49 replies to this topic

[Jacki O.]

primary elections are important

i read that if you are a registered independent you can choose which primary to vote in...anyone else know about this/hear about this? i can't find any info on it at www.azsos.gov

[negicore]

You have to register with a party to vote in their primary.

[skeksis]

yeah, independents get to pick which ballot they want. it's nice for me... but really what a dumb thing. shouldn't the parties be the ones to pick their candidates, not just any old bum?

I typically ask for the GOP ballot and vote for weaker candidates. :-)

[s.cosand]

I voted early.

[Tony]

i plan to. my wife already voted early. i'm not sure how she managed to get the early ballot and i didn't - i thought we both signed up, but whatever. i'll be voting.

[differently biotic]

from recorder.maricopa.gov site

9. I have registered as in independent. Can I vote in a Primary Election?
Yes, currently Arizona is an "Open Primary" state. Independents may vote for candidates of recognized parties in a Primary Election. The only exception to this is the "Presidential Preference Election" (PPE) that is normally held in February in the year that the President of the United States is elected. This PPE election is solely for voters registered within a specific political party to specify their preference for a candidate of their political party for the Office of President.

[Jacki O.]

I typically ask for the GOP ballot and vote for weaker candidates. :-)

yeah i think that's what i am going to do too

edit: thanks for finding that DB!

[s.cosand]

[differently biotic]

you're welcome! I had to look it up myself when I got my early ballot.

[donald]

I too shall be voting next week.

[skeksis]

I typically ask for the GOP ballot and vote for weaker candidates. :-)

yeah i think that's what i am going to do too

edit: thanks for finding that DB!

yeah, it really gets me the stink eye at my polling place... historically black neighborhood near eastlake park. but well... sometimes sabotage is worth it.

[Tony]

yeah, independents get to pick which ballot they want. it's nice for me... but really what a dumb thing. shouldn't the parties be the ones to pick their candidates, not just any old bum?

the argument FOR this (i'm paraphrasing) is that the people more likely to vote in the primaries are typically further right or left of center - either because they feel strongly about candidates or issues, or because the people towards the middle of the pack (often independents) aren't allowed to vote. as a result, you get candidates winning the primaries that are more aligned with the outlying edges of the party's philosophy, and not a more moderate/centrist candidate. this may or may not be a bad thing, depending on your political ideology, but those people in the middle look at the two candidates as being either overly conservative/liberal. it's a slippery slope, but you could argue that this increasing polarization of the candidates is bad for the country since it implies radical shifts in the way we govern with each new inauguration.

not sure if i fully agree with it, but i think it warrants discussion.

bottom line, some people are always going to be trememdous assholes and fuck shit up for everybody, so it doesn't really matter who you vote for.

[glitterbot]

http://votesmart.org/

This is a useful website. Not every candidate is going to be there, but it still has some good info. Shows voting history, affiliation with interest groups, endorsements, etc. Here is an example.

[chadk]

so who are some good folks to vote for? and opinions?

[Tony]

VOTE TODAY.

i'll make one endorsement: randy parraz for US senate. a friend of mine actually had a meet and greet with him at her house a few weeks back and i got a chance to talk with him and several members of his staff. his hot button issue is immigration and SB 1070 in particular, but he definitely covered a range of topics when he spoke. one point that he made kind of struck a chord with me, and that was the fact that he is the only latino candidate for US senate in the entire country. i don't think race should play a part in the decision, but he pointed out that with the racial climate in AZ AND the fact that he's the only one running, it could garner a ton of publicity (and funding) for the general election. i think the consensus is that the democratic candidate will be a lamb for the john mccain slaughter, but this might be one of the best ways to take him down. i just don't think the other dem candidates can pose as much of a threat to mccain. there are other reasons to like him (a lot, actually), but if the goal of the primary is to put your candidate out there with the best fighting chance, i think he's it.

anyway, parrazforchange.com. i'll stop campaigning now.