Pubdate: Mon, 28 Oct 2002
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette (MA)
Copyright: 2002 Daily Hampshire Gazette
Contact:  http://www.gazettenet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/106

NONBINDING ISSUES AT A GLANCE

(AP)-Voters in 47 House districts will be able to weigh in on one or more 
of 11 local ballot questions instructing lawmakers how to vote on certain 
issues. Following is a list of the questions, followed by the districts 
where they will be on the ballot.

Shall the representative from this district be instructed:

1 - Not to vote for Thomas M. Finneran, of Boston, for Speaker of the 
House? (1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th and 14th Essex; 1st and 2nd 
Hampshire; 14th, 26th, 29th, 32nd, and 36th Middlesex; 11th Norfolk; 8th, 
11th and 15th Suffolk).

2 - To vote for legislation or constitutional amendment establishing 
Instant Runoff Voting, that would allow voters in contests with three or 
more candidates to rank the candidates in order of preference? (1st and 3rd 
Hampshire).

3 - To vote for legislation prohibiting taxpayer-funded elections? (3rd 
Berkshire).

4 - To vote for legislation allowing patients with certain diseases to 
possess and grow small amounts of cannabis for their personal use if they 
have a written doctor's recommendation? (14th Worcester).

5 - To vote for legislation making possession of marijuana a civil 
violation and requiring the police to hold a person under 18 who is cited 
for possession until he/she can be released to a parent or legal guardian 
or brought before a judge? (1st, 2nd and 18th Essex).

6 - To vote for legislation that would allow licensed farmers to grow 
cannabis hemp for agricultural and industrial purposes? (2nd Franklin).

7 - To vote for legislation that will inform citizens of how their tax 
dollars are being spent? (14th Bristol and 10th Norfolk).

8 - To vote for legislation that in all separation and divorce proceedings 
involving minor children, it shall be the presumption of the court that 
both parents have an inalienable right to share legal and physical custody 
of the children? (14th Bristol).

9 - To vote for legislation that would fully implement and fund the 
voter-approved Clean Elections Law? (2nd Barnstable; 12th Hampden; 9th, 
24th and 26th Middlesex; 11th Norfolk; 2nd and 6th Plymouth; 11th, 12th and 
15th Suffolk).

10 - To vote for legislation that would make possession of less than one 
ounce of marijuana a civil violation, subject to a maximum fine of $100? 
(1st, 2nd and 12th Norfolk; 5th Plymouth; 2nd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 
15th, 17th and 18th Suffolk; 2nd, 5th and 14th Worcester).

11 - To vote for a resolution calling upon Congress and the President of 
the United States to immediately withdraw all troops from Colombia, to stop 
all gifts of money and weapons to the Colombian army, and to use all $1 
billion requested for the Colombian army within the U.S. for urgent health 
care needs? (15th Norfolk).
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