Writer's Block: Vote early, vote often

[captpackrat]

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Nebraska makes it very difficult to make an informed choice at the polls.  They provide no voter information pamphlet, no sample ballot, no information on propositions, nothing.  Heck, aside from the little confirmation card they send back after you register to vote, the state doesn't provide anything at all!  You're basically left to fend for yourself if you want to find information on candidates.  How are the masses, who barely understand how to use the Google, supposed to learn anything about who they're voting for except deceptive commercials?  (And I didn't see that many political ads this year.)

I managed to find a website that claimed to be nonpartisan, though the information clearly had a conservative bent to it (like asking pro-life attorneys their opinions about a judge, but not asking any pro-choice attorneys), and a lot of the candidates never bothered to respond.  In the end I wound up voting a mostly Democratic ticket, with a single Libertarian, since their candidates seemed to be more sane than the Republicans.  I left a lot of positions blank because I didn't know anything about the individuals and/or didn't care about the position (County Weed Board?  That's a thing?)

California does a great job at providing election information.  The state sends out an voters guide containing candidate statements, and more importantly, extremely thorough info on the propositions.  The guide book lists the text of the new law, a summary, an impartial analysis, and statements and rebuttals from the proponents and opponents.  They also provide a sample ballot that you can mark with your selections so that when you get to the polls, you can mark your ballot quickly and accurately.  If only more states provided this level of information, the nation as a whole would have much better government.

Comments

[twigmouse.livejournal.com]

I only voted in Oregon once, but Washington state works like you describe CA. I voted absentee weeks ago, and they didn't send me the voter information, but it was all available on their website as well.

I'm not sure if it's a state thing or a county thing though. All the literature provided by the election board was published and sent out by the county.