Anchorage voters reject sexual orientation initiative

[jpak]

Source: Miami Herald

Anchorage voters rejected a proposed ordinance to add legal protections for gay, lesbian and transgender people in a chaotic municipal election fraught with ballot shortages and high voter turnout in many precincts.

With more than 90 percent of the precincts reporting late Tuesday, 58 percent of voters had voted against Proposition 5, the equal rights ordinance that was far and away the most controversial and emotional component of this spring's election.

As of late Tuesday, neither side was claiming victory nor conceding defeat.

The main group opposing the measure was silent, and its leader did not appear at Election Central at the Dena'ina Center or issue any kind of written statement.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/04/2730890/anchorage-voters-reject-sexual.html#storylink=cpy

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/04/2730890/anchorage-voters-reject-sexual.html

[Arctic Dave]

1. The toglodytes won another one.

The polls seem to favor this passing too.

[uppityperson]

2. I am sorry that is happening. Bah

[pinboy3niner]

3. Neither side claiming victory/conceding defeat...

...suggests a lack of confidence in the accuracy of the results.

See Blue_In_AK's thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002515165

[canaar]

4. There is a correlation

between the margin by which Proposition 5 failed and the margin by which the progressive mayoral candidate lost to the incumbent fiscal/social authoritarian mayor. (ordinance against sitting on the sidewalk in response to one of our homeless citizen's running commentary about the mayor's performance, from the sidewalk in front of City Hall).

As a long time Alaskan, I am increasingly saddened that the proud tradition of a great spirited Alaskan citizenry has been replaced with a mean spirited voting majority. Aside from Juneau, Anchorage would have been the most likely Alaskan city to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance. The opposition literally ran TV ads promoting the righteousness of "separate but equal." (Gays want to hire gays and good Christians want to hire good Christians.)

Not all conservatives are stupid but I have never met a stupid person who isn't conservative. If half the population is statistically below average in intelligence, only a successful GOTV effort has any chance of electing a progressive agenda.

[lupulin]

5. In the absence of a GOTV

are 'statistically below average' people more likely to vote than the above average?

[canaar]

6. There is no absence of

GOTV campaigns.

[lupulin]

7. Are 'below average' intelligence voters more likely to vote with current GOTV campaigns?

What is the best way to manage a GOTV campaign to get a more progressive result?