Our voting process is so screwed up

[chucky2]

I just voted in the IL primary. Despite not being a Dem or a Rep, I had to pick either one to vote for any of that parties people.

In theory, I'd rather have cast my vote for Bernie as the Dem nominee (which I did), Trump as the Rep nominee (I risked him being in front of Cruz enough to win IL...man I hope that happens), Johnson as the Ind nominee, and then watch those 3 (assuming they all won the nomination) duke it out for the general election.

Why must we continue to have a poor voting process in this country? Election after election, it's the same screwy process over and over.

Ok, rant over... :'(

 

[IronWing]

You're in Chicago and only voted once? You're doing it wrong.

 

[IronWing]

I take the opposite view. If it were my party, only card carrying, dues paying members of the party would be allowed to help select candidates. Also, I would get government out of helping parties select their candidates. No more taxpayer supported primaries.

 

[chucky2]

You're in Chicago and only voted once? You're doing it wrong.

Haha, maybe I'll go back later and cast a Trump vote? It was weird. They sent out an ID card but no one asked for that, or, any form of ID. They did have my signature on file, which they didn't really check (about a .1s glance towards it, definitely didn't verify it at all).

On an unrelated note, it's trippy being at the HS when all the kids are getting out. Seniors look like little kids now...

 

[Lash444]

Ah yes, lets turn a democratic process into one where money matters.

Oh wait.

 

[chucky2]

I take the opposite view. If it were my party, only card carrying, dues paying members of the party would be allowed to help select candidates. Also, I would get government out of helping parties select their candidates. No more taxpayer supported primaries.

I could see that too, except that might backfire on the party in the general if the regular non-card carry people (like me) can't vote, that means I'm going to vote for Ind candidate. Then when it comes to the general, they're at the mercy of their decision on who they wanted to put forward.

I'm not opposed to that though, at least then the party doesn't have contamination (intentional and unintentional) of their pick...but they'd surely completely own who they put forward then.

 

[IronWing]

Ah yes, lets turn a democratic process into one where money matters.

Oh wait.

I really don't care if parties auction off their candidacies to the highest bidder, if the results are bad, people won't vote for that party in the general.

 

[IronWing]

I could see that too, except that might backfire on the party in the general if the regular non-card carry people (like me) can't vote, that means I'm going to vote for Ind candidate. Then when it comes to the general, they're at the mercy of their decision on who they wanted to put forward.

I'm not opposed to that though, at least then the party doesn't have contamination (intentional and unintentional) of their pick...but they'd surely completely own who they put forward then.

As they should. I want candidates who reflect and support the party platform. If the platform sucks, then the party loses, which is good.

 

[flexy]

Sorry, trying to understand. You complain because you had to pick one, only one, either dem or rep and then cast this one vote?

Doesn't this make more sense than a Dem casting a vote, for BOTH? Why would a Dem want to vote (aka: support) for the rep nominee? Your system IS screwed up but only being able to cast ONE vote there I don't see as wrong.

 

[soundforbjt]

You're in Chicago and only voted once? You're doing it wrong.

I thought the state motto was: Vote Early Vote Often

 

[chucky2]

Sorry, trying to understand. You complain because you had to pick one, only one, either dem or rep and then cast this one vote?

Doesn't this make more sense than a Dem casting a vote, for BOTH? Why would a Dem want to vote (aka: support) for the rep nominee? Your system IS screwed up but only being able to cast ONE vote there I don't see as wrong.

Well, I see this as going one of two ways:

1.) People are able to pick one candidate from each major party. This gives everyone a say in who they'd like to see run in the general. Obviously though, you get Dems voting for who they think they can beat in the general and vice versa, so this way does pollute each parties nominee.

2.) Do it as IronWing points out, with maybe the exception of also being able to chose one or two Ind party candidates (or an order of preference type vote).

Honestly I'd be OK with either way.

 

[Moonbeam]

I just voted in the IL primary. Despite not being a Dem or a Rep, I had to pick either one to vote for any of that parties people.

In theory, I'd rather have cast my vote for Bernie as the Dem nominee (which I did), Trump as the Rep nominee (I risked him being in front of Cruz enough to win IL...man I hope that happens), Johnson as the Ind nominee, and then watch those 3 (assuming they all won the nomination) duke it out for the general election.

Why must we continue to have a poor voting process in this country? Election after election, it's the same screwy process over and over.

Ok, rant over... :'(

Because Americans are indifferent.

 

[IronWing]

...
2.) Do it as IronWing points out, with maybe the exception of also being able to chose one or two Ind party candidates (or an order of preference type vote).

Honestly I'd be OK with either way.

I'd also put all parties on an equal footing for getting on the ballot. Every party, regardless of prior election results would have to qualify for the ballot by petition. No more free rides for the major parties.

 

[soulcougher73]

Between super delegates and the EC its all rigged.

 

[GettyRoad]

Because Americans are indifferent.

True. Most Americans know about Howard Stern and Don Imus and Jennifer Lawrence than politics.

 

[Sonikku]

Between super delegates and the EC its all rigged.

This.

It's also why I sorta wish Trump wins the nomination so when it gets yanked from him at the convention it will expose how the people's choice is basically meaningless. If Cruz barely inches out trump for the nom it will be a "Of course your vote mattered!" facade.

 

[ElFenix]

I really don't care if parties auction off their candidacies to the highest bidder, if the results are bad, people won't vote for that party in the general.

And when both parties put forth bad candidates and 60% of the electorate doesn't bother, what then?

 

[IronWing]

And when both parties put forth bad candidates and 60% of the electorate doesn't bother, what then?

Business as usual. This is why leveling the playing field for ballot access is important. If the current major parties suck, it would be easier to dump them in favor of better parties.

 

[SheHateMe]

I voted in VA on the other Super Tuesday and they asked you to say if you were voting democrat or republican when you were checking in (yes, they checked ID and also looked you up on the computer)...they they gave you a red or blue card depending on what you said, then you had to wait in line with people and their cards until you could get your ballot folder.

It was weird as hell. People shouldn't have to identify themselves to vote. I saw some people hiding their cards.

 

[ElFenix]

Business as usual. This is why leveling the playing field for ballot access is important. If the current major parties suck, it would be easier to dump them in favor of better parties.

Ballot access isn't the major problem - developing candidates is. And to do that you need to get elected. Damn near impossible in a first past the post system.

That's actually going to be a big problem for democrats going forward, IMHO. With fewer demos in office than in ages (ever?), there are fewer quality candidates to run in elections higher up the ballot.

 

[nickqt]

I thought the state motto was: Vote Early Vote Often

That's the official Democratic party motto. Typically we get the memo when early voting starts, and then it's just a frantic rush as we hit every single polling location to vote 30-40 times each.

 

[lopri]

Here is a fine example of a Tea Party candidate.

I'm You.

Check out her illustrious career @Wiki.

I do not see her much different than The Duck. If she were born with silver spoon (and a penis) like The Duck, she might have been a GOP's presidential nominee. Too bad she had to settle for a Senate election.

 

[chucky2]

I'd also put all parties on an equal footing for getting on the ballot. Every party, regardless of prior election results would have to qualify for the ballot by petition. No more free rides for the major parties.

I don't understand what you mean by this. Wouldn't the sheer size of the Dem and Rep parties basically automatically make them be able to meet this?

 

[chucky2]

And when both parties put forth bad candidates and 60% of the electorate doesn't bother, what then?

This wouldn't be that bad I think, it'd give Ind a better chance of being elected.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Voting process is worthless. It's always been screwed up.....and even if it wasn't, it matters none.

What's really screwed up is the people choosing to participate and keep electing screwed up people that lie to get in the office and never deliver what they promise.