Voting on Feb 5 - Easy As Pie

by: danpreston

Wed Jan 23, 2008 at 09:54:56 PM EST

In a previous post, I noted the needless confusion and outright misinformation about who can vote in NJ's February 5th Presidential Primary. The correct answer is that upwards of 99.95 percent of citizens who were registered to vote as of January 15, 2008 CAN vote, whether they're already members of the Democratic or Republican parties (about 40 percent of voters) - or if they are currently "unaffiliated" (not members of any party, about 60 percent of all voters). The only exceptions are registered members of the Green, Libertarian or a few other alternative parties, which combined represent a tiny fraction of a percent of the electorate.

So what will happen when you, the voter, walk into your regular polling place on February 5th? What if you're not already a Democrat or a Republican? If you are currently unaffiliated, what hoops will you have to jump through to "declare" a party affiliation? To find out, I decided to attend a poll worker training class held this evening in Hopewell Township, conducted by the Mercer County Board of Elections.

Short answer: It's pretty much like voting in any other election. You go to your usual polling location. The poll workers look in the poll book where you sign in to see if there's a "DEM" or "REP" printed above the block where you sign. If so, DEMs get to vote the Democratic ballot; REPs get to vote the Republican ballot.

If the space for your party affiliation is blank, they simply ask you: Democrat or Republican? You answer with one or the other. They fill in the blank. You vote accordingly.

That's it. No fuss. No bother. No forms to fill out. You vote. And then you leave, knowing that you've taken part in the first Presidential Primary Election ever where NJ voters had a real say in the outcome.

danpreston :: Voting on Feb 5 - Easy As Pie

Tags: primary, election, Voting, voters, unaffiliated, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

Voting on Feb 5 - Easy As Pie | 4 comments

i am really concerned that a lot of (0.00 / 0)

new jerseyans don't know they can vote if they are unaffiliated. Is there anything more we can do to get the word out?

by: jerseygirl @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 02:46:50 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Write a letter to the editor ... (4.00 / 1)

... and contact the reporter(s) covering this beat for your community's paper. It's stunning how many have gotten this wrong, or who may have written articles that are technically correct ... but make it seem overly complicated.

What's accurate but beside the point is that before you actually vote you must be a declared DEM or REP. What's relevant is that all you need to do to "declare" is simply say "Republican" or "Democrat" when they ask which ballot you wish to vote. As one friend said to me this morning, it's about as complicated as answering the question "Paper or plastic?" when you buy your groceries.

by: danpreston @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 19:05:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

possible by mail in too (0.00 / 0)

I posted this on a similar diary, but of you vote (like an increasing number) by mail, you simply indicate on the envelope flap the party primary you voted in.

(According to the Camden County Board of elections- which I called with this question)

by: westcoast @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 04:54:27 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

yes, you can vote by mail too ... (0.00 / 0)

and what actually happens is this:
1) you send in your absentee voter application (still called that even though you no longer need to be absent or have any other excuse).
2) if you are a registered DEM or REP, they will send you back the corresponding ballot
3) if you are unaffiliated, they will send you back BOTH the DEM and REP ballots, with instructions that you are to return only one (which, as you determined, you also mark on your envelope flap).

The deadline for voting by mail is that you must send in your application by next Tuesday 1/29. Applications are available here. Then they send you the actual ballot(s) ... and then you must send back your marked ballot so that they receive it by 8pm on Feb 5. So don't delay!

by: danpreston @ Fri Jan 25, 2008 at 19:01:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]