Yes, Election Day is November 3rd, and there is a lot of rhetoric. Yes, you should register and vote, but take time to be a knowledgeable voter.
Most important of all, know what and who are on your ballot before you vote. It takes time, but all rights come with responsibilities. Taking time to be a knowledgeable vote is our responsibility in exercising our right to vote.
As a registered voter you will receive voter information pamphlets in the mail from the Arizona Secretary of State and from you County Election officials. If you did not receive those materials yet, go to the Arizona Secretary of State website, the Clean Elections website and you County Elections website to find those materials.
Each County Elections website has a link so you can search by address for what and who are on your ballot. Not only do we have candidates, but there are bond issues and propositions on the ballot.
Now is the time to research the issues and the candidates. WeSERV and Arizona REALTORS® have published their candidate endorsements. Use these as one of many tools to help you decide your choice of candidate. As REALTOR® Associations, you know the bias: private property rights, the right to private contract and the ability for business to continue.
Judges are on the ballot as well. The best way to know a judge is to watch him or her at work in the courtroom and to read their opinions. Here are some additional websites you might find helpful in your research efforts:
Azvoterguide.com – This website provides a judge’s biography and a list of decisions he or she authored, dissented or joined on. A short synopsis of the case is provided and link to the case so you can read for yourself the opinions.
Az Commission of Judicial Performance Review – The reviews are surveys from jurors, witnesses, court staff, litigants and from attorneys providing rankings of each candidate. The survey asks respondents to rate the judge on items such as legal ability, communication, integrity, and temperament.
But how to judge a judge? Rather than focus on whether you agree with the yes/no opinion based on a topic, try to determine the judge’s ability to employ discernment and prudence as tools to decision making. There may be times when a judge opines opposite of you, but you find upon reading the opinion it is because of legal limitations. Judge Scalia spoke about this to C-Span in 2009. It is worth taking the time to watch so that your thinking may be more acute.