On Party Primaries/Caucuses

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:13 am

I don't understand a couple of things & was hoping someone could explain it to me.

A. I understand some state primaries allow everyone to vote, regardless of party affilliation. Why?? I would think the Republican party would only want Republican party members voting. Same for the other parties.

B. Any idea how much gov't (fed, state, or local) funding is going to these things? I would think they shouldn't get a dime, but the two-headed party has been holding the purse strings so long, I'm sure we're hosting the shindig.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:48 am

I found this on Texas primaries. Only Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian parties have "primary access," whatever that means.

If you are a registered voter in the state of Texas, you will simply choose your party and vote in that party's primary. To explain, we do not register by party in Texas. One becomes "affiliated" with a party by voting in a party's primary and the affiliation lasts for that primary year. As an example, if a voter voted in the March 2006 primary or April 2006 runoff primary, the voter affiliated with that party for the rest of that year, but on December 31, 2006 the affiliation expired. The affiliation means that the person may not vote in another party’s primary or participate in another party’s convention or sign an independent candidate’s petition for place on the ballot if the independent candidate’s position appears on the primary ballot. Note that in the general election in November, a voter may vote for whomever he/she wishes, regardless of how or whether he/she voted in the primary or runoff primary election, since all candidates are on the same ballot.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:42 am

"In 1991, the state [of Texas] spent about $10 million on the primary elections, and 3.8 million Texans voted. That comes out to a little over $2.60 per vote. Final numbers won't be available until after the runoffs, but the tab this year [2000] will probably be above $6 per vote." LINK

I'd hate to think of this year's bill.

Why should taxpayers foot the bill for party primaries?? General elections, sure, but the parties should be paying for their own primaries.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:29 am

Some won't get to vote at all in the primary if they wanted to.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:12 am

Sheryl;761686 wrote: Some won't get to vote at all in the primary if they wanted to.

What do you mean? Texas primaries are wide open to voters. They may not get to vote for the party they want, but they can vote.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:14 am

America has the chance to do something new and breathtaking here. But will she?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:15 am

Raven;761795 wrote: America has the chance to do something new and breathtaking here. But will she?
Long time no see, babilicious!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:16 am

LOL! Back at ya!

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:01 am

Accountable;761792 wrote: What do you mean? Texas primaries are wide open to voters. They may not get to vote for the party they want, but they can vote.

did you read the article I linked to? If a county doesn't have a chairperson for the Dem or Rep party, then there no votes for that party can be cast.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:07 pm

Sheryl;762031 wrote: did you read the article I linked to? If a county doesn't have a chairperson for the Dem or Rep party, then there no votes for that party can be cast.
Sorry, missed the link.

Only 3 parties get to vote anywhere in Texas! If you're not R, D, or Libertarian you're sunk.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:09 pm

I stole this from another thread because I didn't want to get it off-subject, but it fits here.

rjwould;761942 wrote: You want stupid?

Here in Pennsylvania, we vote for local judges (like that's real bright), so when I went in to vote I was told I couldn't because I was registered independent, and was even scolded by a person for not belonging to one of the two major parties.PLEASE tell me it was a party primary, RJ. Otherwise, you have major grounds for lawsuit.