Friday, June 15, 2007

See links below for a Daily Journal article and an opinion.

It’s true. We will no longer be able to vote for “the person.” We will be required to declare a party affiliation or “unaffiliated”. If we declare “unaffiliated”, who can we vote for? We also will be required to show a registration card and a photo ID in the primary, something that has been struck down by other courts in other states. Wouldn’t it be more fair to allow one person to vote for one person, no matter the person’s party affiliation? As a Mississippian I feel like the proverbial red-haired stepchild.

Opinions I’ve read seem to stick on the issue of Republicans “raiding” the Democratic candidates, therefore changing the outcome of elections. No one seems to see the deeper, more sinister issue of citizens being denied their right to vote for the person of their choice. And, to me, that’s what it amounts to. Why should either party be afraid of the other. If candidates and supporters get out and work to get voters registered (period), then a few folks from one party would not be able to influence the outcome of an election.

Color me disappointed, frustrated, irritated, oppressed and abused. And yes, I would say that even if I leaned toward democratic candidates. I DO NOT like being told who I can vote for. So, there!!

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2 comments:

C J Garrett said...

The reports from The Clarion Ledger do not seem nearly this certain. Sounds like there is still a lot of wiggle room and issues yet to be decided. If there has been funny business going on as they suggest, I'm all for putting a stop to that, but our legislature will write the bill and pass the law, subject to this judge's approval, of course.

June 15, 2007 at 7:22 PM
Carole Kelly said...

Larue: Look forward to seeing you soon, visited with Mack and C. D. last week.

Many folks are confused, I think because for a long time, Miss. was a one party state and whoever was elected in the Democrat Primary won the general election which is held in Nov.

What is occurring this summer is the Democrat and Republican primaries (similar to the conventions which pick a president), which nominates candidates to represent the party in the general election. No one is elected to office in the summer. In the past one could only vote in one of the primaries so one could only vote for Republican or Democrat candidates one could not vote for both. Usually when one enters the polling place, someone ask which party primary one wishes to vote in.

The problem is that some counties have only one person running for each office as a Republican, for example there might be one candidate for sheriff as a Republican and ten running as Democrats hence Republicans would declare themselves Democrats and vote for the candidate that they thought would be the easiest to defeat which, to me, is both dishonest (they lie about their party) and unfair; this is what is being addressed as I understand it, and it does not affect one's right to vote; in the general election in November one can vote for three Republicans, two Democrats and four Independents or whatever combination one desires.

There never was the opportunity to vote for both Democrates and Republicans in the summer primary, one chose which primary to vote in and all the candidates on the ballot were from that party.

The difference is where in the past one declared on the day of the primary, now one must register as a Democrat or Republican or some other party or as an independent which is what most two party states have always done.

Hope that helps.

George Kelly

June 17, 2007 at 9:46 AM

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