I admit that in the past, I have not done enough research and when it comes time to vote, I see these judges’ names and I have no clue who they are or what they represent.
I wonder how people researched before the internet. Going to the judge’s website is not always enlightening either.
Many of the descriptions of the judges in my voter’s pamphlet read about the same: “so and so has integrity, experience and honesty, plus a billion years of education, blah, blah” but then so does their opponent apparently.
I would like to know how you, personally, go about deciding which judge (or sheriff even) to vote for, especially when there does not seem to be much difference.
Yeah…Living in New York state but coming from Maryland, where we had much fewer elected positions (and levels of government) with judges appointed, I find it laughable how we are supposed to decide who to vote for for Dog Pound Court Judge. (Well, okay, I think it’s really Family Court Judge, but you get the idea.) And, of course, the judges are so restricted in what they can say that it pretty much makes the election a joke.
I vote for the challenger. If the incumbent’s been doing his job, people who have more information about that sort of things will all vote for re-election. If the incumbent’s been kind of meh, then maybe it’s time for some new blood.
That’s a good idea. Both candidates will be political hacks so there’s nothing to really determine about their qualifications. If it’s a local position, you could ask the local police chief, if you know him, and trust him, which seems unlikely if it’s a question.