Oct
2
Almost every state has their voter registration deadline sometime in the next week or so. Here in Colorado, the cutoff date is October 6. Are you registered yet? You might want to check your voter roll/record to make certain (here’s the link for the county clerk and recorder’s offices in CO). This year in particular, it would be a smart idea to make certain you’re actually registered with your county before going to the polls. Not implying that there’ll be any dirty tricks or whatnot, I’m just sayin’.
In Colorado, we have the dubious distinction of having the longest ballot in the US – and our longest ballot ever. 18 separate initiatives/Constitutional amendment proposals. The Handy Voter Helper book looks like a paperback SF novel. The amendment/ballot initiative that has me wound up the most, for obvious reasons, is Amendment 48 (.pdf), but there are plenty of other questions to consider this year. Questions like: will we allow union organizing in our state, will our county schools continue to function, funding for higher education…
I found the arrangement of Amendment 48 in our Handy Voter Helper Book (HVHB) to be interesting. For every item on the ballot, there are the arguments for and the arguments against. The book’s arranged in such a way that this particular amendment has the wording on the left hand page and the arguments for on the other. To see the arguments against, one has to turn the page – if, in fact, one would want to see the arguments against. For my money, there are many, many arguments against this one.
In case you’re wondering, Amendment 48 defines a zygote as a person entitled to equal protection and representation under the laws of the state of Colorado. As listed in the HVHB, the only real argument for the amendment is that it would make all abortions illegal in our state. All. Without exception in any case whatsoever. Period.
There are plenty of arguments against, at least in my mind:
- In vitro fertilization would be illegal in the state of Colorado.
- Birth control, including the emergency contraceptive Plan B, would be illegal in the state of Colorado.
- Abortion would be illegal in every circumstance, including in cases of rape, incest, and the endangerment of the health/life of the mother.
There are a lot more, including the strong likelihood that women who miscarry might be placed under investigation just in case it was “their fault”.
In truth, I don’t care all that much if you believe that this particular amendment is a good and just addition to our state Constitution. Just go vote. Make sure before you go to the polls that you are indeed registered in the county where you live, and that all the information the county has for you is correct. Go vote.
All the commercials here are for some gambling deal. You guys get all the fun with the zygote love.
You know, that’s the one amendment where there have been no commercials. None, either for or against. I guess they figure they’re not needed.
On the other hand, we’ve been inundated with stuff about the ending of the oil/gas drilling subsidy and endless ads for our Senate race (Shaffer/Udall).
“There are a lot more, including the strong likelihood that women who miscarry might be placed under investigation just in case it was “their fault”.” <– that’s insanity. That state would be in pure chaos. Just about every woman I know has had at least one miscarriage, and I know some that have had three or more.
that’s insanity. That state would be in pure chaos.
Yes, I agree. I’ve had 6 myself, including one pretty devastating one slightly less than a year ago. So…just think about all the possibilities for this Constitutional amendment to be abused. It must not pass.