It Begins ... I Voted

Marilyn Monroe was a big reader. 

In honor of the one hundredth anniversary of her birth, let's read all about it. Good book overall. She rambles some. But overall, a good read.

We began early voting about five years ago. The early voting location was a bit of a distance away. Now, there is an early voting site about five minutes away.

2026 is an important election. Voting is one of the basic civic duties of each American citizen. Some people are loath to accept that they have any such duties. I disagree. Selfish people. 

(I commented online that I try to be humble and don't like to judge other people too harshly. 

I was discussing a television character. Got to be some extended deal about how I was full of myself and trying to handwave bad people. It was silly.) 

New York has state elections. The biggest is the governor. Kathy Hochul for the win!

We have congressional elections. Local ballot measures. And local judicial elections. 

I voted Working Families whenever possible, except for governor (Democratic). Democratic, otherwise. 

The ballot measures, overall, look okay. Nonetheless, I think they are inappropriate things for voters to decide. I voted "no" on each on principle.

Ballot measures can be a helpful way for voters to avoid legislative bottlenecks. Abortion measures come to mind. The public's input can also be useful on other matters. Sometimes, a state ballot measure is simply required because the state constitution so requires. 

The specific issues, here, however, do not appear to be of that character. They are somewhat technical judgment calls best left to city council. 

I vote write-in for judicial races. The link helpfully provides information, including on the specific duties of each judge. But the average voter isn't aware. 

The voting guide (which I did not receive in the mail, though I saw one in the library) doesn't even talk about judicial races. There are also regularly no actual choices. Judges regularly run unopposed. 

What is the point? The New York City Bar Association summary notes the Bronx surrogate judicial candidate is "not approved." 

Why? Seems relevent. What voter knows? 

The website does not analyze each vote. They provide basic information on the selection process. I guess that she didn't fill out the questionnaire. 

I found this website. She has a mixed record. Maybe, as a matter of caution, I would not vote for her. That would entail either a blank or a write-in. 

But I really don't know enough to say. It is just absurd on some level to have races with so little information. 

For an average race, you at least have party lines in the general election. I would simply let a judicial review committee and/or the legislature handle this. 

On some level, even allowing the lowly voter (me) to have a chance to vote their conscience in this fashion is a charming reflection of our democracy. 

Plus, we get free stickers and that pen/stylus thing. What more can you ask?

How about Democratic control of Congress? Ha ha.