Will voter decisions ever be accepted the first time?
Voters make decisions every Election Day on a wide range of issues from local elections to county, state and national elections. The decisions they make are not always easy but it is every individual’s right to voice their opinion on whatever issue confronts them. You would think this would be a simple task to accept the results as the people have spoken but this is not always the case. An example is when the results of issues differ with an individual’s or group’s philosophy with respect what the decision they feel should have been made. Many times issues are controversial and spark reaction not only in a state but across the country. Outsiders get involved in many cases to offer support for those who have a problem with the decision made. Offering support is one thing but interfering with the political issues of a state in which they are not citizens or residents is something which needs to be changed but it involves our right to free speech. We as voters and citizens of our individual states are faced with tough choices when petitions are presented to the state election commission to place an issue on the next election ballot. In some cases the issue involved is one on which voters have already made a decision.
Again sometimes the decisions made by voters are not well received by individuals and/or organizations and they take action to have the issue presented a second time. This can involve legislation passed by a state legislature and signed by the governor of a state or it may involve voter decisions on countywide issues or school bond issues. Decisions made by legislatures are the result of elected officials making decisions for us and when individuals disagree with actions sometimes actions get an issue placed on the ballot. This is not a bad thing as it gives the voters the option to accept or reject a legislative action. In some cases the decisions of a state legislature has been overturned by the votes of citizens. In these cases adjustment may need to be made within the state procedures/laws or policy to comply with voter decisions.
The concept of having decisions by voters on issues to be the final action is a philosophy which should be considered. This philosophy or concept can have exceptions but they should be exceptions rather than the rule. Sometimes legislation requires the consent of the voters to finalize actions taken by their state legislature and this is a good thing. Our country is based on the principle that majority rules. It is that way when we choose a candidate for office. Voters make decisions on a philosophy of how government should function and when these decisions are made they should be accepted by all individuals. The principle of majority rules has been in place since our country began but when those in the minority opinion disagrees feeling a mistake was made they take action in an attempt to force their opinion on the rest of us.
I am not disagreeing with the rights of those to bring up their concerns as it is part of the freedoms we have and thankfully so. Organizations are fine if they are part of the majority opinion when issues are decided but let those decisions be contrary to their philosophy and they come un-glued. They cannot accept the will of the people when voters make decisions. A decision that is made by voters that disagrees with a philosophy of others is looked upon as a threat to their existence and getting others to agree with their perspective. There actions in overturning decisions are not always successful. We have seen in a number of states where issues are placed on the ballot and voters have made a decision but the issue keeps making it on the next election ballot. This involves not only school bond issues but statewide or countywide issues.
We as voters are tired of having to voice our opinions on the same issue through our votes multiple times on election ballots. I can understand that it is an individual’s right to petition a government to have issues placed on an election ballot but sometimes once should be enough. The citizens of each state have a right to overturn legislative action through the methods available to them within their state. Governments forget they are working for the people not the people are working for them. I made the statement that voting on an issue one time should be enough but when issues potentially violate a state’s Constitution or our rights under our Constitution appropriate action should be taken.
It does not make a difference what the issue is when voters make a decision there are always going to be those individuals or organizations who disagree with the decisions made. While we may have come to expect this kind of reaction these individuals want to push their agenda and views on the rest of us and we must resist these efforts. There is a fine line between freedom of speech and forcing a political viewpoint on the majority of voters.
