VOTER'S ANGST

This Election Will Truly Decide The Future Of The Truckee Meadows

Ready. Get set. Vote.

What the hell is this? A 52-page sample ballot? What the heck's a
perpetuity? Reno wants to know whether it should secede from Washoe County?
How stupid is that?

Many voters probably thought they were going to breeze into the polls on
Nov. 5, give Bob Cashell a pat on the back, flick that Bic at The Man for
keeping pot illegal and tell the Reno City Council to shove that train
trench where the sun don't shine--that is, until they saw the sample ballot.

We feel your pain. Our belief here at the RN&R is that the questions on
this year's ballot will launch more voters from their Barcaloungers than
will the various candidates. From the environment to schools to pot to the
protection of marriage, it seems there's something motivating just about
everyone to weigh in. On the other hand, some of these questions are so
complex and so poorly explained on the ballots that we fear voters will be
overwhelmed and stay home. Despite claims to the contrary, these ballot
questions are written by lawyers for lawyers.

So we sent our reporters and editors out to talk to politicians, political
scientists, educators, interested parties and bureaucrats to find out what
these questions really mean. You can call it "dumbing down" or
"interpretive," whichever makes you feel better. But, in some cases, we
apply a pseudo-Wittgensteinian razor, "If it doesn't make sense, it is
nonsense," so even the intellectually superior voter can feel good about
our endorsements.

And please, don't take our word for it. Stop at the nearby watering hole a
couple of hours before you hit the polls or bring your sample ballot to
work. Read your sample ballot. Mark your choices on your ballot. You can
consider our arguments if you'd like, but the stakes are truly too high to
go unprepared to your polling place. And don't forget to tip your bartender
or waitress.

[snip]

QUESTION NO. 9
Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended to allow the use and possession of
three ounces or less of marijuana by persons aged 21 years or older, to
require the Legislature to provide or maintain penalties for using,
distributing, selling or possessing marijuana under certain circumstances,
and to provide a system of regulation for the cultivation, taxation, sale
and distribution of marijuana?

We've covered this issue until we're blue in the face. No, we don't like
the lies told by supporters of the constitutional amendment. No, we don't
like the lies told by opponents of this bill. No, we don't believe we've
heard all the facts on this issue. No, we don't believe that medical
marijuana users should have to go to drug dealers to get their medicine.

Yes, we're going to vote yes on Question 9.

[snip]