Important info for Calif. "No Party Preference" voters!

[Peace Patriot]

In California, you can register to vote as "No Party Preference" (NPP). (This means "independent" voter but doesn't use the word "independent.&quot An NPP voter can vote in the Democratic Party Primary but you need to REQUEST the Democratic Party Primary ballot, in writing if you are a mail-in voter, or at the polling places on Primary Day, June 7.

I just ran across this helpful item for NPP voters, from the San Francisco Chronicle:

"...there is no time limit for signing up for a Democratic ballot. Independent voters (note: "No Party Preference" (NPP) voters) can ask for that ballot even at their precinct on election day and those who get their ballots by mail can exchange them in advance at the county election office in City Hall or at the precinct."

http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-sees-flood-of-new-voters-spurred-by-7754295.php

In other words, if you are an NPP voter and failed to request a Democratic Party Primary ballot for your mail-in vote, you can take your 'generic' NPP ballot to your polling place on June 7, and EXCHANGE it for a Democratic ballot.

I would guess that a lot of NPP mail-in voters did not know that they had to mail in a request for the Democratic ballot. They got their ballot and...no Sanders, no Clinton. But, as you see above, there is an EASY remedy for this, and no time limit. You can go to your local registrar of voters this week and exchange the NPP ballot for a Democratic ballot, or you can just show up at your polling place June 7 and exchange it.

One caveat: DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ACCEPT A "PROVISIONAL" BALLOT in place of a real ballot. Provisional ballots are often never counted--and there has been serious disinformation about this (wrong instructions to poll workers!). If anyone tries to fob off a Provisional ballot on you, and won't give you the ballot you requested, call the cops. They are violating the law!

I am not encouraging people to register NPP rather than Democratic! (The registration deadline is passed anyway--it was May 23.) I would prefer people to register as Democrats. But I do welcome NPP voters to our Primary, as has the official party by permitting NPP voters to participate in it. Our presidential nominee has to attract millions of independent voters to beat Trump. We need your in-put! Don't let anyone discourage you from voting the way you think best!

[underthematrix]

1. Thank Goodness I learned to read and have excellent

comprehension. I had no problem registering through the CA DMV and have no problem with the DEM ballot. My hubby and I will discuss all the candidates tomorrow, fill out our ballots and mail them out on Tuesday. We have accepted the DNC recommendations for down ballot candidates, e.g. US Senate. And of course we're voting for HRC. We don't have a precinct - we are such a small community, we vote by mail ONLY.

[merrily]

2. Sure, assert your statutory rights. However, every dispute at the polls about ANYthing that I've

ever witnessed has ended with a poll worker handing the voter, guess what? a provisional ballot. So, catch 22.

Take the number of the Bernie voting hotline to the polls with you.

More info on the NPP/Provisional ballot mess: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280198869

[still_one]

3. That simply is not true. I have lived and voted in California for some time now

If you follow the link to what you posted at the SOS, it states very clearly the rules:

"Voting in the June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election

An NPP voter will receive a non-partisan ballot, which will have no presidential candidates listed.

However, upon request, an NPP voter can instead vote the presidential ballot of the following parties:

American Independent Party
Democratic Party
Libertarian Party
"
and that includes on election day

You of course are entitled to your opinion, but in the past when I have registered as NPP, went to the polling place, and requested a Democratic ballot. No provisional ballot was given, just the Democratic ballot was given to me.

I have since been registered as a Democrat, to avoid that separate step.

By all means take any the precautions you think are necessary, but if they are registered as NPP, and they go to the polls, all they need to do is request a Democratic ballot.

If they registered as NPP, and requested a mail-in ballot, and they did not request a Democratic ballot, they will be sent a non-partisan ballot. If they want a Democratic ballot, all they need to do is exchange that non-partisan ballot for a Democratic ballot, on and up through election day.

The one twist is, if they registered as NPP, requested a mail-in-ballot, were sent a non-partisan ballot, instead of exchanging that non-partisan ballot for a Democratic ballot, they filled out the non-partisan ballot, and mailed it in, they will not be able to do a redo.

I posting this not to debate the pros or cons, but just to state what the rules are in California.

[Peace Patriot]

4. Do you know the Bernie hotline number? I didn't see it at the link.

But maybe I missed it. (It's late. Eyes bleary.) I wanted to post it here...

...okay, okay, I'm google searching.

A bit later...

Haven't found it so far. But I did find this:

The last day to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by mail is May 31. To make that request, you'll have to submit a form through your county official's office. (LINK at url.) (my emphasis)

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-california-tonight-is-your-la-1464047853-htmlstory.html

That's this Tuesday, day after Memorial Day.

[merrily]

5. MAY 31 is the deadline to REQUEST an absentee ballot and May 30 is a federal holiday, so act fast.

As far as the number of the Sanders voting hotline, a California volunteer mentioned calling it, but she did not give it either. Anyone in California who wants to take it to the polls with him or her can try calling Bernie 's campaign office for it between now and June 7, though--and maybe post it when they find out what it is?

EDITED BECAUSE ORIGINAL POST INCORRECTLY SAID MAY 31 WAS THE DEADLINE FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

If I got you to hurry, no harm done. However, if I made you give up, I am so, so sorry.

[still_one]

6. A person voting by mail can hand deliver the ballot in person to any polling place

on election day. Also, as long as the ballot is post marked on or before election day, it counts if mailed.

"Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day. "

Here are the rules for voting by mail:

Voting By Mail

Any registered voter may vote using a vote-by-mail ballot instead of going to the polls on Election Day.

All valid vote-by-mail ballots are counted in every election in California, regardless of the outcome or closeness of any race. For additional information on how and when ballots are verified and tabulated, please visit our description of how the official canvass of the vote is completed.

Once your application is processed by your county elections official, your ballot will be sent to you. After you have voted, insert your ballot in the envelope provided, making sure you complete all required information on the envelope. You may return your voted vote-by-mail ballot by 1) mailing it to your county elections official; 2) returning it in person to a polling place or the elections office in your county on Election Day; or 3) authorizing a relative or person living in the same household as you to return the ballot on your behalf. Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day. If you are not sure your vote-by-mail ballot will arrive in time if mailed, bring it to any polling place in your county between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

When your vote-by-mail ballot is received by your county elections official, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. To preserve the secrecy of your ballot, the ballot will then be separated from the envelope, and then it will be tallied.


http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail/

[merrily]

7. May 31 is the deadline to REQUEST an absentee ballot, not the deadline for getting it in.

MY BAD.

I will edit my prior post to reflect that.

[still_one]

8. I did not say your post was incorrect. I was just presenting all the options, and

that includes hand delivering it to any polling place on election day.

I also supplied the link to the SOS, which said exactly the same thing

There are 8 postal delivery days before the election. Plus 3 days after the election for the ballot to get counted:

"Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 3 days after Election Day."

If they believe that is not sufficient time for the postal service to deliver, than they can hand deliver it to any polling place.

Also, for the first time in this election, the mail-in ballots are postage paid.

[still_one]

11. Got it. Thanks

[still_one]

10. Just want to clarify, Tuesday, June 7, 2016 is election day in California.