[Vision2020] Party Affiliation and the Primary
Linda Pall
lpall@moscow.com
Mon, 24 May 2004 09:29:33 -0700
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Dear Visionaries,
I have lurked in the virtual shadows, eavesdropping on the conversation =
about whether or not 'registered Partisans' (whether Democratic or =
Republican) should cross over and vote in the primary of the opposition. =
I was beginning to think that I lived in a state other than Idaho, as I =
listened to the conversation. Let me try to set the record straight on a =
couple of things.
Consider this: THERE IS NO OFFICIAL PARTY REGISTRATION IN IDAHO. When =
you register to vote, you simply register with your name and address. =
You do not declare party affiliation at that time. There are no lists of =
Democrats and Republicans and Socialist Workers and Reformers or even =
LIbertarians prepared as a result of your registration. There are no =
registered Democrats or Republicans in Idaho.
Idaho's primary election system requires the voter to declare on the =
first page of the ballot whether, at that particular time, they declare =
themselves to be a Democrat or a Republican and it's a secret ballot. No =
one will ever know whether on May 25 you are a Democrat or a Republican. =
It's a secret ballot.
Now, all that said, let me add a little political science to the mix. =
Voter studies over the years have generally tended to reinforce the fact =
that those who cross over, except in extraordinary circumstances, do not =
have a significant effect on electoral outcomes. The Schroeder/Vance =
race could be such an event but I don't personally think so. I think =
Senator Schroeder has plenty of support in the Republican party and it's =
really for the Republican partisans to decide who should be their =
standard bearer. People will cross over and have a little thrill, as =
there they are Democrats for a day (!) or Republican conservatives for =
the morning!=20
I think the most important part of this whole exercise is that you =
should exercise! Your vote counts! In the immortal words of the Nike =
commercial, just do it!
All the best,
Linda Pall
Unregistered but unapologetic and enthusiastic Democrat who nonetheless =
finds some Republicans really fine folks (I think that about covers =
it...)
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dear Visionaries,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have lurked in the virtual shadows, =
eavesdropping=20
on the conversation about whether or not 'registered Partisans' (whether =
Democratic or Republican) should cross over and vote in the primary of =
the=20
opposition. I was beginning to think that I lived in a state other =
than=20
Idaho, as I listened to the conversation. Let me try to set the record =
straight=20
on a couple of things.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Consider this: THERE IS NO OFFICIAL =
PARTY=20
REGISTRATION IN IDAHO. When you register to vote, you simply register =
with your=20
name and address. You do not declare party affiliation at that =
time. There=20
are no lists of Democrats and Republicans and Socialist Workers and =
Reformers or=20
even LIbertarians prepared as a result of your registration. There are =
no=20
registered Democrats or Republicans in Idaho.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Idaho's primary election system =
requires the voter=20
to declare on the first page of the ballot whether, at that particular =
time,=20
they declare themselves to be a Democrat or a Republican and it's a =
secret=20
ballot. No one will ever know whether on May 25 you are a Democrat or a=20
Republican. <EM><STRONG>It's a secret ballot.</STRONG></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Now, all that said, let me add a little =
political=20
science to the mix. Voter studies over the years have generally tended =
to=20
reinforce the fact that those who cross over, except in extraordinary=20
circumstances, do not have a significant effect on electoral =
outcomes. The=20
Schroeder/Vance race could be such an event but I don't personally think =
so. I=20
think Senator Schroeder has plenty of support in the Republican party =
and it's=20
really for the Republican partisans to decide who should be their =
standard=20
bearer. People will cross over and have a little thrill, as there they =
are=20
Democrats for a day (!) or Republican conservatives for the morning!=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I think the most important part of this =
whole=20
exercise is that you should exercise! Your vote counts! In the immortal =
words of=20
the Nike commercial, just do it!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>All the best,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Linda Pall</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Unregistered but unapologetic and=20
enthusiastic Democrat who nonetheless finds some Republicans really =
fine=20
folks (I think that about covers it...)</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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