WA State Primary Election - Sept 19 (Live Thread)

September 19, 2006 | Self

[Seattle Conservative]

I thought I get a live thread going for the WA state primary today. This is important for a few reasons (not the least of which is to see if King County has cleaned up its voting and vote counting processes since the last election), but also because at least 1 of the State Supreme Court Judges will be chosen today.

John Carlson's picks for judges: Stephen Johnson, John Groen, Jeanette Burrage

Here's a link to the various WA State voting systems by county: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/votingsystems.aspx

[Seattle Conservative]

I heard on the Brian Suits show the other day, that some folks aren't marking their absentee ballots by party (here's a link to the SOS web site) http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/primary.aspx

Also heard that while it's not noted on the envelope and there is only 1 little square for postaqe (leaving most reasonable people to believe only 1 $.37 stamp is required) it actually requires $.63 postage to mail the ballots. Snohomish County is making up the difference (about $21,500) - not sure what the other counties are doing. Guess it was too easy to print 'Additional Postage Required" on the envelope, like Hallmark does.

[Seattle Conservative]

FYI for WA State Ping List

[Robert A Cook PE]

Do we need an over/under for the amount of voter fraud uncovered?

[cousair]

What is this all about?? We voted in Washington state in Clark country, and there wasn't one word about additional postage. This is the first I have heard about it. I certainly hope this is wrong.

[teacherwoes]

I live in Spokane County where it's all mail in voting. I sent it with one stamp and it hasn't been returned yet. If it wasn't enough postage then I'm sure the Post Office would have sent it back.

[Seattle Conservative]

I'm afraid you may be right - I suspect all the Dim election workers are sharpening their pencils. It will be interesting to see.

As a side note - Dave Reichert is my Rep (don't agree w all of his stands on issues, and I miss Jennifer Dunn, but he's better than the alternative. I've noticed ads lately that are rather detrimental and tying him in w Pres Bush - big time - I hope these backfire on Darcy Burner.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to Seattle Conservative for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[Seattle Conservative]

Brian said no one was told about it. A woman from King County called in and said she looked through her voter pamphlet and there was nothing in there about additional postage being required. I know he said Snohomish County was going to make up the difference, but at that point, nothing had been said from King or other counties. Since they screwed up, I think the state or counties are going to have to make up any additional postage costs.

[cousair]

I thought the whole state was by voter mail?? I intend to call the vote office here in Vancouver and find out later today. I hope you are wrong, and if so, there won't be many votes to count...probably what the DNC here wants anyway. We were hoping Cantrell gets dumped in the primany, but that may or may not happen.

[Wonder Warthog]

As an INDEPENDENT conservative, what I think about the current Washington primary is mostly unprintable, as I have been pretty much dis-enfranchised. I am NOT going to "pick a party".

I see three choices:

1) change the primary so that Republicans can only vote for Republicans, Democrats for Democrats, and independents can vote for any candidate.

2) implement the "instant runoff system" in the general election.

3) eliminate the primary election completely and force the parties to implement and pay for their own system to choose the party candidate, and have only a state-funded general election.

[Parmy]

Here in Yakima County, they have only received 22% of the ballots mailed out. Could it be that people resent being told that they have to declare a party. All because of the stupid, feckless reasoning of a judge.

I am so tired of the stupidity that comes out of our court system.

[Jack Black]

Mandatory Vote by Mail should be free. Poll taxes are illegal, per multiple SC rulings. Requiring me to pay 63c is a defacto poll tax.

I guess the get around this with the collection points.

[showme_the_Glory]

I thought they only counted the votes from King County. Spokane is too far right of the mountains......

[Jack Black]

RE: your suggestions - 1) change the primary so that Republicans can only vote for Republicans, Democrats for Democrats, and independents can vote for any candidate.

I see no reason that people who are not members of a party should be allowed to vote in that primary. Independents should wait and vote in the general election.

2) implement the "instant runoff system" in the general election.

That doesn't solve the primary system. How does the Republican party pick it's candidate?

3) eliminate the primary election completely and force the parties to implement and pay for their own system to choose the party candidate, and have only a state-funded general election.

I completely agree with this suggestion. Why am I paying for Democrats to pick which loser socialist they want to control my life? That is completely offensive. I'm sure a few of them feel the same about helping the R's pick between Bible-thumping right wingers.

[cousair]

Well that is true, the P.O. would have sent it back if there wasn't enough postage on it. We sent ours in well over a week ago right after the ballots arrived in the mail.

[Seattle Conservative]

"I thought the whole state was by voter mail??"

I don't think that's happened (yet). Here's a link to the various voting systems by county: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/votingsystems.aspx

Looks like all counties are vote by mail, except the following:
Island
King
Kittitas
Klicktat
Pierce

[goodnesswins]

YOU HAVE got to be KIDDING!!!!! It requires 63 cents....I NEVER would even have thought about it.

[acoulterfan]

Klickitat and King Counties are the only two that are using Diebold as a vendor. Isn't Diebold the controversial vendor? Does Diebold now give a receipt to the voter?

[Wonder Warthog]

"I see no reason that people who are not members of a party should be allowed to vote in that primary. Independents should wait and vote in the general election."

So independents should have no voice in who runs?? Here's a clue---"parties" have no rights---only individuals have rights. There's not ONE WORD about "political party" in either the US Constitution or the Washingto state constitution. The judges decisions on this issue set at odds 200 years of law.

"That doesn't solve the primary system. How does the Republican party pick it's candidate?"

However they want to.

"I completely agree with this suggestion. Why am I paying for Democrats to pick which loser socialist they want to control my life? That is completely offensive. I'm sure a few of them feel the same about helping the R's pick between Bible-thumping right wingers."

So why was your party so hot on implementing the "party primary?? Both parties ought to be trying like hell to ATTRACT the independent voter---not pissing them all off.My first proposal fixes that problem.