Spring Break
The gay marriage question
State voters to decide on Constitutional Convention
Eric Walsh
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: Election Special
Election Day 2008 brings one of the most highly anticipated presidential elections in American history. With so much at stake, it is easy to forget that choosing the next commander in chief is not the only decision that will appear on Tuesday's ballot.
For the first time since 1986, Connecticut voters this year are presented with the option of forcing a state constitutional convention, during which delegates can rework the entire constitution. "Question One" on the ballot asks the following: "Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the Constitution of the State?"
The question appears on the ballot in general elections every 20 years, as stipulated in the current constitution. It is coincidental that the question will appear this year, about a month after a controversial state Supreme Court ruling legalized gay marriage.
On Oct. 10, Connecticut became the third state following California and Massachusetts to allow gay marriage. The Connecticut Supreme Court, in a 4-3 ruling, gave same-sex couples the right to wed. Now, opponents of gay marriage are looking to the ballot as a way to reverse that decision.
"This is our one opportunity for the people to have a voice, for the people to be heard, for them to decide whether marriage will be protected as between a man and a woman," said Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, in a press release.
The Family Institute is one of several groups around the state pushing for a convention. They hope - given enough "yes" votes tomorrow - that a convention will be held and an amendment outlawing gay marriage will be incorporated into the constitution.
However, unlike this year's ballot referendum in California which will decide whether to ban gay marriage outright, voters in Connecticut are being asked only to consider if they want a constitutional convention. The process toward constitutionally banning gay marriage in Connecticut after Election Day would be a long and expensive one, and a special amendment to the Constitution would not be guaranteed.
For the first time since 1986, Connecticut voters this year are presented with the option of forcing a state constitutional convention, during which delegates can rework the entire constitution. "Question One" on the ballot asks the following: "Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the Constitution of the State?"
The question appears on the ballot in general elections every 20 years, as stipulated in the current constitution. It is coincidental that the question will appear this year, about a month after a controversial state Supreme Court ruling legalized gay marriage.
On Oct. 10, Connecticut became the third state following California and Massachusetts to allow gay marriage. The Connecticut Supreme Court, in a 4-3 ruling, gave same-sex couples the right to wed. Now, opponents of gay marriage are looking to the ballot as a way to reverse that decision.
"This is our one opportunity for the people to have a voice, for the people to be heard, for them to decide whether marriage will be protected as between a man and a woman," said Peter Wolfgang, executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, in a press release.
The Family Institute is one of several groups around the state pushing for a convention. They hope - given enough "yes" votes tomorrow - that a convention will be held and an amendment outlawing gay marriage will be incorporated into the constitution.
However, unlike this year's ballot referendum in California which will decide whether to ban gay marriage outright, voters in Connecticut are being asked only to consider if they want a constitutional convention. The process toward constitutionally banning gay marriage in Connecticut after Election Day would be a long and expensive one, and a special amendment to the Constitution would not be guaranteed.
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