Anyone else blocked from voting in primaries?

[DaveSimmons]

Very weak rant:

I'm not a member of either party, which in Washington state means I'd have to perjure myself to vote in next month's presidential primaries.

There aren't really candidates in either party that I'd be voting for though, so I guess it doesn't matter much.

 

[TheSlamma]

Non affiliates not being able to vote in primaries is old news man... and yah it does suck for us.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Yeah, could someone explain what the justification/rationale/juju is for requiring you vote for one party's candidates or the other?

 

[PottedMeat]

'oath' - that craps not legally binding. can't you just take it and vote for who you want?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
'oath' - that craps not legally binding. can't you just take it and vote for who you want?

It's still perjury even if there is zero chance of being prosecuted. One of the burdens of being a Goody Two-shoes is caring about that

Also, for those more ethically flexible, the state provides your personal information to the party you're claiming to be in for spamming purposes. The Do Not Call list doesn't apply to political spam.

 

[nageov3t]

why should a democrat get to vote in a republican primary?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat
'oath' - that craps not legally binding. can't you just take it and vote for who you want?

how old are you? sounds like we need to edjumicate cosernin ethiks!!

 

[PrinceofWands]

Yup, it's total ass...then again I'm not a fan of parties at all, so primaries are kind of a bad point with me anyway.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: loki8481
why should a democrat get to vote in a republican primary?

Why should you have to have a 'party' to participate in your own government?

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer
Yeah, could someone explain what the justification/rationale/juju is for requiring you vote for one party's candidates or the other?

Because it's the parties' event to elect a nominee to run in the election for the various offices so they get to make the rules. In some states, the various parties' primaries are not even on the same day. In California (my state), non-affiliated voters can vote in the Democratic primary because the Dems decided to allow it, but the Republicans didn't.

Meanwhile, anyone else who can meet the requirements to be on the ballot under their own party can still do it. That's why there's talk of third party runs by Michael Bloomberg, Ron Paul and even that Ralph Nader is considering running again.

You would still be allowed vote in your state if there are ballot measures, such as bond issues or initiatives, on the ballot.

 

[Vic]

You don't have to proclaim eternal allegiance to any party, just that you won't vote in both parties' primaries:

Text

Every registered voter may vote in the Presidential Primary. Depending on the county, just as in a regular primary, voters will either receive a consolidated ballot or separate party ballots.
Each voter must sign a one party oath, which will appear in the poll book for those voting at the polls, or on the envelope for those voting by mail.

The major parties drafted the oaths to which voters must attest. They are:

Republican: I declare that I am a member of the Republican party and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2008 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

Democrat: I declare that I consider myself to be a DEMOCRAT and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2008 Presidential election.

I agree that it seems overly restrictive. In Oregon, they just go by the partisan affiliation you chose at the time you registered, and which you are allowed to change only once every election.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: loki8481
why should a democrat get to vote in a republican primary?

Why should you have to have a 'party' to participate in your own government?

You don't have to be part of a party to participate in government. The party primaries are just used to determine, by the party's members, who will be running for whatever offices are available during the next election.

If you're not part of a party, you're still free to vote anyone to that office during the actual election.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: loki8481
why should a democrat get to vote in a republican primary?

Why should you have to have a 'party' to participate in your own government?

You don't have to be part of a party to participate in government. The party primaries are just used to determine, by the party's members, who will be running for whatever offices are available during the next election.

If you're not part of a party, you're still free to vote anyone to that office during the actual election.

I realize that. But let's look at a possible scenerio (that has actually already happened):

You're a registered Republican. In the upcoming primary the republican nominees are both evil wretched assholes. In the Democratic primary there is one evil bastard and one ok candidate. You want to vote in the Democratic primary because it's important to make sure that the good candidate gets the backing of the party so that you can vote for that person in the actual election. Under certain primary systems that wouldn't be possible, and is therefore preventing you from participating in the government process.

 

[FoBoT]

can we get a link or something? missouri has an open primary too, what is it you are talking aboot?

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: loki8481
why should a democrat get to vote in a republican primary?

open primaries are open
if the state doesn't want an open primary, they can switch to a closed primary
it isn't rocket science

 

[daveshel]

AZ has open primaries for everything except the presidential election. I guess it's to prevent exactly what I would do: vote for a losing candidate in the opposition party.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
can we get a link or something? missouri has an open primary too, what is it you are talking aboot?

See Vic's post above for WA:
- I declare that I am a member of the Republican party
- I declare that I consider myself to be a DEMOCRAT

I can't honestly say yes to either statement, so (being honest) no voting for me.

Fortunately loyalty oaths are not required for the elections, just the primaries.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: loki8481
why should a democrat get to vote in a republican primary?

Why should you have to have a 'party' to participate in your own government?

You don't have to be part of a party to participate in government. The party primaries are just used to determine, by the party's members, who will be running for whatever offices are available during the next election.

If you're not part of a party, you're still free to vote anyone to that office during the actual election.

I realize that. But let's look at a possible scenerio (that has actually already happened):

You're a registered Republican. In the upcoming primary the republican nominees are both evil wretched assholes. In the Democratic primary there is one evil bastard and one ok candidate. You want to vote in the Democratic primary because it's important to make sure that the good candidate gets the backing of the party so that you can vote for that person in the actual election. Under certain primary systems that wouldn't be possible, and is therefore preventing you from participating in the government process.

That's exactly the situation I was in. I'm a registered R and I wouldn't vote for any of the candidates so I didn't bother to vote in the primary. I would have liked to vote for Obama but I didn't think I could vote a Dem candidate.

Originally posted by: daveshel
AZ has open primaries for everything except the presidential election. I guess it's to prevent exactly what I would do: vote for a losing candidate in the opposition party.

I considered doing that.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Very weak rant:

I'm not a member of either party, which in Washington state means I'd have to perjure myself to vote in next month's presidential primaries.

There aren't really candidates in either party that I'd be voting for though, so I guess it doesn't matter much.

If you're not a memeber of the party (whichever one) I don't see why you should be able to vote in THEIR primary to nominate THEIR candidate,

Primary =! gov election. It's a NOMINATION process.

Fern

 

[Foxery]

In New York, you have to make any changes to your political registration 30 days before the primary to be allowed to vote. I found out this "slight" detail 20 days before mine.

Obviously someone thinks this is perfectly reasonable. I should plan ahead more, blah blah blah. But from where I'm standing... Where the hell is my basic freedom to vote for my government? I'm denied a voice until November.

/sigh
/rant

edit:
In reponse to the above... The primary still determines who winds up in the big chair in the end. The right to participate in a democracy shouldn't involve joining a club -- I'm already a member, simply by being an American citizen.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Foxery
-snip-
edit:
In reponse to the above... The primary still determines who winds up in the big chair in the end. The right to participate in a democracy shouldn't involve joining a club -- I'm already a member, simply by being an American citizen.

No, the primary determines who each party selects to be THEIR candidate.

In the general election you can vote for whom you please.

Many parties don't even have primaries, their leadership just picks who they want.

Don't go thinking that the Dems are a whole lot different. The whole point of the Dem "Super Delegates" is to overrule the voting party members if the leadership doesn't like their choice. See the history and purpose of the Super Delegates, they came about following McGovern's nomination and loss.

BTW: If you really want to participate - do so, staying uninvolved and then jumping in at the last second to decide others' business isn't particpating in any meaningful way.

Fern

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Very weak rant:

I'm not a member of either party, which in Washington state means I'd have to perjure myself to vote in next month's presidential primaries.

There aren't really candidates in either party that I'd be voting for though, so I guess it doesn't matter much.

If you're not a memeber of the party (whichever one) I don't see why you should be able to vote in THEIR primary to nominate THEIR candidate,

Primary =! gov election. It's a NOMINATION process.

Fern

Except that my tax dollars are paying for this state-run primary. Caucuses fit your objection better.

Like I said though, a very weak rant

BTW: If you really want to participate - do so, staying uninvolved and then jumping in at the last second to decide others' business isn't particpating in any meaningful way.

I don't agree with the platform of either party, none of the candidates fill me with enthusiasm, and third parties have no chance of winning.

So I give the money to charity instead, and use the time to read a book or watch a movie.

 

[StepUp]

I like USA... Thank

 

[Pyrokinetic]

Right with ya DaveSimmons, as a fellow Washingtonian, primaries are perplexing. I have voted mostly Republican over the years but I cannot hold my nose and hope for the best anymore. I just cannot stomach the Republican party anymore. Can't say I really like the Democrats either (either Party will spend this nation into bankruptcy -- just different reasons for doing so) but I kinda like Obama so I guess I'll lie about the pledge and pretend to be a Democrat for the state primary. Please America, no more Clintons or Bushes (or Bush wannabes) -- we need some somebody with some fresh ideas.

 

[BoomerD]

As I mentioned in this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2149747&enterthread=y

Here in Kahleeforneeya, the Democrats have opened the primary voting to registered Democrats and independents, while the Republicans have limited the voting in the Republican primary to ONLY registered Republicans.

It sounds like the Republicans are afraid someone might "vote for the worst" and try to skew the primary results...or help get a non-contender nominated.
For you Ron Paul supporters, that will keep any cross-over voters or independent voters from voting for your candidate. I think that will hurt Ron Paul's chances here badly.