Monday, February 4, 2008

I Got A Ballot In The Mail

This evening I opened up my mail-in ballot.  On February 19th, the state of Washington is having what they call a "Presidential Preference Primary."   They sent two ballots...one with a blue banner for the Democratic party and the other with a red banner for the Republican party.  Then inside the cover of the return envelope you have to mark the box of the party you wish to be identified with, sign your name & date it.  Then you take the voting card you want to use, the one for the party you've chosen and mark next to the candidates name you would vote for. 

They claim that candidates belonging to other political parties and independents will appear on the ballot in November (the main election).

Somehow, I don't think this is right.  Why can't we just vote for who we want & not have to declare which party we wish to be affiliated with ?  I think the day will come (in the U.S. anyway) where no one will want to vote for anyone.  They start their bashing T.V. ads a year before the elections, I'm even sick of hearing the members of the same parties bashing each other.  I've been sick of the whole thing since before Christmas. 

For those of you in the United States, do you think we should have to declare which party we wish to be affilated with? 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is so funny, Linda, I just did an entry about voting before I opened up your entry. In Montana, you could register Democrat/Republican or whatever and in the primaries, they gave you whatever ballot you wanted, so if you registered Democrat but wanted to vote Republican for the primaries, they gave you that ballot. Here in California, you register Democrat, you get the Democrat ballot, that's it.

I never heard of what you were talking about stated in that way. It seems a little odd unless it is just for the primary and not the general election.

betty

Anonymous said...

Here you declare which party you are affiliated with but you can vote for anyone that is running You can vote straight democrat or republican or for one for one office and one for the another. But I think you are right. They are trying to maniputlate the process for sure.
Barb  

Anonymous said...

I don't vote in a syatem like this anyway.. -Missy

Anonymous said...

I have never quite been able to understand the American Political system.  Probably because I was brought up with the Parlimentary system and still live with that same political system.  I guess it's what is familiar to me and what I am comfortable with.
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/

Anonymous said...

I don't blame you for being fed up already, Linda, I wish you strength for the rest of the pregnancy of presidency!

Anonymous said...

Not being an American Citizen, I have sat back and really listened to this election run,  it amazes me how this goes on and on and indeed one would get thorougly disheartened with it all.  I also do not understand how different States vote at different times to nominate a Presidential nominee.  Who becomes President, has a very big impact on other Countries also and I have friends in other countries watching this very closley.  I am not one for politics, in fact I stay away from it, but I have found myself very much drawn into this election for your Country.  I sincerely feel sorry for the people of America with so many issues that are so important yet many candidates are so devided on these issues.  Today, I saw on CNN that you can go to their site and click on all the candidates both republican and democratic and  listen to all the issues and their views it might be very wise to look at that before voting if anyone is undecided.  This is a very imporant time for you all and I wish you well in your choices, but I definitely think no on has the right to know what choice you make but yourself and if you so choose to let anyone know.

Anonymous said...

I voted no Linda ,they sure are pressuring you ,and that as you say is enough to put anybody off ....love Jan xx

Anonymous said...

I voted no because I am undecided who is the better man/woman.  I am not locking myself to one party right now.  

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with you - when I registered to vote (many, many years ago) I registered in one party.  Since then I have not always agreed with that party and wanted to vote in the primaries but in the "other" party and I can't!!  It is bull we have to choose who we want to be affiliated with before we even know who is running. Unless we register as independent but then we can't vote in either of the two parties primaries anyway.  So, now I am locked into the party I registered with.  Crazy system isn't it!!  I think you are also right on the point that soon many won't vote anyway due to such disenchantment with our choices.
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Morning Linda,   I have been watching the Super Tuesday hype...I sometimes am ashamed I follow your politics more earnestly than mine...although I know who gets in DOES have an effect on Canada although of course no one on the ballot sheet needs to mention that information as they are wanting YOUR vote.
I guess if I lived in the USA I would be a Republican??? although the sad thing is sometimes you feel it is the "lesser of evils"
A fellow who attended a church where we lived a few years ago said it was VERY hard to stand for Christian beliefs and not get bashed.
My best friend from growing up who lives in Seaside is always amased how much more Canada is non-Christian in its thinking politically.
Well dear I am still in my PJ's I feel like this cold is coming back on me so there is NO WAY I want to be sick for our cruise

Love and blessings sent your way..


Lori J

Anonymous said...

Exactly right!  I refuse to vote unless they give us the freedom of voting with either party!  Why should we be locked into one party???

Anonymous said...

I never really gave it much thought since it's only the primary.  During the election for the president you can vote either partry.

I'm sick and tired of the political ads, the trashing of each other - even within the same party.  It's rather shameful.

Monica

Anonymous said...

Here in Florida you declare what party you are on your voting card, so in the primaries you can only vote in what you declared. In the real election however you can switch lanes and cross over rep to demo or visa versa. I think I like yours better...but given that the powers that be love their polls/collected data of all types they actually need to separate whose who to crunch numbers etc. God forbid it should just all fall out as it should and they couldn't predict who is going to win..lol. Come read what I wrote about Hillary....take care, Sandi