# I did not vote for charter schools **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 26, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-not-vote-for-charter-schools/638937 "2012-10-26T14:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-not-vote-for-charter-schools/638937/1 "2012-10-26T14:50:20Z")
On the other hand, I didn’t vote _against_ charter schools. I don’t have kids. I’m never going to have kids. While I do care what’s best for the state and for the country, I did not educate myself on this issue and so did not mark my ballot either way. (I did vote to legalise marijuana, though I have some reservations about abuse and enforcement. But if alcohol is legal, I see no reason for weed to be illegal.) So. Is this thread ‘Educate Johnny as to why charter schools should be allowed in this state or not allowed in this state’? Or is it ‘I, Doper, didn’t vote on _x_, and this is why.’? I guess we’ll see how it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-not-vote-for-charter-schools/638937/2 "2012-10-26T15:28:15Z")
Where do you live? (I don’t know what NoWA means - North Washington? (DC? State?) ) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-not-vote-for-charter-schools/638937/3 "2012-10-26T15:28:51Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Where do you live? (I don’t know what NoWA means - North Washington? (DC? State?) ) Northern Washington (state). ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-not-vote-for-charter-schools/638937/4 "2012-10-26T15:42:05Z")
Thanks. And these were state ballot amendments, California-style? I’ll add $.02 that voting NO on a proposition is not a bad default position, especially if you’re amending a state constitution. When I vote on CA ballot amendments, each one has to overcome my strong “I vote NO on most amendments” filter when I review it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-not-vote-for-charter-schools/638937/5 "2012-10-26T15:55:43Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Thanks. And these were state ballot amendments, California-style? > > I’ll add $.02 that voting NO on a proposition is not a bad default position, especially if you’re amending a state constitution. When I vote on CA ballot amendments, each one has to overcome my strong “I vote NO on most amendments” filter when I review it. Yes, California-style initiative. I don’t vote No on initiatives I haven’t researched. It might be a good thing, and by voting No I may help to stop a good thing. Of course it may also be a bad thing, and not voting against it might allow it to pass. So I only vote on the issues on which I am informed. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-not-vote-for-charter-schools/638937/6 "2012-10-28T05:46:15Z")
To respond to the OP. Generally charter schools are privately run schools that are regulated by the local school district. They get all their funding from the school district, they cannot charge students extra to attend their school over a public school. It provides students with an alternative to their district public school. Obama supports them. This is to be contrasted with voucher systems which have no redeeming qualities over charter schools.