2010's Most Significant Ballot Measures Reveal Voter Concerns

MADISON, Wis., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With less than week until the pivotal mid-term elections, ballot-watching pundits are coming up with lists of the 2010 ballot measures that best reveal the concerns voters have as they head into voting booths.

Pundits have come up with lists of "the measures fiscal conservatives should care about", "Four Ballot Measures the Political Establishment Hates" and the ""five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives".

Ballotpedia, which tracks statewide and local ballot measures throughout the country, is inviting ballot watchers to join in the fun by contributing their own list.

Although 160 statewide ballot measures are on 37 state ballots on November 2,  a relative handful show up on list after list, according to Bailey Ludlam, Ballotpedia's senior ballot measure editor.  "Although there is certainly a strong fiscal presence among November's ballot measures, social issues remain at the forefront of discussion," Ludlam said, adding, "as can be seen by not only pundits' commentary but also the hot campaign activity".

California's pro-marijuana legalization initiative, Proposition 19, shows up on many lists, as does California's Proposition 23, which would suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5% for four quarters.  

Redistricting initiatives in 3 states, a sales tax rollback in Massachusetts, an income tax increase in the State of Washington and measures in 3 states that say that individuals can't be forced to buy health insurance are among the year's most fiercely contested.

Ballotpedia's staff and volunteers have produced comprehensive articles about each statewide ballot measure.  The articles include information about the exact text of the ballot measure text, arguments for and against, key supporters and opponents, donors, campaign strategies, how the ballot measure qualified for the ballot, polling information and newspaper endorsements.

Election night reporting at Ballotpedia begins at 8:00 p.m. EDT sharp on November 2, when results in the eastern time zone on the Rhode Island Name Change Amendment begin to roll in and will continue throughout the night until voters in Hawaii know whether they've passed a Tax Rebate Amendment.

Ballotpedia.org is sponsored by the non-profit, non-partisan Lucy Burns Institute (LBI) based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Link: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/2010_ballot_measures

SOURCE Ballotpedia