State Marriage Amendment Supporters Determined to Turn Out Values Vote
by Jeff Johnson
November 2, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Eight U.S. states are within days of considering constitutional amendments to define marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman. Pro-family activists in several of these states are working hard to turn out the vote on November 7; but in at least one state, their attempts are being overshadowed by another issue of concern.
One of the eight states with marriage amendments on the ballot is Idaho. As in other states considering such measures, pro-family advocates there say voter turnout could be the deciding factor. Julie Lynde of Idaho's Marriage Protection Alliance says they are doing what they can to encourage "values voters" to go to the polls next Tuesday.
"We have been sending out mailers and flyers and doing radio," Lynde notes, "and it looks as if people will turn out to vote. I would estimate that they will turn out here in Idaho in greater numbers than in prior off-year elections."
The Marriage Protection Alliance spokeswoman says this defense of marriage amendment has been before the Idaho Legislature in one form or another for the past three years. The reason for that, she points out, is the people of Idaho and their strong desire to protect natural marriage.
This amendment has stayed before Idaho lawmakers because "the citizens have wanted it," Lynde says, "and all of our polling shows that the citizens still want it. Even the liberal newspaper out here had a poll that indicated that it would pass."
Another of the eight states preparing to take up the marriage protection issue on the November ballot is South Dakota. In fact, three issues of concern to pro-family voters will appear on that state's ballot next Tuesday: the Defense of Marriage Amendment, repeal of video lottery, and a ban on abortion.
Rob Regier of the South Dakota Family Policy Council believes having these multiple areas of concern addressed in the election will help motivate pro-family citizens to get to the polls on the 7th. "You've got three values issues like that on the ballot," he says. "I think that's going to do wonders for turning out those values voters."
Gauging the Effect of the New Jersey Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
However, because of the attention focused on the abortion ban, Regier says it is not easy to call how the vote on the marriage amendment will go. On the other hand, he notes, one thing has helped to raise the profile of the marriage amendment in the eyes of many voters -- namely, the recent decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court, which recently ruled that homosexual couples are entitled to the same privileges and benefits of marriage to which heterosexual couples have access.
The New Jersey high court gave the Legislature six months to decide whether to recognize same-sex "marriage" or to create civil unions for homosexuals in that state. According to Regier, the significance of that court's action has not escaped values voters in his own state, and he expects the incident to have a widespread effect.
"When we see things like [what happened in] New Jersey, people here get a little worried," the South Dakota pro-family advocate says. "I think that's going to really help all of the other states that are trying to pass marriage amendments," he adds. "It was unfortunate, the ruling; but it was good timing, politically speaking."
Although many factors are now in play that could influence the upcoming vote, Regier feels recent events have raised pro-family voters' awareness of what is at stake, and he is confident enough to make a prediction. "I'm sure South Dakota won't become the first state to lose a marriage amendment," he says.
The other states considering similar amendments are Arizona, Colorado, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Among these, Colorado is unique in that it is also considering an amendment that would legalize same-sex civil unions.
Jeff Johnson, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
