NATIONAL ELECTION
Despite criticism that both George Bush and Michael Dukakis failed to discuss substantive issues, voters went to the polls with issues on their minds. For example, one-third of voters interviewed by ABC News said abortion was the most important issue in making their choice for President. According to ABC, those citing abortion as the number-one issue voted for George Bush.
Other issues cited to ABC as key were the drug problem, the death penalty, education, and social security. Voters also faced issues at the state level:
• Abortion. In Michigan and Arkansas, voters approved measures banning Medicaid-financed abortions for the poor, except when the life of the mother is in danger. Included in the Arkansas referendum was protection of life beginning at conception. Prolife forces were also victorious in Colorado, where an effort to resume state financing of abortion was defeated.
• AIDS. Californians passed a measure requiring AIDS testing for sex offenders and persons who assault law-enforcement officials or medical personnel. However, voters in the state also defeated Rep. William Dannemeyer’s (R-Calif.) proposal to permit AIDS testing for insurance or employment purposes. Dannemeyer’s proposal would also have required doctors to report the names and addresses of people who tested positive for AIDS and would have required health officials to trace the sexual contacts of infected people.
• Gambling. State lotteries were approved in Kentucky, Indiana, Minnesota, and Idaho, and Virginians voted to legalize pari-mutuel betting at horse tracks. Church groups formed the largest opposition to Virginia’s pari-mutuel measure, and with the help of Jerry Falwell, churches contributed two-thirds of the money used to fight the measure. Last year Virginians approved a state lottery.
• Gun control. Maryland voters approved a state gun-control law banning the sale of inexpensive guns, often called “Saturday Night Specials.”
• Nuclear energy. Voters in Massachusetts defeated an initiative to close two nuclear power plants, and Nebraska voters rejected an effort to withdraw from an interstate nuclear-waste compact. Under the compact, Nebraska will begin receiving low-level nuclear waste from surrounding states.
