I just voted an hour ago (in the primaries) and am a bit confused...

[INTELBYTES]

When I entered the polling trailer, I had to declare whether I was Democrat or Republican. First of all, what ever happened to "secret balloting"? I don't mind letting others know that I'm a Dem, but I don't think it is proper having to announce to the election judges and everyone else present my voting intentions. The second issue I had was having to fill out a Democrat only ballot. Now, I planned to vote along party lines, but what if there was an independent, or even a liberal republican that I wanted to vote for? I did not have all the choices available too me.

Is this just because it's a "Primary Season"? I know on mid-term elections we have all the parties on one ballot. I've voted for many years and have never noticed this. There were several local races along with, of course the Presidential, race that I voted on. I feel a bit disenfranchised, to coin a phrase. Can anyone explain this to me? :shrug:

By the way, I'm voting in Austin, Texas.

[Intelsucks]

1. I was standing right there with him, and I'm just as confused.

I don't get it.

[efhmc]

5. That is because this is a primary election and you will be given a

different ballot based on your response to that question. Please do not forget to go to your precinct convention on March ninth at 7:15. The repuke have changed the election day so we have no voice in super Tuesday and they are counting on us not to vote and not to come to the precinct convention to show our strength as Dems. Please don't let this happen. I am headed out to vote also. I really do love early voting.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Isn't a liberal Republican in Texas as rare as snow in Corpus Christi?

I'm from New England-we have liberal Republicans-Lincoln Chaffee and Jim Jeffords spring to mind. But Texas? Even your Democrats are farther right than average (Rep. Doggett and a few others are the exceptions).

[INTELBYTES]

3. That didn't help answer the question.

Thanks for your 2-cents worth anyway. The question is, why am I not having the choice to vote for who I choose and vice versa, if a Republican voter wanted to vote for a Democrat what choice would he have.
:eyes:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

15. Why would you vote for a Texas Republican?

:eyes: back at ya!

Especially after the redistricting...

During a primary they give you a ballott specific to your party affiliation. Independents can't vote in the Mass. primaries.

[Andy_Stephenson]

18. You were voting on

hart intercivic machines? The Dial a vote?

[Intelsucks]

19. Yes.

n/t

[Andy_Stephenson]

23. Gotta know which way you are voting....

makes rigging far easier.

[Maddy McCall]

4. Texas has an open primary...

You declare the party on whose ballot you want to vote. Independents can declare to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary--indeed, Democrats and Republicans can vote in each other's primary. There is no swing voting on a candidate-by-candidate basis in primaries, though. The parties are holding the primaries. You chose which party ballot you want to vote on.


It is indeed because it is primary season--this is when PARTIES chose nominees. In the general election (and in midterms, etc--which are still general elections), you can vote however you like--crossing party lines on a candidate by candidate basis, etc., but in primaries, you are voting to help a party chose it's nominee(s).

On edit: In open primaries, Republicans will be voting in the Democratic primary because there is no doubt that Bush will be their nominee. They will vote in the Democratic primary to influence the outcome--their votes won't influence the Repub outcome because Bush is assured the nomination.

[Intelsucks]

6. But the ballot had all of the local candidates on it as well

So we were forced to vote "straight ticket" in the local elections, just because it's the Presidential primary? This is the part that I don't understand. What does the local county sheriff have to do with the white house? I find this to be rather bizarre to put it mildly.

[efhmc]

7. You will get a chance to vote again once the repukes and Dems have

their candidate elected. Believe me, we don't have the money to fight the repuke now and later. One step at a time. BTW, how long have you been in Texas?

[Maddy McCall]

9. That's what I was thinking...it must be local primaries too.

[Intelsucks]

12. My whole life (35 years) but I was apolitical for many years

If there is such a thing as a local primary, I was not aware of it until now.

[Maddy McCall]

17. Yes.

Each party chooses its nominee...it's like this for Senate and Congressional races even for your state legislature.

The primary usually falls in the summer in Mississippi...then in November, the nominees for each party face off.

In primaries, parties choose everything from circuit clerk to governor. In the general election, you get to cross-party vote if you choose. (I never do :-) )

Many times in primaries, people run as Independent just so they won't have primary opponents on the well populated Democratic or Republican tickets.

In the south, it used to be that if you ran as a Republican in the primary, you would be unopposed and guaranteed a position on general election ballot. It's not this way anymore. As many Republicans run in the primary as Democrats now. So the new strategy is to run as an independent to try to get on the Gen. Elec. ballot. (It's the same thing Nader is doing in the Presidential election. If he ran on the Democratic ticket, he would be creamed.)

[efhmc]

20. This is a primary for all candidates throughout the state. That includes

local, district reps, etc. I am proud that you voted and happy to have you on the Dem's side.

[Maddy McCall]

8. I can see one of two scenarios...

If it is your local primary for sheriff, etc, then only the Democratic local candidates would be on the Democratic primary ticket.

If it is a general local election, then candidates of both parties should have been on the ballot.

So the most pertinent question I can ask is if this is a local primary, too?

[VelmaD]

10. Yes it is a local primary too

Trust me...I'm a precinct chair...I know super secret election things. ;)

[Maddy McCall]

13. Ok. That answers the question.

Intelbytes, you chose your party affiliation and you vote in the primary for that party.

You can't party-swing vote in a primary. Either you vote on the Republican or the Democratic party ticket.

I think it's GREAT that you guys are having local primaries with the presidential primary. That'll keep those meddling Republicans voting with their own party instead of infiltrating the Democratic primary to influence it.

[Intelsucks]

14. Thank you. You can tell I haven't voted very many times in my life

can't you?:)

[Maddy McCall]

21. That's ok...you are participating now!

And as Martha says, "It's a GOOD thing." :-)

[Intelsucks]

28. Better late than never, I guess. Thanks.

n/t

[Dr.Phool]

11. probably

because your local offices were up for election. I voted last week in the Florida Primary. It was the presidential preference primary.

On the ballot were the list of Democratic Presidential nominees and a referendum. No Republicans because Bush is running unopposed for the Republicans. There was also a vote for a 1% sales tax hike. Only registered Democrats got this ballot. A Republican ballot had only the tax issue, as they couldn't vote in the Democratic primary.

[Gman]

26. You are confusing the General Election with the party primaries

Right now, we in TX are voting in the primaries to decide who will be on the ballot in November. Save your wants for November when you're able to vote for the official nominees.

[YNGW]

16. Nailed It

>Is this just because it's a "Primary Season"?

That's why. D's get the D primary ballot, R's get the R primary ballot. You vote for who you want to run for your party in the general election. In November, you get to choose from the finalists.

[bmbmd]

22. I voted in the primaries at an elementary school in Lubbock, Tx

a few years ago. Dems to the left, Reps to the right. Thirty or forty folks milling around on the right, two little old ladies sitting at a table to the left. One of the ladies, honest to God, was asleep. The gal that was awake told me that I needed to go to the other end to vote. "No", said I. "I need to vote in the Democratic primary." Expressing her disbelief, she gave me the registration paper to sign. I was the twelfth voter all day-this at two o'clock in the afternoon. After voting, she encouraged me to come back that evening for the caucus. The sleeper raised her head and said "Yeah-and bring your wife."

[efhmc]

25. Please say bless you to those little old ladies, we are looking harder and

harder to find election judges. And please do go to those precinct conventions on TUESDAY!!!

[Cleita]

24. I was asked too here in California, but it was because of the

primaries, and they had two separate ballots, one for Democrats with the candidates and propositions, and one for everyone else that had only the propositions.

[forgethell]

27. this is a primary

you get to vote for one party's nominee only. If there is a Republican that you want to vote for and a Democrat that you want to vote for in another office, tough, you have to pick which party's balloting that you wish to participate in.

Then, if teh general election, if they both survived the primary, you can vote for both.