Measure 1 Yes/No

[Colt45]

You know the easiest way to do this? Ban out of state mo ey and lobbying in these issues. Make them money come from grass roots, in state donors. The only reason crap gets on the ballot is because of huge outside influences of money. If 51% of people in my state support a change that was driven 100% inside the state, then I can accept it. But raising the threshold to just try to out smart the big spending from outside. Fix the source of the issue and keep each states values as they want them to be.

That would definitely help, and I would support the ban of out of state money and lobbying. The 50% plus one vote is also misleading as less than 40% actually vote, so less than 20% of the eligible voters can actually pass a constitutional measure, at least in ND. I don't know what the voter turnout was in SD but I suspect its at least close to the same.

 

[eyexer]

Yes it does, and also how few actual votes can actually change our constitution simply because the majority doesn't even vote, measure 2 failed by less than 3000 votes

And there’s a 2100 total vote difference in those two.

 

[eyexer]

You know the easiest way to do this? Ban out of state mo ey and lobbying in these issues. Make them money come from grass roots, in state donors. The only reason crap gets on the ballot is because of huge outside influences of money. If 51% of people in my state support a change that was driven 100% inside the state, then I can accept it. But raising the threshold to just try to out smart the big spending from outside. Fix the source of the issue and keep each states values as they want them to be.

Problem is the SCOTUS decision pretty much squelches that possibility

 

[Allen]

You know the easiest way to do this? Ban out of state mo ey and lobbying in these issues. Make them money come from grass roots, in state donors. The only reason crap gets on the ballot is because of huge outside influences of money. If 51% of people in my state support a change that was driven 100% inside the state, then I can accept it. But raising the threshold to just try to out smart the big spending from outside. Fix the source of the issue and keep each states values as they want them to be.

I am pretty sure the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on this already. Organizations and special interest groups that try to influence elections have "free speech" protection under the U.S. Constitution.

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/financing-political-speech-and-supreme-court

So, no matter how well intentioned one may be in wanting to put controls on these entities, IMHO nobody will truly support amending the U.S. Constitution to control this. It opens the door to controlling free speech of people.

 

[Allen]

And there’s a 2100 total vote difference in those two.

That's not unusual. Lots of people do not vote on all the topics at hand. I'm sure they all have their reasons, but yeah...it frustrates me as well that people don't go to the polls informed enough to vote on everything. I guess it does highlight that there are certainly some people who are one-topic voters and only show up to cast a ballot for that topic.

 

[Colt45]

Most don't show up at all to vote on anything, they just don't vote period. Less than 40% of eligible voters actually voted in this last election.

 

[eyexer]

That's not unusual. Lots of people do not vote on all the topics at hand. I'm sure they all have their reasons, but yeah...it frustrates me as well that people don't go to the polls informed enough to vote on everything. I guess it does highlight that there are certainly some people who are one-topic voters and only show up to cast a ballot for that topic.

Exactly

 

[eyexer]

Most don't show up at all to vote on anything, they just don't vote period. Less than 40% of eligible voters actually voted in this last election.

That may seem unusual but it’s that way nationwide. In ND it’s probably less surprising due to the high percentage of elderly that are eligible voters. Hell there’s probably thousands of dead people still on the eligible to vote list. Then you have numerous seniors in nursing homes that could give a shit less. And how many are in hospitals at any given time. Or already in AZ and didn’t remember to send in absentee ballots etc etc.

 

[measure-it]

It seems the importance of voting & church activities have gone by the wayside for many.
Voting #'s down, as is church attendence. I think people have gotten sick of all the crap in politics & the position of views from the church.

 

[Obi-Wan]

Most don't show up at all to vote on anything, they just don't vote period. Less than 40% of eligible voters actually voted in this last election.

its a pretty safe bet that most if not all of the 40% that showed up to vote knew the measures and what/who they were voting for. would you prefer the other 60% that are uninformed show up to vote

 

[Colt45]

its a pretty safe bet that most if not all of the 40% that showed up to vote knew the measures and what/who they were voting for. would you prefer the other 60% that are uninformed show up to vote

I'd take that bet, there were voters in Bismarck that were given the wrong ballot at Liberty Elementary school and they filled out the ballot and they turned it in, and it was counted, even though the candidates for their district were not on the ballot. You over estimate the average voters understanding of what they are voting on. Its front page new on the Bismarck Tribune.

There is no remedy for voters who put the wrong ballot into a tabulator, North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe said.
“You’ve already cast a ballot,” Howe said.
North Dakota’s top election official said he is incredibly frustrated and feels for voters who were unaware and for the candidates. Election officials sprang into action as soon as they could, he said.
“One error is too many,” said Howe, who added he wasn’t aware of similar errors elsewhere in the state.

 

[RyanN]

its a pretty safe bet that most if not all of the 40% that showed up to vote knew the measures and what/who they were voting for. would you prefer the other 60% that are uninformed show up to vote

I would like them to take ownership in legislation that affects their life. In other words, I do think its our responsibility as ND/US citizens to be informed and educate ourselves so we can vote. My thought - if you don't vote, don't bitch.

 

[Fritz the Cat]

It seems the importance of voting & church activities have gone by the wayside for many.
Voting #'s down, as is church attendence. I think people have gotten sick of all the crap in politics & the position of views from the church.

The cycle of Freedom:

From Bondage to Moral Certitude;

from Moral Certitude to Great Courage;

from Great Courage to Liberty;

from Liberty to Abundance;

from Abundance to Selfishness;

from Selfishness to Complacency;

from Complacency to Apathy;

from Apathy to Dependency;

from Dependency to Bondage.

Fritz's best guess is we are somewhere around complacency.