Editorial

Recorded votes ensure accountability

How do your state representatives and senators vote? Do you really know how they stand on important votes?

A constitutional amendment on the November ballot gives voters one more way of making sure that, at least marginally, they know the voting records of their state elected officials.

Constitutional Amendment No. 11 would require that a record vote be taken by state representatives or senators in the final passage of any bill, with the exception of certain local bills.

This amendment is a move in the right direction. For too many years, state elected officials have been able to obfuscate on their votes. They claim they did one thing, while actually voting another way. This amendment won’t solve the entire problem – the crucial votes remain on second reading or on amendments. However, with a posted record vote – and the requirement that the records be kept at least two years online – our government officials can more easily be held accountable. Public scrutiny of voting records is important for the education of voters.

Vote for amendment 11. We want to see the voting records of our representatives.