How much of a role does the language of a ballot item play in a voter's decision? A lot, in the view of many political commentators - and of the Maryland slot machine opponents who argue that the wording of this state's November ballot item is skewed in favor of approval.

Stop Slots Maryland doesn't like it that the ballot wording emphasizes that profits from slots will be used for education. Besides providing the maximum number and general location of the machines, the item says the state is authorized to use the revenue "for education of children in public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12, public school construction and...