Thousands of voters, celebrities, register to wrong party

[inanna]

Source: Associated Press

April 17, 2016

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A survey has found that tens of thousands of voters, including Demi Moore and other celebrities, have mistakenly registered as members of a conservative minor political party in California in a mix-up over its name, a newspaper reported Sunday.

The Los Angeles Times said that a telephone survey of 500 members of the American Independent Party found nearly 3 of 4 people did not realize they had enrolled in a political party that opposes abortion rights and same sex marriage and calls for building a fence along the U.S. border.

The newspaper said voters were confused by the use of the word "independent" in the party's name. In California, voters who do not want to register with any party must check a box on a registration form for "no party preference."

<snip>

Moore was among Hollywood celebrities with known Democratic leanings listed as members. She has contributed money to and campaigned for President Barack Obama. Her registration as an AIP member is wrong, a representative said.

"Demi Moore is not, nor has ever been, a member of the American Independent Party," the representative told the Times.


Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/thousands-voters-celebrities-register-wrong-party-205212888--politics.html

[haikugal]

1. I think the Palins are big in the AIP in Alaska.

[Skink]

2. Smirk

[Brother Buzz]

24. Todd was into the Alaskan Independent party (AIP)

The Alaskan Independent Party is closer allied with the Constitutional Party than the American Independent Party.

[haikugal]

36. That's it...thanks! nt

[csziggy]

3. Since I won't go to Yahoo: from the Los Angeles Times

Are you an independent voter? You aren't if you checked this box
The American Independent Party is California’s largest third party. A poll shows 73% may be in it by mistake. Are you one of them?
By John Myers, Christine Mai-Duc and Ben Welsh
April 17, 2016

With nearly half a million registered members, the American Independent Party is bigger than all of California's other minor parties combined. The ultraconservative party's platform opposes abortion rights and same sex marriage, and calls for building a fence along the entire United States border.

<SNIP>

But a Times investigation has found that a majority of its members have registered with the party in error. Nearly three in four people did not realize they had joined the party, a survey of registered AIP voters conducted for The Times found.

That mistake could prevent people from casting votes in the June 7 presidential primary, California's most competitive in decades.

Voters from all walks of life were confused by the use of the word “independent” in the party’s name, according to The Times analysis.

More: http://static.latimes.com/american-independent-party-california-voters/

The story goes on to say voters were confused since the name "American Independent Party" included the word "independent" - that is ridiculous and I would be embarrassed to admit to that!

AIP is clearly labeled as a party, not as an unaffiliated preference. In California people who do not want to be associated with a party have to check “no party preference”. Just because the word "independent" is in a name does not make that choice right for a voter who wants to be independent of any party.

Yes - I am blaming the victims here - voters need to pay attention to this shit since it is important. As the two major parties melt down, the choices for voters will go more and more complex, not easier.

[stopbush]

6. Exactly. The victims are responsible for their screw up.

We all know what the Ds and Rs stand for. If you're going to not register with a major arty you better damn well be sure to investigate what any third-party stands for.

Otherwise, you're part of the "I believe in Liberty, so I'm going to attend Liberty University" crowd.

You're want to make a grand political gesture that you're not a member of one of those "they're both the same" parties, and you end up joining a party that makes the Rs look sane.

[mwooldri]

15. I believe party affiliation should require some "skin in the game".

Namely membership cards and fees. Even if it's $1 a year I think that's enough for people to stop and think as to which political party they belong to. Just ticking a box on a voter registration form doesn't make you a member of a party.

[harrose]

17. Doesn't that, in effect, become a poll tax for the primaries?

eom

[Retrograde]

18. Possibly, but AFAIK Federal election laws only apply to Federal elections

States can't impose a payment requirement for the November presidential elections, but as far as I know the parties can do what they want for their own elections. I think they should reimburse states for at least part of the primary costs, especially if it's a Democratic/Republican/Green/Raving Loonie closed primary, funds for which could come from party dues.

I once voted in a local election that was limited to registered voters who were property owners (it was about placing an additional tax on said property owners to fund school programs - it passed).

[Ghost Dog]

22. Ahem.The Official Monster Raving Loony Party (UK)

is probably the sanest of the lot.

http://www.loonyparty.com/

... They are saying that the impact that we caused last year can and will be much bigger this time around, it seems that everybody is on our side!

On a sadder note I have to report the passing of one of our staunchest followers, Chris Black. Chris was with us up at the Leicester South By-election some time ago. He was probably one of the best authentic Rock’n’Roll guitarists this country had. He was on a lot of records as a session guitarist, played and performed with Screaming Lord Sutch on many occasion. I can remember Chris, myself, David and Mungo Jerry doing a riverboat shuffle on the Thames, we changed the name of ‘In the Summertime’ to ‘In the Sausage Time’ to coincide when the French were rubbishing our home grown sausages. If any of you knew him, he had the most infectious smile, and that’s how I like to remember him
So Long my Friend.
Howling

.

[Tunkamerica]

19. why not 1000 dollars?

if you can't afford it then you can't afford to vote in primaries

[mwooldri]

38. It's not the amount of money that's important.

It's more of a psychological thing.

In general people have different expectations from something they obtain for free versus something they have to pay for. My reckoning is that there would be a whole lot less incorrect party registrations and incorrect changes once money gets involved, even if it is a nominal $1. Of course the general election must not have a membership bar to voting.

However having said that it's a psychological thing setting the monetary limit too high can limit the number of participants. Maybe we have a $1/yr membership for the Democratic Party and $1000/yr for the Republican Party? Though $1000/yr would exclude the majority of the tea partiers so that would deprive me of my entertainment.

[LiberalElite]

4. There's similar confusion sometimes in New York State -

we have the Independence Party which ticket Perot ran on in '92. It's kind of a centrist mishmash. When I participated in voter registration I found lots of people who didn't want to choose a party confused by it, especially if Engish wasn't their first language.

[Journeyman]

5. Reading and Comprehension -- it's fundamental for participants in a democracy . . .

[Dont call me Shirley]

7. That's why Pearson needs to be booted out of our educational system.

[LiberalArkie]

8. I wonder if The Democratic party would object to people registering accidentally to the American

Democratic Party instead of the National Democratic Party?

[Dragonfli]

9. Is there time in California to change their registration to what they intended?

NYS (where I live) is almost like a Southern state when it comes to special rules used to disenfranchise voters (an example - two separate deadlines to register to vote, one not advertised) regarding a party affiliation verses new voter registration distinction as an example (must be a Tammany hall leftover or something), But are Californians similarly screwed out of their right to vote using such Republican like tactics as well?

I know only that one has to be a very specific sort of independent voter to vote over there.
But is it well advertised or more like NYS?

Can they still change without using a way back machine to alter history to before the primaries even start as we have to, to vote (or as in my case get a mistake that changed my registration for me fixed, because I can't get it fixed even though my party affiliation is not still what it had always been and is now one I never actually changed it to)?

[JDPriestly]

12. Yes. We must be properly registered before May 23. Don't wait until the last minute.

Do it now. Check your registration status NOW.

It's Sunday. Yes. You do have time to check and maybe change your registration RIGHT NOW.

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

It's later than you think.


Puhleese.

[Dragonfli]

14. I realize you must be talking to Cali residents, as I explained I live in NY, have always been

registered a a Democrat and checked my registration only when affiliation switching fraud was discovered in Arizona (never had to or thought to check before because in 35 years I never had such a "clerical error" kick me out of the party) sure enough, when I checked and and really thought and expected things would be as they always had been, I learned I was changed to no party affiliation.

I did not change my registration and voted in the last primary at my usual polling place, and found out that even though my party affiliation had been purged from the system without notification, and there was nothing I could do to have it corrected.

I still had time to re-register as a Democrat before that deadline was up, but was told that even though there was a "clerical error" My long time party affiliation (freshly purged) could not be put back to what it was before the tampering!

I thought perhaps it could be due to the circumstances and the fact there was still time for new voters to register, but was told, I was temporarily kicked out of the party for this election but supposedly not the next.

I have heard many others were affected the same way, and the State just plain doesn't give a shit about it.

To any California residents, beware, even if you correct any changes, or even mistakes on your part,keep checking every day until may 23 and just pray nothing happens like a "clerical error" after that but before your primary!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

20. No offense but CA has much better election systems and protocols than does NY

NY State has some of the lowest turnout in the country and NYC turnout is a lower rate than the Sate as a whole. 2014 NY was in the bottom 3 along with Indiana and Texas, less than 29% turnout. NY has myriad election problems and a great deal of voter apathy.

[Dragonfli]

21. No offense? Then why did you write such a reply? One both defensive and offensive at the same time

No offense but...

Always ends in insults usually uncalled for but...
How does it address my post? [font size="1"]the insults I mean. I suspect those are just to make you feel better or superior or something and you can consider then basically ignored.[/font]

I did not change my registration and voted in the last primary at my usual polling place, and found out that even though my party affiliation had been purged from the system without notification, and there was nothing I could do to have it corrected.

I still had time to re-register as a Democrat before that deadline was up, but was told that even though there was a "clerical error" My long time party affiliation (freshly purged) could not be put back to what it was before the tampering!

I thought perhaps it could be due to the circumstances and the fact there was still time for new voters to register, but was told, I was temporarily kicked out of the party for this election but supposedly not the next.

[Ghost Dog]

23. A class-action lawsuit might be more appropiate

than prayer.

Bust the corrupt establishment.

[Dragonfli]

26. I did send a letter to the ACLU And sent an email to the Sanders campaign, if others do so as well.

Maybe something will happen.

[Ghost Dog]

27. Good. Thank you.

It's a very serious issue.

[Hekate]

10. Gov. George Wallace, Southern segregationist, ran for pres under the AIP in 1968

Gosh, and I keep being told we old folks know diddly-squat

[Zorro]

16. Yep

And we referred to their members as AIPs back then.

[JDPriestly]

11. Yes. This is a big problem with voter registration in California.

If you are in California, you need to check your registration status right now before you forget it. There may be some surprises at the Secretary of State's website for you.

Please check it now.

[Brother Buzz]

31. Confirming your status may require a telephone call in some cases

Some online county Registrar of Voters offices' sites only confirm you are registered to vote and do not state your party affiliation. The Big question: Is this omission by design or just a lazy mistake?

[beastie boy]

13. Can we at least agree DWS didn't rig this one for Hillary?

It would be refreshing if we did...

[Blue_Tires]

25. morons...

[GummyBearz]

29. They aren't morons

Whoever made the registration document is a moron. Its formatted very confusing, with "Independent" being an actual party instead of meaning "Independent" as in politicians with a -I after their name. The actual thing to circle was "No preference".. I've never seen a -N after a politicians name. I almost made the same mistake

edit: made a memory mistake

[WhiteTara]

30. That has been on the registration form for many years

and I had to let a lot of people know that they were choosing a racist party if they chose that. But it does help to know what you are doing when you register to vote. Good that you googled it, most don't. I consider them low information voters. But I was always ready to help let them know so they would not be surprised when they couldn't vote for any candidate they wanted.

[GummyBearz]

33. This is the first primary I will be voting in

I am 34 years old, but never voted in a primary, and my mom registered me as a republican when I turned 18 (yea yea bring on the jokes). I know I needed to re-register to vote for Bernie, so I did. It sounds like you are very familiar with the form, but this is the first time I ever had a look at it, and I suspect its the first time for many others too, so I took a bit of offense at calling them morons or low information voters.

[WhiteTara]

35. Sorry to offend

I certainly don't think people are morons for not knowing, and it is a good thing that people are starting to be aware of elections before the day before the general and wonder why they don't feel represented. I hope that you will do some more research and vote for down ticket democrats and initiatives and ballot measures. Without that type of research and care, I do believe that there are many people who are low information voters. It's not that they don't care, it's just that politics are usually not sexy and there is a lot of information to slog through. Happy voting.

[snooper2]

32. "Its formatted very confusing"

LOL

[GummyBearz]

34. haha

If that minor grammatical error was confusing you would hate to see the registration form =]

[elljay]

37. Not nice or true

My mother lives in the Florida precinct in which many older Jewish voters mistakenly voted for semi-neo-Nazi Pat Buchanan back in 2000. These were elderly people who just had some problems with the forms, not with knowing for whom they really wanted to vote. My mother told me how distraught some of them were, such as a Holocaust survivor who cried at the thought that she had voted for Buchanan by mistake. Are they "morons" who deserve to be disenfranchised or our parents who may sometimes need a bit more help than they did in the past? What about people for whom English is their second language? Mistakes are made - I'm sure you've made a few in your past, too.

[GummyBearz]

28. I almost made that mistake myself

California allows independents to vote in the democratic primary, which is great because I can vote for all the dems I want and not feel like I owe allegiance to DWS and the DNC. That said, it is really stupid how California listed the party names on the registration document. I was initially going check "Independent" not knowing it was an actually a party in California. If I didn't notice the "Unaffiliated" option and then googled it I would have made the same mistake.