Former Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, center, speaks out in favor supporting Amendment 64 to legalize marijuana in Colorado during a news conference at the Capitol in Denver on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012. Amendment 64 would regulate marijuana like alcohol in Colorado.(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
While the vote for president is arguably the most important issue on the 2012 ballot, voters nationwide will decide on a number of other important local and state issues as well.
California, Florida, Massachusetts and Colorado are among several states with hot-button ballot measures and referendums that will be decided upon on Election Day. On one day, voters across the nation will help their states decide if they can smoke marijuana, legally assist in their own suicides and other divisive topics.
NewsOne has put together a short list of some of these local and state-level issues Americans will consider at the ballot box on Tuesday.
Florida
Issue: Abortion Restriction Amendment
The G.O.P swing state will vote on 11 constitutional amendments this November. However, Amendment 6, known as the “Abortion Amendment,” is the most controversial.
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According to Time.com, this initiative would prevent state and tax dollars from footing the bill for abortions except in cases of incest, rape and life endangerment if passed. It would also require minors to receive consent from their parents in order to terminate a pregnancy.
Opponents of Amendment 6 argue the initiative takes away a woman’s right—even that of minors– to choose and gives power to state politicians.
Massachusetts
Issue: Physician-Assisted Suicide
In Gov. Mitt Romney’s hometown, voters will decide if the Question 2 Death with Dignity Act should be given the green light.
In a recent article by CBS.com Boston, if it is passed, it will allow doctors to prescribe medication to expedite someone’s death with the condition the patient is of sound mind and has been diagnosed with six months to live.
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The Roman Catholic Church—a powerful force in Massachusetts and stark opponent of the proposed law–believes the Act is morally and ethically wrong. Other opponents of the proposed argue a doctor’s prognosis that a patient has six months to live doesn’t mean that’s always the case.
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If passed, Massachusetts would become the third state in the Union to legalize physician-assisted death. Washington voters approved a similar law in 2008 and so did Oregon in 1997. Physician-assisted deaths are illegal in 34 states.
California
Issue: Death Penalty Ban
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