Come Tuesday

Election day on Tuesday, and some interesting things on the ballot.

In Maine, same day voter registration:

For nearly 40 years, voters in Maine have been able to walk into a polling place or town hall on Election Day and register to vote. But the Republican-controlled legislature this year decided to remove the option, citing the stress on municipal clerks and concerns about the potential for voter fraud.

Angry Democrats responded by launching a people's veto campaign, and come Election Day this Tuesday, voters will consider whether to restore same-day registration.

Because same day registration is a very, very scary thing.

In Mississippi, outlawing abortion by adding a “personhood" amendment to the constitution:

Abortion rights in Mississippi are being tested with a referendum on the ballot Tuesday asking voters to amend the state constitution to redefine the term “person” to include “every human being from the moment of fertilization” or cloning.

Opponents charge the change – which both sides say is likely to pass – is a backdoor way to outlaw abortion that could put the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision in jeopardy. Redefining “personhood” under Mississippi's Bill of Rights will likely lead to court battles that may end up before the US Supreme Court.

The strategy is being used in several states this year, according to Personhood USA, an Arvada, Colo. organization that provides assistance to state efforts. Besides Mississippi, petitions to put a personhood amendment on the 2012 ballot have been filed in Ohio, Nevada, and California, and there is petition activity in every other state as well.

Truly horrible. And since this is a nation-wide effort, who knows how fast this could spread.

In Ohio, Senate Bill 5:

With Election Day looming, two issues dealing with claims about state Issue 2 drew reader interest on PolitiFact Ohio.

Voters will decide the fate of the issue Tuesday. Voting "yes" on Issue 2 is voting in favor of the law referred to as Senate Bill 5, which restricts the collective-bargaining power of all public workers in the state. A "no" vote on Issue 2 is a vote to repeal SB 5.

One claim, from a pro-Issue 2 commercial, deals with how much public employees are paid. The other, from a speech by Gov. John Kasich, relates to the use of arbitrators to settle labor impasses.

There will be lots and lots of political posturing in Ohio on Wednesday morning, for sure.

Actually some things to watch out for on this Election Day!