I got my ballot today, and I'm terrified and filled with so much anxiety

[In It to Win It]

I'm in Florida. I thought 2018 was a big election for my state but this feels heavy. This 2022 election is the one that will probably be the most important in this decade.

Sure, we vote for a senator, a governor, attorney general or other statewide elections. The reason this election feels me with so much pressure is because mixed in with the governor's race, control of the state supreme court is on the line. 5 of the 7 justices on the state supreme court are facing a retention election.

These are the people who will decide the constitutionality of the DeSantis gerrymander.
They will decide whether reproductive rights will remain protected.
These are the assholes that gave an advisory opinion that former felons had to pay fines before they could vote after voters restored their voting rights.

I'm trying to remain positive. Supreme Court justices rarely lose a retention election, and I can't help but think these justices will be retained.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. We should all be terrified, no matter where we are.

I have nothing positive to say anymore other than ask your friends and family if they need a ride to vote, need help filling out their ballot etc.

[blm]

2. Florida Dem party needs to highlight this vote

and make sure Dem voters know who the Dem judges are. Give them judge sheets at the polls. Every state needs to do this.

[In It to Win It]

3. It's a just a 'yes' or 'no' vote

In Florida, justices and appellate judges face a simple 'yes' or 'no' to retain them on the bench.

If they are not retained, Charlie Crist has to win so that he can appoint justices and appellate judges, who will face their own retention election in a future election.

The only way we get Dem judges is if we take over the governor's mansion.

[blm]

8. Yikes

[In It to Win It]

12. Same is true in Kansas

I wrote a post in the General Discussion and also posted it in the Kansas forum about the Governor, Supreme Court and reproductive rights.

The reason abortion rights in Kansas is protected because the state supreme court interpreted the state constitution to protect abortion rights. In the election over the abortion rights vote, voters were voting to uphold or overturn the state supreme court's decision, and as we know, they voted to uphold those protections. The majority on the Kansas Supreme Court were appointed by Democratic governors, including (I think) three appointees of the current governor, Laura Kelly.

Their abortion fight isn't over. The voters have to retain the Democratic appointees on the Court and re-elect Governor Kelly. The state supreme court and Governor Kelly are the reason the GOP-led legislature isn't ramming an abortion ban through as I type this. Voters have to keep that majority on the state supreme court.

In Florida, we have opposite problem as Kansas. We have a shithead GOP governor that appointed some of the justices, and we have a solid GOP state supreme court. Whereas Kansas has a Democratic governor that appointed some of the justices, a majority of justices that were appointed by Democrats. As I stated previously, justices rarely lose retention elections so it seems likely to me that Kansas, at least, will retain their Democratic-majority on the state supreme court even if Governor Kelly doesn't win re-election.

Right now, abortion rights are protected under our state constitution in Florida because of the state supreme court. However, a majority of the current justices aren't likely to uphold abortion protections in the state constitution like previous justices did. Reproductive rights are on life support unless we gain the governorship and get rid of 4 justices, at least. This election will be the one shot to do that for years to come.

[Deuxcents]

4. Got my mail in ballot yesterday

I have the same concerns. I just tonight got my internet back up..has been up n down lately but tomorrow I’m checking out every judge n the amendments so I’ll know how to vote on those issues.

[In It to Win It]

5. Considering we haven't had Dem governor in over 2 decades

Almost all of the appellate judges (District Courts of Appeals) will be Republican appointees.

My county is under the Fourth District Court of Appeals and there are 7 judges from this court on the ballot. Only one Democratic appointee in the ballot, who was appointed by the last Democratic governor that we had in the 90s.

[katmondoo]

14. I checked out the Judges, lots appointed by Desantis. I put a NO for being retained in office.

[dweller]

6. I know you're in Florida, but here in NC

The Labor Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party prints a sample Blue Ballot, and inserts them in our county newspaper. Every year I get one, and it has all the Democratic candidates for every office in our county. I take it with me to the polls.
Maybe look online for your Florida chapter for help.


✌🏻

[Deuxcents]

7. Gonna do that. Thanks

[In It to Win It]

9. I did a quick search. I didn't find anything yet but if you do

I'd be grateful if you shared a link. I'd love to pass it around to the folks I know.

ETA: I'll do the same if I find anything.

[dweller]

11. Be sure to be county specific

As I said, info I receive is aimed at my NC county

Good luck

✌🏻

[SoCalDavidS]

10. My Sympathies For Having To Live In A Shithole State, Surrounded By Shitheads nt

[Deuxcents]

13. Thanks, Friend..we're working hard to change this shithole to Blue

[Timeflyer]

15. Feeling the same anxiety in FL

Check out recommendations from your local Dem party, and maybe FL League of Women Voters. Vote no on FL Supremes retention. But will our votes make a difference in this increasingly crazy state? After certain school board race wins for Proud Boy supported candidates in August, it feels hopeless here.

[In It to Win It]

16. You asked the million dollar question

But will our votes make a difference in this increasingly crazy state?

That’s what has me so anxious. Gaining the governorship and giving Crist the opportunity to fill those Supreme Court vacancies, assuming they aren’t retained, gives Democrats a real fighting chance in Florida.

Crist can appoint justices that will actually enforce the Fair Districts amendment in our state constitution giving a Dems a shot at more seats, and gives Crist veto power.

[Hope4Dems]

17. Judges

I went the Florida bar association site and they do a survey about judge retention with lawyers. They differentiate between lawyers who have direct knowledge of the judge and those who have less. There are some with percentages as low as 55%. I read articles about the judges to find out which cases they participated in too. It helped me. I know I'm doing my part by voting and educating myself. Sometimes of look at sites done by conservatives and do the reverse (always using anonymous search to I don't get junk from it later).

[gopiscrap]

18. welcome to DU