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Republicans are testing an insidious new ballot tactic on Election Day (oh NOW they don't like ballot trickery)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-are-testing-an-insidious-new-ballot-tactic-on-election-day/ar-AA1jpFmh ^

Posted on 11/05/2023 6:42:49 AM PST by cotton1706

Ballot initiatives are an essential evolution of American democracy. Created over a century ago, they give millions of Americans a direct means to shape the laws that govern their lives and a check on legislative power when it’s not responsive to the people. In recent months, though, conservative politicians’ efforts to undermine the ballot process have taken a disturbing shift. Beyond their continued attempts to impose supermajority voter thresholds to make passing such initiatives nearly impossible, they have also resorted to manipulating ballot titles to deliberately confuse voters. The 2023 elections are a testing ground for this insidious tactic. Unless met head-on, it will spread like wildfire in 2024.

The ballot title is a concise summary intended to accurately convey the gist of a proposed law or measure. For many voters, this title is the only information they see before casting their ballots. As a result, the title needs to be accurate, concise and impartial. Research has shown that the change in ballot language dramatically impacts the support of initiative.

States differ in laws governing whether the ballot title is determined before signatures are collected or after. In some states, the government determines the ballot title before signatures are collected, without the direct input of the citizens who initiated the petition. This happens in states like Arizona, Michigan and Nebraska, and further highlights the importance of ensuring that the government’s role in determining the ballot title is transparent and impartial.

Roughly two-thirds of states with ballot initiatives, including California, Massachusetts, Missouri and Ohio, use ballot titles that rely on language within the petition. This approach ensures continuity and fairness, as the language in the petition was shared during voter outreach. But while a fundamental aspect of direct democracy is preserved, this method remains vulnerable to manipulation by disingenuous politicians.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections
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To: Twotone

“... the leftist SoS ...”

Does ‘SoS’ mean ‘Secretary of State’ or ‘sack of shiite’?

Asking for a friend ...


21 posted on 11/05/2023 8:50:00 AM PST by ByteMercenary (Cho Bi Dung and KamalHo are not my leaders.)
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To: ByteMercenary
Asking for a friend ...

**********

Tell the friend to take a whiff and see
what it smells like. The odor may help.

22 posted on 11/05/2023 8:59:54 AM PST by deport
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To: cotton1706

The rats have perfected getting single issue high Dem turnout ballot initiatives on statewide November ballots. For example in Mi for Whitmer’s first term there were 4. As result the rats got The Governor, AG and SOS. Then they welded the door shut. The GOP SOS didn’t understand this is a war. She could have put these on the August primary ballots but it was another example of the GOP bringing marshmallows to a gun fight.


23 posted on 11/05/2023 9:21:07 AM PST by gibsonguy
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To: cotton1706

Yah, fundamentally BS.

Had a ballot out thisaway in CaCaLand saying marriage is twixt a man and woman. Courts ignored it.
Had another one demanding that the Bullet Train scam (a baby scam compared to sustainable energy and Ukraine) be funded as the initial law required. Courts ignored it, even went so far as to say that the legislature could do anything it wanted even if it conflicted with the ballot initiative.

They are, at best, virtue signaling.


24 posted on 11/05/2023 9:46:21 AM PST by bobbo666 (Baizuo, )
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To: cotton1706
...they have also resorted to manipulating ballot titles to deliberately confuse voters.

PROJECTION: Accusing the opponent of doing whatever you've been doing.

25 posted on 11/05/2023 10:39:25 AM PST by JimRed
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To: cotton1706
In the case of a ballot initiative, the people themselves act as their own legislature, in that it is they who are making the law, instead of delegating their legislative power to representatives to make the law.

A lynch mob fits this definition.

26 posted on 11/05/2023 11:01:40 AM PST by T Ruth (Mohammedanism shall be destroyed.)
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To: cotton1706
Let's be honest for a moment the latest NYSlimes poll shoes Trump ahead in key states. Everyone knows that Slow Joe is going to be investigated during impeachment hearing trials in the House of Representatives, and after a preponderance of Evidence of fiscal and political corruption, that impeachment investigation is going to be turned over to the Senate for a trial.

Democrats are going to need an “excuse” as to why Slow Joe lost, and it will be.......wait for it.....that the Republicans rigged the election! Hillary has used this line before, although she liked to say it was with the help of Russia.

Yes, this article is about setting up a Big Lie that Democrats can hide behind and trying to make the next President illegitimate.

27 posted on 11/05/2023 11:40:17 AM PST by Robert357
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To: ByteMercenary

The RINO leftist POS...Here’s a couple of them.
Exclusive – Bernie Moreno: Frank LaRose, Matt Dolan ‘Full-Blown Amnesty Supporters’
https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2023/11/05/exclusive-bernie-moreno-frank-larose-matt-dolan-full-blown-amnesty-supporters/


28 posted on 11/05/2023 1:09:36 PM PST by OftheOhio (never could dance but always could fight - Romeo company)
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To: cotton1706

Where’s the vanity tag?


29 posted on 11/06/2023 7:56:53 AM PST by Albion Wilde (Either ‘the Deep State destroys America, or we destroy the Deep State.’ --Donald Trump)
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