Hey Missouri voters. Voting happens this Tuesday, and although its too late to register for the elections, those who are registered have very very few excuses to not vote. Hank Green says it better than I could: youtu.be/avj7XUDCdEk As far as the amendments on the ballot, you can do exactly what I did and research them on your own (it wont take much time I promise), or you can seek out the opinions of other people. For that last purpose, Ive written why Im voting on each amendment, and I encourage engagement here on this post if you want to add to the conversation or want me to clarify something I have said. Const. Amend. 2 In 2007 the MO Supreme Court ruled that the use of propensity evidence is unconstitutional, and opposers of this amendment say that the use of this type of evidence would lead to convictions based on prior convictions or even accusations rather than hard evidence. Prior offenses are still heard by the juries without this amendment, during the sentencing phase of a trial. I think the precedent here stands on firm ground and I will vote no. Const. Amend. 3 The calling card for this amendment is the transition to a performance based teacher retention. As an avid advocate for advanced statistic and analysis, I know that performance is never completely “quantifiable”. So, to say I am disappointed that these evaluation systems are not available for me to look at, is an understatement. With many teacher tasks including various aspects of work that struggle to be defined as ‘quantifiable’, and the lack of information on how to quantify and analyze the information obtained on each teacher, I have to say that there is no certain positivity here. Locking teachers into 1-3 year contracts (probably mostly on the 1 year side), limits the amount of information necessary to judge a teacher on performance, given variability of the students they will be judged upon. And should this evaluation system turn out bad, teachers are stripped of their ability to organize and collectively bargain a better evaluation system. Until I see the performance evaluation system for myself or through the eyes of an esteemed statistician, I will be voting no here. Const. Amend. 6 Allows the country’s most restricted early voting time table of 6 days and absolutely no weekend early voting, as compared to the common place 2 week early voting periods in most states. If this amendment is passed, it will make it more difficult to lift the restrictions for a more meaningful early voting measure. The kicker? This amendment gives the state legislature the power to revoke early voting all together by tactfully failing to fund early voting every year. I think this is a no vote. Const. Amend. 10 Checks and Balances. This amendment attempts to erase longstanding ideals of the checks and balances system. I mean, if you hate that whole idea and want a specific branch of government to hold more power (namely, the Legislative. The ones who seem the most inept.), then by all means counter my vote. But I’m a steadfast no here as well.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 23:04:11 +0000
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