Posted on 01/29/2008 7:28:15 AM PST by TornadoAlley3
South Florida voters took to the polls in force Tuesday, setting the stage for what may be a record turnout for a primary election and deciding a make-or-break race for Republican presidential hopefuls. Early reports showed few problems at polling precincts.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
"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.
This is a closed primary?
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.
Is this “Independent” that STUPID?
Is this “Independent” that STUPID?
poll workers must be also, they let him choose a party and vote.
McCain believes he’ll get the Independent vote -
WRONG!
Independents should NOT be voting in a primary.
Giving up a party Affiliation shuts them out. That’s the only thing that keeps me registered as a Republican.
I wonder if a recount and matching up to party will be needed. It’s getting nasty.
Smacking my head. The only thing non-party affiliated people are supposed to vote on today is Amendment 1.
Apologies to any who feel I am spamming this message on campaign threads, but it is an important message on a key vote which needs to get out.
This is going to be a problem.
Poll workers should know better and so should Independents.
too late now, if they are letting them “choose a party” at the polls. The fix is in. McCain will win.
There are three ballots. One for Dems, one for Reps, and one for Independents without any of the candidates on it, just amendment 1 and any other county amendments on it.
There was an Independent at my polling place this a.m., so I asked a pollworker why she got a ballot.
Quite a few problems going on:
Rabbi Richard Yellin said he was first in line at the polling location at Congress Avenue and Woolbright Boulevard in Boynton Beach, but that did him little good when it came to casting his vote.
“There has been a major failure of the voting, at least at this precinct,” he said.
He said he tried five times to use the voting machine but it would not allow him to vote. About a dozen people were also at the precinct to vote, Yellin said. “None of the machines worked,” Yellin said.
Poll workers were attempting to obtain help from the main elections office, but were still struggling to activate the machines when Yellin said he had to leave to attend to his duties at the synagogue.
“They took the names and said come back later.”
On Fort Lauderdale beach at a polling station near Galt Ocean Mile, Joe Sanches complained he was forced to vote on a provisional ballot because of a problem with an absentee ballot. Sanches said he requested an absentee weeks ago and it never arrived.
He said he was frustrated when he tried to vote today and poll workers would not allow him to cast a regular ballot. He was given a provisional ballot instead because records showed he was sent the absentee.
“I was told I had voted, which I hadn’t,” Sanches said.
The elections office requires voters to vote on provisional ballots when questions arise about the status of the voter. The provisional ballots aren’t counted until officials can sort out the status of the voter and the validity of the ballot cast.
In North Carolina independents can vote in EITHER the Dems or Repub primary. You choose when you get to the polls.
I was registered Repub but changed to Independent so I can have the option.
It sounds like Fla is the same.
Yes it’s a closed primary, and if he’s an independent, he shouldn’t even be voting, IIRC. He could have changed his party affiliation in order to vote, and from what I’ve read, many did.
I’m in a heavily democratic district. The only voters at the polls this AM were Republicans (nobody was in line to sign in for the Democratic vote.) Whatever that means, don’t know. Short ballot, just the primary, a tax amendment question and a school tax vote. Took me 10 minutes to get in and out.
There was an Independent at my polling place this a.m., so I asked a pollworker why she got a ballot.
Did you get an answer?
So she could vote on amendment 1. There are ballots for Independents with just the amendment on them.
Independents would be able to vote on the tax amendment.
It’s not. You have to be registered and party affiliated not less than 29 days before the election. Independents can’t vote in party primaries.
I doubt this is happening statewide. Probably just a few idiots. Given the area, in the Broward Communist Republic, I have to say I am not surprised.
Okay - voting on the tax amendment!
Got ya!
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