. Hopefully most voters will read very carefully and realize that a YES vote lowers interest rates, ends the payday lending debt trap and protects Ohio consumers. I’ll be voting Yes on issue 5 too!
Why bother researching when you picked every Democrat.
Phony.
Haha, you ask a good question. I never set out with the intention of choosing only democrats. I have voted for and imagine I will vote again for members of the GOP.
Honestly I don’t think it matters whether the County Coroner is a Democrat or a Republican. I want a county coroner who is the most qualified in medical and forensic sciences. I base my decisions on qualifications for the position the candidate is seeking. It just happens that this time around Ohio Democrats put forth better qualified candidates.
Yes we can read in Ohio.
Yes we can figure out issues on our own.
YES WE CAN TELL THE TRUTH FROM LIES
NO ON ISSUE 5 NO ON ISSUE 5
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
WE UNDERSTAND!WE DONT NEED YOUR HELP WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE,AND WE DONT NEED YOU TO TELL US HOW TO SPEND OUR MONEY
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 5.MY MONEY MY CHOICE!
I’m so pumped that this voting guide exists! As an absentee voter living in NYC, I haven’t heard a thing about most of these issues, and it doesn’t seem like a whole lot of bloggers are talking about them in any opinionated way. Thanks for your ideas.
Thanks, elenamary. I’m also an absentee voter living in New Yor and I found this very helpful. I encourage you to keep it up in the future.
I’m consider myself an independent but somehow, after reading about the candidates and their respective platforms, I end up with mostly Democratic candidates selected as well. Go figure.
please dont publish my email address,thanks. as for the candidate for pres./v.pres. i strongly disagree. mccain/palin i know are working for the am. people( the other two-who knows, their records are-1.non-existent & 2. massachusetts, where we get liberal liberal liberal laws. I’d go dog sledding with sarah any time & talk to john about the military and the country we love. when was the other guy in the military? also, voting no on issue 3(surface water) will add 1 less law, its not needed so why vote yes? as for issue 1-it would cause an issue to be made ready for election 4 months before election time in Nov. who wants to sign petitions that far ahead. vote no on this.issue 6- ohio has repeatedly said no to casinos and should now. only 16% of the money pie would go to employee pay & benefits(most of that to the bosses). issue 2- i dont want more park land to maintain. lets just keep the ones we have in good order and available to citizens(they charge to use it). vote no. thanks for listening, mostly republican mom
Re: Issue 3: I came here(via google)looking for information on State Issue 1 — like you, I haven’t been able to find much about it and don’t know what to think.
On everything else, you’ve come to the same conclusions I have, with the exception of Issue 3. I’ve found out that both the League of Women Voters and the Ohio League of Conservation Voters are against it, so I’m leaning that way.
I’d never heard of the Conservation Voters before, but from what I see from their webstite, I agree with what they’re about.
Now I’m going to follow your links.
It was fun stopping by!
I found info on issue 3 here: http://www.gcbl.org/blog/marc-lefkowitz/enviro-group-supports-issue-3
But that was all I could find. :)
Thanks so much for all your work on this! I found it very helpful and will share with my friends. Heading to the polls this weekend. Much appreciated.
Thanks for the links!
Elenamary, your research is very “elementary”. You need to go back to school (preferably private school) and learn more about a democratic republic is supposed to operate. The only correct decision you’ve made is on Ballot Issue #6. Gambling always destroys people’s lives and causes more greed to control a government. Please go back to the books. You need to understand that almost everything and everyone you’re voting for is going to limit and eventually remove our individual liberties. It’s like the “frog in the frying pan” syndrome. Before you know it, we’re living in a communist state where the government has total control of our lives. It’s happened before (study your history) and it will happen again because of ignorant and apathetic voters. Please vote “No” on Issue #5. Hasn’t the government done enough wrong in the lending industry? When will we learn that the private sector has every right to charge whatever interest rate they want to charge. It’s the consumer (NOT THE GOVERNMENT) that is supposed to have the choice to use a PayDay Lender! When will we take responsibility for our own actions and not allow the government to take them away…for good! Stop the madness! Vote for “life, liberty and the pursuit of hapiness”! (Do you know where this quote is taken from?)If not, you’re in a whole lot of trouble.
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