November 4 is election day.

Depending where you live, you may have different choices to make. A sample ballot is available online.

Your voter’s registration card will tell you where to vote or you can find polling places online or call 417-582-4340.

Democrat Club members have discussed the constitutional amendments you will see on the ballot and recommend a “NO” vote on all four amendments.

Amendment 2 allows relevant evidence of prior criminal acts to be admissible in prosecutions for crimes of a sexual nature involving a victim under 18 years of age.

• We already have precedent that allows admission of such evidence in particular circumstances.
• Actual recidivism rates are lower than most believe (13% for incest and 24% for rape).
• This could increase the risk of being wrongly convicted because even alleged crimes can be used (even if never convicted).

Amendment 3 would tie teacher evaluations to their students’ test performance.

• It takes local control away from parents, teachers, and school districts.
• It requires more standardized testing.
• The current system allows for removal of poor teachers through regular monitoring and evaluation system.
• Most education organization are against this amendment (Mo Nat. Educ. Assoc., Mo State Teachers Assoc, close to 100 school boards around the state) and the group sponsoring the amendment, Teach Great, has stopped campaigning for it.

Greene County Democrats passed a resolution opposing this amendment.

The League of Women Voters of Missouri has taken the stance of a “NO vote” on this issue.

Amendment 6 only allows 6 days of early voting and does not allow for any Saturday or Sunday voting.

• It will only go into effect if the Legislature funds the measure, which they have not yet agreed to do.
• This system is more restrictive than 29 other states.
• Many call this proposal “a sham” because it eliminates weekends (when people can actually get out to vote) and shortens the early voting period.

Greene County Democrats passed a resolution opposing this amendment.

The League of Women Voters of Missouri has taken the stance of a “NO vote” on this issue.

Amendment 10 places limitations on the Governor’s powers to propose a budget without legislative consent.

• Places limitations on the Governor’s power to allocate funds without legislative consent.
• Prohibits the governor from reducing funding passed by the general assembly without legislative consent.
• Would allow the legislature to override any withholding by a two-thirds vote, as with a veto.
• Governors in all states except Maryland have this power.

Greene County Democrats passed a resolution opposing this amendment.

The League of Women Voters of Missouri has taken the stance of a “NO vote” on this issue.

Judges:

The Missouri Supreme Court created evaluation committees (funded by the Missouri Bar), consisting of lawyers and non-lawyers to rate all judges who are standing for retention under the nonpartisan selection system. Those recommendations are available online to voters. Kansas City Star says, “The statewide judges up for retention have all received adequate to high marks from persons familiar with their work and have earned YES votes.” They are Missouri Supreme Court Judges Laura Denvir Stith and Paul Campbell Wilson; Western District Court of Appeals Judges Lisa White Hardwick and Anthony Rex Gabbert; Eastern District Judges Lisa Van Amburg and Angela Turner Quigless; Southern District Judges Nancy Steffen Rahmeyer and Mary Sheffield.

Candidates:

And most importantly, don’t forget to vote for two very good, Democratic candidates:

• Jim Billedo (if you live in the 140^th District) and
  
• Jim Evans for the 7^th Congressional District.

Fire Protection and Tax Levies:

If you live in the city of Nixa, you will vote on a Fire Protection bond for an additional fire station and new equipment; if you live in Highlandville, you will vote on a tax levy of 40 cents per $100 assessed value; if you live in Sparta, you will vote on a tax levy increase (30 cents per $100 assessed value) for the Fire Protection District.