The ballot was pretty long: 50 different choices!!!!!
I had over 50 tabs open looking up each and every piece on yesterday's ballot. It took me about 2-3 hours to look everything up.
For someone who considers themselves to be 'political', I barely gave a crap about this one until yesterday.
I barely know what prop stands for what today.
Personal computing device and internet, thanks, which allowed me to view:
Google, which took me to:
- What was specifically on my actual ballot in Compton.
- LA Times for state and local elections; I didn't wouldn't know any better about why I would say no. A lot of shallow reasoning on my part (i.e. "oh (s)he went to UCLA" If I wrote that I think the Chicago Bulls should appoint Steve Lavin to be head coach because he coached at UCLA, I'd be laughed at, but then again, we don't really have a lot of alternatives nor do we necessarily know them).
- Various other online publications and official guides for state races (i.e. http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/candidates/boe-candidate-statements.htm). Some articles (https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/10/23/this-is-the-republican-challenger-trying-to-unseat-democratic-assemblyman-mike-gipson-to-represent-district-64 and http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-fiona-ma-treasurer-endorsement-20180914-story.html and http://www.laist.com/2018/11/02/how_to_tell_the_difference_between_the_two_democrats_running_for_california_lieutenant_governor.php and http://www.metnews.com/articles/2018/judielec041618.htm and https://edsource.org/2018/tony-thurmond-marshall-tuck-do-have-key-differences-but-not-50-million-worth/604235) actually helped me better distinguish the candidates from each other and http://janbtucker.com/blog/index.php/jim-hays-and-politics-as-unusual-in-compton/.
- Voter's Edge for all the local judicial appointments (i.e. (https://votersedge.org/ca/en/ballot/election/69-1fe8cc/contests/contest/16401/candidate/137519). For me experience was key, associations, and endorsements were key. If they were supported by LA Times, it was an automatic yes. However, NONE of the publications I went through put any reasons for anyone to NOT be appointed so I said yes to everyone appointee.
- The Progressive voter guide for the propositions (https://www.losangelesforward.org/los-angeles-california-progressive-guide-november-2018-ballot/); I followed it to a tee. I don't know, I generally trust their judgment while attempting to maintain a sense of objectivity and rationalism. On that streak, I actually voted for Poizner for Insurance Commissioner because of his recommendation from LA Times and his previous experience as...Insurance Commissioner.
- A Catholic voter guide for the esposa (http://californiansforlife.org/pro-life-voter-information/)
