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So, today was Arizona's primary election. Have I told you how much I HATE Arizona's voting laws?

I drop the chillin's off at school, and drive down to the normal voting place. Stand in line, show them my drivers license, and (surprise, surprise) I'm in the wrong place. My fucking voting station changes about every 3rd election, so I get BACK in my car, drive 5 miles down the road to a local church, STAND IN LINE AGAIN, show them my drivers license, get my ballot, go into the booth and find out I CAN ONLY VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS.

How many other states have that issue? I'm a registered Republican, and there are a handful of democrats I wanted to vote for on this ballot, but I'll have to wait and hope they make it to the GENERAL election. Pisses me off that I can't vote across party lines in the primary....

I wonder if I can register as an independent?

AZGrizFan wrote:there are a handful of democrats I wanted to vote for on this ballot

I'm sure there are

AZGrizFan wrote:So, today was Arizona's primary election. Have I told you how much I HATE Arizona's voting laws?

I drop the chillin's off at school, and drive down to the normal voting place. Stand in line, show them my drivers license, and (surprise, surprise) I'm in the wrong place. My fucking voting station changes about every 3rd election, so I get BACK in my car, drive 5 miles down the road to a local church, STAND IN LINE AGAIN, show them my drivers license, get my ballot, go into the booth and find out I CAN ONLY VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS.

How many other states have that issue? I'm a registered Republican, and there are a handful of democrats I wanted to vote for on this ballot, but I'll have to wait and hope they make it to the GENERAL election. Pisses me off that I can't vote across party lines in the primary....

I wonder if I can register as an independent?

Mine changed last year, luckily it was in the caferteria of the elementary school down the street, I was in the gym.

I'm a registered "Independant", well at least I was. I got a notice in the mail saying if I didn't respond, I would be moved to "Unnaffiliated" as "Independant" is a new party apparently.

Maryland has closed primaries too. You can only vote for your own party candidates. So I don't vote in the primaries. A lot of Marylanders are registered Democrats because in most districts whichever Dem candiate wins the primary, with the election, thus the primaries are the real election to those who really give a shit.

Delaware also has closed primaries. They prevent jackwagons like you from screwing things up for the other side!

I hope you did your duty for Mr. McCain.

Ivytalk wrote:Delaware also has closed primaries. They prevent jackwagons like you from screwing things up for the other side!

I hope you did your duty for Mr. McCain.

I did, given that the alternative was JD (Blowhard) Hayworth.

89Hen wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:there are a handful of democrats I wanted to vote for on this ballot

I'm sure there are

Let's put it this way: There will never be a vote cast by AZGrizFan for Joe Arpaio (R), Andrew Thomas (R), Tom Horne (R), Rick Romley (R).

If THOSE are my choices in their various offices (Sheriff, AG, AG, County Attorney), I WILL vote Democrat. In fact, I've voted against Arpaio every election since I've been in AZ. I've never cast a vote for any of these clowns.

andy7171 wrote:Maryland has closed primaries too. You can only vote for your own party candidates. So I don't vote in the primaries. A lot of Marylanders are registered Democrats because in most districts whichever Dem candiate wins the primary, with the election, thus the primaries are the real election to those who really give a shit.

Especially in my county. Me voting in the primaries is to determine first loser. F'n county sucks.

North Carolina has closed primaries, but if you are registered as unaffiliated you can choose which primary to vote in on election day.

I've had the same problem with changes in the voting locations, something like three in ten years.

PA's got closed primaries - you can only vote for the party you are registered with. Pretty much makes registering as an Independent an exercise in self-denial, as you are locked out of the primaries if you do so.

In Virginia, you can vote in either primary, but you have to promise not to vote in the other one. I only voted in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries...for Hillary Clinton. I would've voted for her for prez to, she did a good job the first 8 years with Bill as the figurehead.

Primary elections are run by the government on the behalf of the political parties. So give your state parties a phone call if you want your setup changed. If you are looking for a Blanket Primary, were you get both parties on one ballot, you are out of luck as it has been deemed unconstitutional (California Democratic Party v. Jones). Although a "Nonpartisan Blanket Primary" is possible, and I think Lousiana has one.

Problems with it:

1 The top two candidates can be from the same party.
2 Vote Splitting, unless there is runoff voting in place. You have two republicans running and one democrat, so if the the reps get say 30% & 25% of the total vote, then the dem wins with 45%.
3 How many voters will be able to identify simple platforms and stances without a D or an R next to the name, especially in down ballot races?
4 If you have a strong candidate or incumbent from one party, informed voters can vote for the oppositions least electible candidate to make for an easy General Election victory.



BTW

AZGrizFan wrote: I drop the chillin's off at school, and drive down to the normal voting place. Stand in line, show them my drivers license, and (surprise, surprise) I'm in the wrong place. My **** voting station changes about every 3rd election, so I get BACK in my car, drive 5 miles down the road to a local church, STAND IN LINE AGAIN, show them my drivers license, get my ballot, go into the booth and find out I CAN ONLY VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS.

Did you move, or did the polling places change?

AZGrizFan wrote:

89Hen wrote: I'm sure there are

Let's put it this way: There will never be a vote cast by AZGrizFan for Joe Arpaio (R), Andrew Thomas (R), Tom Horne (R), Rick Romley (R).

If THOSE are my choices in their various offices (Sheriff, AG, AG, County Attorney), I WILL vote Democrat. In fact, I've voted against Arpaio every election since I've been in AZ. I've never cast a vote for any of these clowns.

What is wrong with Romley? He seems to be pretty honest.

89Hen wrote:

andy7171 wrote:Maryland has closed primaries too. You can only vote for your own party candidates. So I don't vote in the primaries. A lot of Marylanders are registered Democrats because in most districts whichever Dem candiate wins the primary, with the election, thus the primaries are the real election to those who really give a shit.

Especially in my county. Me voting in the primaries is to determine first loser. F'n county sucks.

A couple years ago, the republicans opened up their primary vote to include independants. So I went to vote for who ever was running against the honorable Elijah Cummings, my F-stick representative. Lucky me, he was running un-opposed that year. FML.

Also, vote an absentee ballot or "early voting" in the case of AZ.

It has to suck royalty to not be able to vote your conscious. I hope that I never have to experience that.

AZGrizFan wrote:So, today was Arizona's primary election. Have I told you how much I HATE Arizona's voting laws?

I drop the chillin's off at school, and drive down to the normal voting place. Stand in line, show them my drivers license, and (surprise, surprise) I'm in the wrong place. My **** voting station changes about every 3rd election, so I get BACK in my car, drive 5 miles down the road to a local church, STAND IN LINE AGAIN, show them my drivers license, get my ballot, go into the booth and find out I CAN ONLY VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS.

How many other states have that issue? I'm a registered Republican, and there are a handful of democrats I wanted to vote for on this ballot, but I'll have to wait and hope they make it to the GENERAL election. Pisses me off that I can't vote across party lines in the primary....

I wonder if I can register as an independent?

You can only vote one party here in Montana as well during the primarys.