GOP March 2 ballot contains propositions

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http://www.coloradocountycitizen.com...ews/news03.txt

GOP March 2 ballot contains propositions
By Lu Ann Martel, Staff Writer

Voters in the March 2 Republican primary are being given an opportunity to let their government representatives know how they feel about prayer and references to God and religious subjects in public places such as schools and government buildings, as well as four other subjects that are being polled by the GOP.

The ballot for the primary allows voters to choose among the Republican candidates for various offices that are being filled, including the office of Governor of Texas, but it also contains five propositions that allow voters to answer yes or no on issues that some consider very controversial.

Proposition 4 on the ballot asks for an opinion on whether the word God, prayers and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and on public and governmental buildings and property.

The other four propositions are about requiring a valid photo I.D. for voting, limiting government spending, cutting federal income taxes to stimulate the economy, and requiring sonograms to be taken and shown to mothers before elective abortions.

According to Jean Ellis, the head of the Republican Party for Colorado County, these propositions are to give lawmakers a feel for how much support these issues have and to help guide the party in developing their platform. Voting on these issues does not cause them to become law, but it does help the representatives decide what the important issues are to the voting public.

There are no propositions on the Democratic ballot for this primary, so only people who have chosen to participate in the Republican primary can respond. In Texas, there are no registrations by party, so individuals can choose to vote on either a Republican ballot or Democratic ballot, but may only vote on one within each two-year primary period.

Polls will be open on Mar. 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the standard locations within Colorado County. A complete list of the propositions can be found at www.TexasGOP.org.