Independent is allowed to vote for McCain - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

NorCal Cat · 01-29-2008, 05:49 PM

More controversy in a Florida election. Now poll workers are telling independents they MUST select a party to vote for.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-129e...64,print.story

In northern Coral Springs, near the Sawgrass Expressway and Coral Ridge Drive, David Nirenberg arrived to vote as an independent. Nevertheless, he said poll workers insisted he choose a party ballot.

"He said to me, 'Are you Democrat or Republican?' I said, 'Neither, I am independent.' He said, 'Well, you have to pick one,''' Nirenberg said.

In Florida, only those who declare a party are allowed to cast a vote in that party's presidential primary.

Nirenberg said he tried to explain to the poll worker that he should not vote on a party ballot because of his "no party affiliation" status.

Nirenberg said a second poll worker was called over who agreed that independents should not use party ballots, but said they had received instructions to the contrary.

"He said, 'Ya know, that is kind of funny, but it was what we were told.' … I was shocked when they told me that." Nirenberg said he went ahead and voted for John McCain.

fuegote · 01-29-2008, 07:28 PM

Isn't that how it's set up in Utah? You have to be a registered party to vote in the primaries?

RockyBalboa · 01-29-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuegote

Isn't that how it's set up in Utah? You have to be a registered party to vote in the primaries?

Yes

MikeWaters · 01-29-2008, 07:38 PM

In Texas, it is open and you choose which party ballot you want to vote on.

Since there is no indepedent primary, the best way to vote on the independent ballot is to not show up to the polls.

NorCal Cat · 01-29-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuegote

Isn't that how it's set up in Utah? You have to be a registered party to vote in the primaries?

It's called a "closed" primary. It's like this in a lot of states. This guy should NOT have been allowed to vote in the primary!

fuegote · 01-29-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCal Cat

It's called a "closed" primary. It's like this in a lot of states. This guy should NOT have been allowed to vote in the primary!

Ahh... I just re-read it again.

01-29-2008, 05:49 PM	#1
NorCal Cat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Where do you think? Posts: 1,201	Independent is allowed to vote for McCain More controversy in a Florida election. Now poll workers are telling independents they MUST select a party to vote for. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-129e...64,print.story In northern Coral Springs, near the Sawgrass Expressway and Coral Ridge Drive, David Nirenberg arrived to vote as an independent. Nevertheless, he said poll workers insisted he choose a party ballot. "He said to me, 'Are you Democrat or Republican?' I said, 'Neither, I am independent.' He said, 'Well, you have to pick one,''' Nirenberg said. In Florida, only those who declare a party are allowed to cast a vote in that party's presidential primary. Nirenberg said he tried to explain to the poll worker that he should not vote on a party ballot because of his "no party affiliation" status. Nirenberg said a second poll worker was called over who agreed that independents should not use party ballots, but said they had received instructions to the contrary. "He said, 'Ya know, that is kind of funny, but it was what we were told.' … I was shocked when they told me that." Nirenberg said he went ahead and voted for John McCain.

01-29-2008, 07:28 PM	#2
fuegote Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 724	Isn't that how it's set up in Utah? You have to be a registered party to vote in the primaries? __________________ http://www.cavaliersbrigade.com home of the greatest fans in MLS.

01-29-2008, 07:38 PM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	In Texas, it is open and you choose which party ballot you want to vote on. Since there is no indepedent primary, the best way to vote on the independent ballot is to not show up to the polls.