More Than 300,000 California Voters Accidentally Registered for Ultra-Conservative Political Party
Source: New York Magazine
The American Independent Party, an ultra-conservative political party in California that opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriage and wants to build a Trump-esque fence along the entire United States border, is bigger than all of California's other minor parties combined. With more than half a million members, the AIP calls itself the "fastest-growing political party in California." <snip>
...misled by the word "independent" in the AIP's name, thousands of people accidentally declared their allegiance to a party whose beliefs don't align with their own. And while independent voters (those who checked "no party affiliation" can vote in the state's closed Democratic presidential primary, those registered with the far-right party cannot.
As the Times points out, the mistake could have real consequences in the upcoming California primary, which is one of the most important for candidates in both parties. Although voters still have time to change their registration before the May 23 deadline, there's a good chance many won't find out about the mishap until it's too late. But the AIP's chairman, Mark Seidenberg, blamed the mishap on people's ineptitude when it comes to paperwork. "I'm sorry that people got confused," he said.
Read more: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/04/360000-californians-register-for-wrong-party.html
You can check your California registration online to be sure (by County):
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/registration-status/
RandySF
(59,221 posts)Red Mountain
(1,737 posts)though it is of some concern to me that your first reaction is to attempt to drive another wedge into our party.
Why is that?
maxsolomon
(33,400 posts)MynameisBlarney
(2,979 posts)I doubt that they would do this.
This is more likely the work of GOTP operatives.
RiverNoord
(1,150 posts)There really is such a party, it met the criteria in the state to be on the voter registration list, and its name was accurately represented on the documentation.
I don't think that California is able to include 'don't sign up with these creeps - they're racist neo-Nazis!' on the documentation...
egalitegirl
(362 posts)Many people are naive and believe that the DNC does not get money from Wall Street and does not support the Military Industrial Complex and does not support going to war and that the Clintons are not close friends and partners of the Bush family. So yes, you are right that the DNC could have done this.
Sounds to me like a "Failure to read the fine print" plot!
"Duhhhhhh....it's got 'Independent' in it, so it MUST be GOOD!"
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Facebook, Twitter, phone calls, just TALK it up!
I was actually surprised that the Times covered it...hope it didn't cut into their 24/7 Rump and PukeBagger coverage...
anigbrowl
(13,889 posts)Also New York magazine =/= the New York Times just because they both have the words 'New York' in them. It's ironically amusing that you'd make this mistake on a thread about people mistakenly signing up for a party they probably don't want to be a member of.
agracie
(950 posts)No Party Preference.
http://voteforbernie.org
appalachiablue
(41,171 posts)*Another Post from Yesterday, *Impt. CALIFORNIA VOTING Info., Contacts, Registration Deadline:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/104013623
dhill926
(16,355 posts)Anyone who made this mistake, simply wasn't paying enough attention.
braddy
(3,585 posts)still_one
(92,394 posts)tomm2thumbs
(13,297 posts)Online registration is actually confusing -- the form implies that selecting the correct option means you won't be able to vote for President. Instead of saying "select if you have No Party Preference" they say choose this if you do not want to DISCLOSE a political party preference (implying that you may have a preference but don't want to disclose it.) Those are two different things.
here is the wording from the site (emphasis mine)
No, I do not want to disclose a political party preference. *
(If you select no, you may not be able to vote for some parties' candidates at a primary election for the U.S. president or party committee.)
_____
Further, it says American Independent, not American Independent PARTY, so it is not clear that is an actual party just by those two words alone.
_____
Lastly, some of those who made the error were VERY involved in politics, so this 'paying enough attention' wouldn't necessarily apply. Among the 300,000 or so were Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of the former governor (a family spokesman said he now plans to change his registration), Geralyn Buscaino, wife of Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino, and Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom -- oh, and even two staff members of The Times.
_____
Also, I was VERY MUCH paying attention while changing my affiliation online, and made the error. With all the strange things going on in Arizona, something told me to check further into it and that is when I realized I had done the same thing, so I updated it manually.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)Further, it says American Independent, not American Independent PARTY, so it is not clear that is an actual party just by those two words alone.
Q: does the form use the word "party" for the D and R choice?
RiverNoord
(1,150 posts)I was wondering the same thing. Any idea?
csziggy
(34,137 posts)At the top of this link they show a close up of the voter registration form:
http://static.latimes.com/american-independent-party-california-voters/
I can't show it here - it is a GIF.
It's unfortunate that since they list the parties in alphabetical order, AIP is first, followed by "Democratic Party," "Green Party," Libertarian Party," "Peace and Freedom Party," and "Republican Party" - http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/political-parties/qualified-political-parties/
The same site has a page for statements of purpose from each recognized party: http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/political-parties/
And a page explaining No Party Preference Information: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/political-parties/no-party-preference/
It's not as if any of this is hidden. It's more likely the people registering are not paying attention.
alittlelark
(18,890 posts)I mistakenly joined that party.... fixed it a few months later.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)These are the people we pander to every election.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)tomm2thumbs
(13,297 posts)Hekate
(90,793 posts)Living at home, in high school, not able to vote until 21. Deary deary me, the woman should be burned at the stake for not seeing the light until she got into college. No excuses -- not even allowing for the fact that she worked on the Eugene McCarthy campaign in '68.
tomm2thumbs
(13,297 posts)try again. you funny
Duval
(4,280 posts)I'm really sorry you chose to remain uninformed. Have a nice day, though.
Duval
(4,280 posts)Jitter65
(3,089 posts)Pot and alcohol impair the brain.
FlaGranny
(8,361 posts)I'm a Bernie supporter and a 76 year old woman. Don't insult me and others like that. It's not cool.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)FlaGranny
(8,361 posts)lifelong Democrat living in Florida.
Duval
(4,280 posts)I'm 77 TODAY!! I love your spunk!
FlaGranny
(8,361 posts)Bohemianwriter
(978 posts)Coming from a camp that has screamed up about sexism and racism and dishonesty on the other side while staunclhy defending a corporate crook like Hillary.
Way to go to win that election in November if Hillary and DNC steals the election.
With this attitude, the DNC will lose an entire generation of voters and the presidency...And don't blame anyone else for ones own snotty attitude. Reminds me too much about some juvenile delinquent who follows Alex Jones.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)Amazing.
I recommend that all of Bernie's fans pool their resources and start a public information campaign to round up all those strayed sheep and bring them home to the Democratic Party so they can vote for Bernard.
tomm2thumbs
(13,297 posts)Duval
(4,280 posts)Hekate
(90,793 posts)Like Hillary, the first candidate I worked for was Senator Eugene McCarthy (D), and one of the other candidates for president that year was Governor George Wallace (AIP). I remember what a rabid *hole he was then, too.
Turning 21 in 1968 was a real trip. Despite the terrible grief, one of the things that came out of that crucible for many of us was that we became lifelong Democrats because we could see the alternatives.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)That was the name of George Wallace's party in 1968
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)No, being "independent" does not make you special, jerkoff.
Zira
(1,054 posts)CORRUPTION, to expect a hide if I flag your disgusting post.
I deeply regret donating to this site and am grappling leaving because of the low brow posters like yourself.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)....and membership has its privileges: you can put everyone you don't like on Ignore, and your days will be peaceful.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)I have been since I registered to vote at age 18.
You will not shame me on Democratic Underground.
appalachiablue
(41,171 posts)29% and Republicans 26%. As a Democrat and American the increase in Independent voters and the steady decline of the two corporate Coke & Pepsi political parties is very important to acknowledge and take into account. That is If you're interested in winning elections. But continue denigrating "idiots", aka Independents.
Duval
(4,280 posts)Thank you for providing a link for registration online (CA voters). This will be helpful for many.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)conservative.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)And since that was then and this is now, they got to call themselves what they wanted, not what you want. They got there first.
Things don't always mean what you think they mean.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)They have no one to blame but themselves.
WhiteTara
(29,722 posts)for anyone except a nasty racist in the primaries.
anigbrowl
(13,889 posts)Although frankly I don't think this is such a good thing because it ends up marginalizing small parties.
WhiteTara
(29,722 posts)if you state a party, that's your party primary, if you decline to state, you can vote in any party.
anigbrowl
(13,889 posts)I often forget to make that distinction.
Xithras
(16,191 posts)There's a reason why they're the biggest third party in California, and it's not because California has more Nazi's than Green's. The name was selected BECAUSE it causes confusion and gets them registered. It's the best advertising the party could ask for, and more importantly, it gets them a list of politically active people to reach out to every year.
This party is a big part of the reason why California changed the old "Decline To State" option to "No Party Preference" for independent voters. Decline To State was somewhat unclear for people unfamiliar with the party system, and it suggested that you HAVE a party and simply wish to hide it. NPP was implemented to eliminate the confusion.
I'm an NPP, and have been since the open primaries were first implemented in 2004.
djg21
(1,803 posts)The Independence Party has an enrollment of persons who aren't particularly politically aware who believed they were registering as independents rather than enrolling is a minor political party comprised of crackpots. It's a travesty.
Bohemianwriter
(978 posts)This is becoming a pattern.
muntrv
(14,505 posts)ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)Hmmm, and I made sure a month ago to register, again.
onecaliberal
(32,894 posts)ghostsinthemachine
(3,569 posts)Only need the Addy, zip, birthdays.. No other option
onecaliberal
(32,894 posts)procon
(15,805 posts)California uses a semi-closed system for its primary contests. Voters registered as Democrats and Republicans can vote in those primaries, as can those without a party preference -- the unaligned voters -- can also vote. So even if someone did mistakenly registered with the wrong party, they still can't vote in either major party's primary.
yardwork
(61,703 posts)Lordquinton
(7,886 posts)It's one of the biggest problems we face in politics, and there are people here, on this progressive liberal site laughing about it.
Sad, sad day.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)Maybe from one of those Latin American countries we tutored so well. Get Jimmy Carter to oversee the overseers .
Bucky
(54,065 posts)it might be a viable way to force the California Democratic Party to move in a more progressive direction
Unicorn
(424 posts)Firebrand Gary
(5,044 posts)Sincerely, a member of DEMOCRATIC Underground.
baldguy
(36,649 posts)baldguy
(36,649 posts)If they're too gullible and/or stupid to register correctly after jumping through whatever hoops are necessary, am I supposed to care?
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)I mean, I hope folks fix it, but holy fuck, that form is simple to understand.