Absentee Ballot Record

I’m planning on being in NYC for the general election so I registered to vote absentee this morning. This was actually good because it gave me a chance to vote away from the pressures of the polling booth, tap into resources like blogs and do some homework on some of the ballot questions.

In Maryland this past month, there was a huge problem with the new electronic voting machines used during the primary elections and Gov. Bob Ehrlich, a Republican who is fighting for office with Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, went on record as encouraging voters to vote absentee in the general election. It was the only way around the electronic voting machines as no action could be taken to “right the ship” before the general election.

Overheard today inside the more-overcrowded-than-usual polling precinct at the County Board of Elections in Catonsville, Maryland:

Voter: You guys are busy.
Precinct Judge: We wouldn’t be so busy if politicians would shut their mouths.

Tell me. Does that constitute election fraud? People are trying to cast their ballots all around this judge, and verbal attacks on “politicians” serves to sway voter opinion. The only “politician” that could be implied was Bob Ehrlich, a Republican. Hmmm.

But this is how I voted on my Absentee:

• Governor/Lt. Governor: Robert L. Ehrlich, Republican / Kristen Cox, Republican
• Comptroller: Anne M. McCarthy, Republican
• Attorney General: Abstained
• U.S. Senator: Michael S. Steele, Republican
• Congressman, District 7: Abstained.
• State Senator, District 10: Delores G. Kelley, Democrat
• House of Delegates, District 10: Emmett C. Burns, Democrat; Adrienne A. Jones, Democrat; Shirley Nathatn-Pulliam, Democrat
• County Executive, Baltimore County: Clarence Bell, Republican
• County Council, District 4: Abstained
• Judge of the Circuit Court, Judicial Circuit 3: Robert Cahill, Jr; Judith Ensor; Timothy Martin; Mickey Norman
• Judge, Court of Special Appeals at Large: Ellen Hollander, Yes for Continuance
• Judge, Court of Special Appeals Appellate Circuit 2: James Ryler, Yes for Continuance
• States Attorney, Baltimore County: Steve Bailey, Republican
• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Abstained
• Register of Wills: Grace Connolly, Democrat
• Judge of the Orphans Court: Abstained
• Sheriff: Tim Caldwell, Republican

For new readers wondering about my political convictions, I am an independant but I believe the Republican party tends to be tougher on crime, something that is critical here. I also think Republicans tend to be more fiscally conservative, especially on the state and local levels. That said, if William Donald Schaffer had not lost in the Democratic Primary, he would be my vote for Comptroller.

As usual, there are a series of state and local referendums (”Questions”) that voters are asked to vote on. My policy tends to be to limit Consitutional changes. I don’t like them. Especially when they are created by a supermajority in one party, as Maryland has. My policies toward spending money is that if “Questions” are asked in such a way to ask for voter approval on spending money but they don’t outline specific purposes for the money, I vote no. If they need money and tell me what it’s for then I’ll vote yes if it is a valid reason.

• Question 1: Constitutional Amendment - Disposition of Park Lands - VOTED NO
• Question 2: Constitutional Amendment - Circuit Court in Banc Decisions - VOTED NO
• Question 3: Constitutional Amendment - Civil Jury Trials - VOTED NO
• Question 4: Statewide Referendum on Election Law Revisions - VOTED NO
• Question A: County Ordinance - School Borrowing - VOTED YES
• Question B: County Ordinance - Parks, Preservation and Greenway Borrowing - VOTED NO
• Question C: County Ordinance - Public Works Borrowing - VOTED YES
• Question D: County Ordinance - Community and Economic Improvement Borrowing - VOTED NO
• Question E: County Ordinance - Operational Buildings Borrowing - VOTED YES
• Question F: County Ordinance - Refuse Disposal Borrowing - VOTED YES
• Question G: County Ordinance - Community College Borrowing - VOTED NO
• Question H: County Ordinance - Agricultural and Rural Land Preservation Borrowing - VOTED NO
• Question I: County Ordinance - Waterway Improvement Program Borrowinf - VOTED NO

All Baltimore County question text can be read at the State Board of Elections.

Tagged as: absentee ballot, voting