What could be the biggest surprise awaiting voters on Tuesday’s election ballot?
All the names listed that are unfamiliar to anyone but lawyers.
On my sample ballot, nine of the 15 contested races are for judgeships.
There are also races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Mecklenburg County commissioners, Mecklenburg sheriff and Mecklenburg district attorney. Chances are, you’ve had some exposure to these candidates campaigning, debating and advertising.
That’s less likely to be true in races for North Carolina Supreme Court, the N.C. Court of Appeals, Superior Court and District Court, all of which are on this ballot. Judicial campaigns are low-key by nature, with candidates often appearing only on yard signs and occasional image ads.
This means that most voters go to the polls with little or no idea why they should vote for one judicial candidate over another.
Don't be one of them. Check on the qualifications of these judicial candidates. Just go to the Observer’s online Voter’s Guide.
There you can link to your own sample ballot, based on your home address. Then, you can match the names on your ballot to the profiles we’ve prepared on each candidate.
There you can link to your own sample ballot, based on your home address. Then, you can match the names on your ballot to the profiles we’ve prepared on each candidate.
You can also read stories we've published about the most competitive races. One describes political opponents' unusual attempt to unseat Mecklenburg Chief District Court Judge Lisa Bell.
Not sure where to vote? We have a quick search feature that will locate your polling place when you type in your address.
For those interested, the guide is also where you'll find a complete list of editorial endorsements by the Observer's editorial board.
Don't let the prospect of obscure names discourage you from voting at all on Tuesday. It’s a privilege that others who came before you fought and died for. A privilege that millions of people all over the world will never experience.
But before you vote, spend a few minutes with this guide. Then, when you step into the booth, you can vote with confidence that you did your part to elect the best candidate.
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10 comments:
I just see which ones the county Democrat Party recommends and vote for the other ones.
I just see which ones the county Republican Party recommends and vote for the other ones.
Thanks Anon 9:11 - - it's idiots like you that muck everything up. I split my ballot by researching who is best suited. Sometimes it's Repub's sometimes it's Dems. Nothing like voting in idiots from either side just because they ride coat tails
I just look at who the Observer endorses and vote for the other ones.
I realize political involvement and bias are traditional in newspapers, but it's wrong and needs to stop. It's nothing but a blatant attempt to brainwash the uninformed or browbeat the voters that hold opposing opinions. Furthermore, it's pure hubris to assume an editorial board's opinions are better than those formed individually.
I never vote for hyphenated names....
We vote for the party the president calls enemies.
Any sitting president, and party that calls American citizens enemies because they disagree with his political agenda just needs to go.
This is America not 1930's Germany...yet.
How about just not voting in the areas where you are not sure. There is no requirement that you vote for every position that is on the ballot. There is only one thing worst than looking at a couple of candidates on the ballot and just blindly picking one and that is to vote for who the Observer tells you to vote for.
I vote for the person NOT the party, with that being said, this year I voted for only one DEM....only because he has been doing a great job and there is no need for change!
I also look at who the Charlotte Observer recommends and look up the one they don't, usually that is the person with common sense!
I DID use the Observer's voter guide, but not necessarily to vote per the Observer's (or anyone else's) recommendations. There is a wealth of information available online about the candidates, if you take the time to look for it.
The biggest surprise for me on Tuesday? That will be when the rigged voting machines DON'T make the headlines!
I know that the truth is almost irrelevant to the ideologues who get their "news" from Sean Hannity, but with the President said was:
“If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,’ if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s gonna be harder and that’s why I think it’s so important that people focus on voting on November 2.”
In case you were concerned about the source, it is The Weekly Standard. If you are going to be a conservative, be a conservative. Don't lie about stupid things.
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