The Election Day 2014 Thread #1 For 11/4/14: More Ballot Initiative Talk (First Version)

To continue off from yesterday, Colorado was left off the list with North Dakota and Tennessee on placing pro-choice under the microscope. The personhood amendment, labeling unborn human beings under the definition of "person" and "child" in the Colorado criminal code, looks set to be sensibly slapped down as polling shows a majority in opposition against it.

Marijuana decriminalization is on the line in Alaska and Oregon, with Florida having "medical marijuana" on the ballot.

On the vital tax ballot measures, Georgia's right wing group is trying to be slick and see that the maximum state income rate is not increased. Unfortunately, many idiots in the middle class are being willing doped and look set to help the rich men keep most of their money as the polls indicate. Also trying to pull a fast one on their middle class and poor is Michigan, as they try to get rid of the personal property tax and likely give a whole corporate giveaway to Rick Snyder and the powerful. And Tennessee Republicans are hell bent on seeing their government be denied the ability to place a tax on earned personal income.

Also of note, Louisiana wants to make tax collectors even more scary, bullying, and annoying by allowing agents to assist in the tax sale process or recovery of tax costs.

Criminal justice measures also warrant key ballot measure attention today. North Carolina has a measure that will or will not allow criminal defendants to waive a jury trial, while New Jersey potentially could place a harsh measure on criminal defendants by placing them in jail for good before their trial. California could take a key step in showing common sense by lowering nonviolent crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Protecting voting rights are key, with Connecticut, Missouri and Montana seeking to expand early voting. Illinois, again, looks to protect the right of anyone to vote in midst of a voter ID law being floated in the state.

Missouri holds the one initiative across the country attacking teachers, with a ballot measure that will determine teacher's pay and raises to their "performance evaluations."

Washington has two ballot measures on the gun issue, with the anti-NRA one requiring background checks for all gun purchases, and the half pro-NRA/anti-NRA one preventing confiscation of firearms without due process and implementation of more extensive background checks than those at the federal level. Washington is also seeking to reduce the students' class size with their school measure helping teachers.

Oregon is seeking to hit at the food giants who don't want them to know what's in their food, with labeling of GMO's on the line today.

(More to add in a bit on these key ballot measures here at TWD).