Elections

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 5, 2022 16:09:36 GMT -5 teen persuasion said:

Aug 5, 2022 15:29:10 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I would consider this in a primary and not think twice about it.  

I used to be a poll worker.  A voter must declare a party to vote in the primary.  We have same day registration.  That happens both ways.  They often asked to change back right then, but the law said they had to stay in that party until midnight.  Part of that is so they wouldn't hold up the line changing parties again.  Some primaries don't matter on the time but others are busy from the minute the polls open until they close and that's the last thing a poll worker has time to do.

And then there's the opposite extreme - 

CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-304(3))
An application to change one’s party enrollment for any primary election in 2022 must be received by the board of elections no later than February 14, 2022.

So if I wanted to vote in our primaries, I'd have to have chosen a party back in the winter. Never mind that redistricting wasn't settled until late May, so no one knew what district they'd end up in, let alone who would decide to run where. It's musical districts right now.

In between, the guy in district 23 quit, my rep was strongarmed into dropping out of the race for 23 that he was a shoe-in for, my new district 24 reaches across 285 miles/ 12 counties out of 60-ish/ and 4 different regions - with the carpetbagger incumbent from 22 running here now (because it's less competitive than her previous one). And the never-before-held-office chairman of the state GQP jumped in to run for 23 after pushing my guy out (for having the audacity to back mild gun reform post Buffalo shooting in his district); party boss is running against crazy GQP Hitler-admirer/slimeball slumlord. It's a toss-up who will win, honestly - the true-party man, or the unpredictable disrupter.

The last voter I assisted in the 2016 presidential election, was a man who was a first time voter.  I registered him to vote that night.  Iowa now accepts electronic copies of documents and he had his driver's license, which had the photo ID (a necessity) for same day registration.  He also had to have copies of certain bills showing his address.  He had those on his phone.  Once he was registered, he voted and it counted.

I wish all states had same day registration and I wish all states had mail in voting only.

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 5, 2022 16:11:37 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 5, 2022 15:14:20 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I see I have a whole lot to learn, many of these posts are so far over my head it’s ridiculous.

I guess I always felt like as long as I vote for the “big” stuff, I was doing okay. And I realize that even with that, I was doing more than a lot of people that don’t vote at all. But, still it’s not enough.

Due to recent events in this nation, the point has been proven that it all matters. I always knew that, but I never saw it coming, the attacks on our democracy and personal freedom on such a large scale.

Please keep in mind with my posts that I have a Bachelor’s degree in this stuff and just eat this shit up. Most of what I an saying isn't that important for just doing your good civic duty of voting. If there is anything you want more or clearer information concerning, please ask here or I am open to responding to PMs. I am also a teacher so helping people understand things feeds me also.

I would love to listen to a conversation between you and my nephew, who has a PhD in political science.

At his younger brother's graduation, he was a TA grading finals in the hotel room after the ceremony.  He let me read some of the answers to the last question which was to compare and contrast red and blue states.  Some of his freshmen students didn't even seem to know there are red and blue states, let alone how to answer the question.

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2022 16:55:26 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Aug 5, 2022 15:56:59 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I forgot to say that I did visit the website you linked, and I think it will be helpful for future elections. Thank you!

I do believe in personal responsibility and that our government should be fiscally responsible. But I also believe in helping make sure children are okay, and the elderly. I believe in helping people that aren’t mentally or physically capable of taking care of themselves, and even people that are trying, but need help getting their lives together.

Yeah, that's what I've struggled with over the years.  I've often said I am a social liberal and a fiscal conservative.  I don't like labels because most stuff is nuanced.  In a weird way, the national paroxysms since 2016 have made it easier to identify with one party over another, and that's what I don't like, that so many are just voting for a meme.  There's a saying that all politics is local so I'll give you an example.  My city council member who is really important on a day-to-day level and probably headed to much bigger things is black.  My state rep who is impactful on the state level and maybe also head to the national stage is Asian.  The city council guy ran unsuccessfully against the state rep years ago and it was fugly for a bit, but today they have to work together against the GOP-controlled State legislature to advance their respective agendas.  They are both passionate, honorable and ethical so I truly love and embrace them both.  They share a vision of a better world even if they don't always agree on how to achieve it.  I've held their infant sons in my arms so I have no hesitancy in occasionally chewing on them both when they get stupid.  

That is what I’ve used to justify not voting in every single election. I had enough faith in my fellow Americans that even if we disagree on the details, I could trust that most of us, including those elected to political offices, had a common interest in doing what’s right for our nation, our democracy and for the citizens that live here. I believed that we could disagree on the best ways to go about things, but on a basic level, most of us had respect for our laws, democracy and personal freedom. Now I see that I was wrong about a lot of that, and I want to do what I can to try to make things right for my grandchildren and their children, and on and on, in the world I leave them to live in.

[TheOtherMe]

I couldn't tell you why but I have voted in all federal elections since I was eligible to vote.  I know I've missed city council and school board elections but never a federal election.

[azucena]

Aug 5, 2022 15:14:20 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I see I have a whole lot to learn, many of these posts are so far over my head it’s ridiculous.

I guess I always felt like as long as I vote for the “big” stuff, I was doing okay. And I realize that even with that, I was doing more than a lot of people that don’t vote at all. But, still it’s not enough.

Due to recent events in this nation, the point has been proven that it all matters. I always knew that, but I never saw it coming, the attacks on our democracy and personal freedom on such a large scale.

If it helps, most of it is unneedlessly complicated in part to keep the playing field rocky instead of level.

You'll never know if you don't ask. And I've learned several things in this thread already.

[tallguy]

Aug 5, 2022 17:10:58 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Aug 5, 2022 16:55:26 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Yeah, that's what I've struggled with over the years.  I've often said I am a social liberal and a fiscal conservative.  I don't like labels because most stuff is nuanced.  In a weird way, the national paroxysms since 2016 have made it easier to identify with one party over another, and that's what I don't like, that so many are just voting for a meme.  There's a saying that all politics is local so I'll give you an example.  My city council member who is really important on a day-to-day level and probably headed to much bigger things is black.  My state rep who is impactful on the state level and maybe also head to the national stage is Asian.  The city council guy ran unsuccessfully against the state rep years ago and it was fugly for a bit, but today they have to work together against the GOP-controlled State legislature to advance their respective agendas.  They are both passionate, honorable and ethical so I truly love and embrace them both.  They share a vision of a better world even if they don't always agree on how to achieve it.  I've held their infant sons in my arms so I have no hesitancy in occasionally chewing on them both when they get stupid.  

That is what I’ve used to justify not voting in every single election. I had enough faith in my fellow Americans that even if we disagree on the details, I could trust that most of us, including those elected to political offices, had a common interest in doing what’s right for our nation, our democracy and for the citizens that live here. I believed that we could disagree on the best ways to go about things, but on a basic level, most of us had respect for our laws, democracy and personal freedom. Now I see that I was wrong about a lot of that, and I want to do what I can to try to make things right for my grandchildren and their children, and on and on, in the world I leave them to live in.

In fairness, much of that probably could have been relied on until Newt Gingrich took over the GOP in 1994.  For the last three decades or so it has been pretty much off the table.  

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2022 19:24:50 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 5, 2022 17:10:58 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

That is what I’ve used to justify not voting in every single election. I had enough faith in my fellow Americans that even if we disagree on the details, I could trust that most of us, including those elected to political offices, had a common interest in doing what’s right for our nation, our democracy and for the citizens that live here. I believed that we could disagree on the best ways to go about things, but on a basic level, most of us had respect for our laws, democracy and personal freedom. Now I see that I was wrong about a lot of that, and I want to do what I can to try to make things right for my grandchildren and their children, and on and on, in the world I leave them to live in.

In fairness, much of that probably could have been relied on until Newt Gingrich took over the GOP in 1994.  For the last three decades or so it has been pretty much off the table.  

I appreciate you (and some other posters) for not judging me too harshly for my ignorance.

[tallguy]

Aug 5, 2022 19:49:20 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Aug 5, 2022 19:24:50 GMT -5 tallguy said:

In fairness, much of that probably could have been relied on until Newt Gingrich took over the GOP in 1994.  For the last three decades or so it has been pretty much off the table.  

I appreciate you (and some other posters) for not judging me too harshly for my ignorance.

Berating somebody solves nothing, and generally makes things worse.  Helping them move forward is far better all the way around.  And where bill said he is an actual teacher, I always thought that was probably the one thing that I might have truly enjoyed.  I didn't do it because the profession seemed so screwed up at the time, but I am still an educator at heart.  I also am happy to help wherever possible.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 5, 2022 19:24:50 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 5, 2022 17:10:58 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

That is what I’ve used to justify not voting in every single election. I had enough faith in my fellow Americans that even if we disagree on the details, I could trust that most of us, including those elected to political offices, had a common interest in doing what’s right for our nation, our democracy and for the citizens that live here. I believed that we could disagree on the best ways to go about things, but on a basic level, most of us had respect for our laws, democracy and personal freedom. Now I see that I was wrong about a lot of that, and I want to do what I can to try to make things right for my grandchildren and their children, and on and on, in the world I leave them to live in.

In fairness, much of that probably could have been relied on until Newt Gingrich took over the GOP in 1994.  For the last three decades or so it has been pretty much off the table.  

Newt is married to my cousin, so he has a pretty strong following in my family...which is...fun.  

[Opti]

Aug 5, 2022 14:28:00 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 5, 2022 13:39:23 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm not a "member of a party".  I've voted Republican, Dem, Libertarian... 

I'm voting for who I want to see on the ticket no?  I'm ok with either Dem, but if I'm going to choose from the Republicans I definitely want X over Y.

In your state primary election, at least this year, you can only vote for candidates of one party link. If you choose to vote in a primary in your state, you have to pick a party. Call it what you like but in that moment you become a part of that party.

You are voting for who you want to see become the nominee of a particular political party and have their name appear on the general election ballot as an option for all to choose from. Here is how this could play out for a person - their first choice in the general election would be Democrat candidate A or B, their second choice would be Democrat candidate B or A, and their third choice would be Republican candidate X. By participating in the Republican primary they would be working to make a choice possible that they have no intention of taking. Wouldn't it be more fair to leave the choice of Republican nominee up to those who would actually end up making one of them their choice in the general election? 

I have thought of doing what MPL is considering as I've lived various places where I always seemed to get a Republican pol in a position that I did not like. If I lived in WA state, I would not have to worry about political affiliation. But I live in NJ with closed primaries and around 1999/2000, I had a coworker successfully convince me that voting in primaries was important. Working behind the scenes in a chosen party would have even more impact as even who runs gets decided before primary voting,

It is very easy to live in a blue state yet have the pols who usually win local and county elections be Republicans. I have totally thought of doing what MPL is considering for the very same reason. The thing is you have to be aware of the timing allowed in your state if you are going to switch parties especially if you'd prefer to switch back before an election cycle concludes. My Mom and I used to have the same approach to local politics. We would intentionally choose some from each party on local and county elections because then we thought a mix would be best. I've lived in several areas where one party had almost iron control over local or county politics. I do not think that generally is a good thing even if in a rare case here and there I might like that party or subset of it.

Like teen persuasion, I think switching parties is not an easy timing thing in my state. 

[tallguy]

Aug 5, 2022 13:39:49 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 5, 2022 13:27:57 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Even the caucus process is not foolproof, however.  In 2012 I attended the Republican Party caucus.  I told them upfront that I was an independent voter (since in Washington one does not register by party at all) and asked if it was acceptable for me to be there.  I was told that was fine, as long as I was willing to be "Republican" for that day.  As long as you do not attend and vote in caucuses for both parties in the same election (which would be illegal) you're fine.

I question the fact it would be illegal to vote in multiple party caucuses. Here is why - political parties are private organizations in charge of making their own rules for attending their caucus. I don't see a governmental right to limit attendance by making it a crime to attend and vote in more than one.

No.  To have your vote counted in the presidential primary or caucus you have to make a party declaration.  If you refuse, or simply neglect to check the box, your vote is not counted.  The presidential primary consists of two ballots: a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot. They both appear on the same piece of paper.  Voters may vote either ballot, but for their vote to count, they must affirm a declaration that appears on the return ballot envelope.  For the 2020 election:

The Democratic declaration states:

I declare that my party preference is the Democratic Party and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2020 Presidential election.

The Republican declaration states:

I declare that I am a Republican and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2020 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

To vote in both is thus a violation of that declaration, and yes, it is against the law.  By the way, the reason that the declaration exists is because we do not register by party in Washington, and this was a sop to the parties to let them have "control" over who participates in their nominating process.

[tallguy]

Aug 3, 2022 20:55:37 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 3, 2022 18:13:53 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I’m going to say it even though it’s embarrassing, I don’t even understand most of your post about primaries and such. 

My Grandmother might show up in my dreams to fuss at me, and she probably should because she voted every chance she got and tried to encourage us do the same, but I’ve never paid any of this stuff any attention.

There is literally only 1 vote that I’m sure of, and that is just me knowing that I want to vote for whoever is running against this person.

What's there not to understand? Memphis and Shelby County elections.

With no receivers in the area and nobody coming up to block him, that corner is going to be able to cut down the run pretty easily.  Slot guy could maybe beat the free safety but the play would develop far too slowly for him to get deep.  Unless he's taking the handoff, of course, but tough to cut up the middle there.
Just sayin'....

[billisonboard]

Aug 6, 2022 1:43:52 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 5, 2022 13:39:49 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I question the fact it would be illegal to vote in multiple party caucuses. Here is why - political parties are private organizations in charge of making their own rules for attending their caucus. I don't see a governmental right to limit attendance by making it a crime to attend and vote in more than one.

No.  To have your vote counted in the presidential primary or caucus you have to make a party declaration.  If you refuse, or simply neglect to check the box, your vote is not counted.  The presidential primary consists of two ballots: a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot. They both appear on the same piece of paper.  Voters may vote either ballot, but for their vote to count, they must affirm a declaration that appears on the return ballot envelope.  For the 2020 election:

The Democratic declaration states:

I declare that my party preference is the Democratic Party and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2020 Presidential election.

The Republican declaration states:

I declare that I am a Republican and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2020 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

To vote in both is thus a violation of that declaration, and yes, it is against the law.  By the way, the reason that the declaration exists is because we do not register by party in Washington, and this was a sop to the parties to let them have "control" over who participates in their nominating process.

I am not questioning the legality of voting in both the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections. I am questioning the state's ability to prosecute you for attending and voting at caucus meetings of multiple political parties. It you did vote in the presidential primary election, signed one of the two declarations, and then participated in a different party's caucus, perhaps force of law is there, maybe. But if you don't vote in the primary and haven't made that declaration, what would be the basis for prosecution? Now it would certainly be possible for the political party to bring a civil suit against you if you declared you wouldn't be disloyal to them and then went out with someone else. But that is different than illegal.

[billisonboard]

So here are thoughts I had with my first cup of coffee. 

Going with this idea that you are cheating on your political party if you give yourself to another party as well lead me to check out laws on adultery. Turns out in same states it is a legally punishable offense. So perhaps an official declaration to the state of loyalty to a party does create a legal obligation. I didn't find anywhere, however, that you would be criminally liable if you fooled around on a boy/girlfriend. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Aug 6, 2022 1:43:52 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 5, 2022 13:39:49 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I question the fact it would be illegal to vote in multiple party caucuses. Here is why - political parties are private organizations in charge of making their own rules for attending their caucus. I don't see a governmental right to limit attendance by making it a crime to attend and vote in more than one.

No.  To have your vote counted in the presidential primary or caucus you have to make a party declaration.  If you refuse, or simply neglect to check the box, your vote is not counted.  The presidential primary consists of two ballots: a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot. They both appear on the same piece of paper.  Voters may vote either ballot, but for their vote to count, they must affirm a declaration that appears on the return ballot envelope.  For the 2020 election:

The Democratic declaration states:

I declare that my party preference is the Democratic Party and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2020 Presidential election.

The Republican declaration states:

I declare that I am a Republican and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2020 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

To vote in both is thus a violation of that declaration, and yes, it is against the law.  By the way, the reason that the declaration exists is because we do not register by party in Washington, and this was a sop to the parties to let them have "control" over who participates in their nominating process.

Does it alter by state? My mother has repeatedly told me that she gets to vote in the Democratic primary even though she is a registered Independent. 

[billisonboard]

Aug 6, 2022 9:03:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Aug 6, 2022 1:43:52 GMT -5 tallguy said:

No.  To have your vote counted in the presidential primary or caucus you have to make a party declaration.  If you refuse, or simply neglect to check the box, your vote is not counted.  The presidential primary consists of two ballots: a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot. They both appear on the same piece of paper.  Voters may vote either ballot, but for their vote to count, they must affirm a declaration that appears on the return ballot envelope.  For the 2020 election:

The Democratic declaration states:

I declare that my party preference is the Democratic Party and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2020 Presidential election.

The Republican declaration states:

I declare that I am a Republican and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2020 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

To vote in both is thus a violation of that declaration, and yes, it is against the law.  By the way, the reason that the declaration exists is because we do not register by party in Washington, and this was a sop to the parties to let them have "control" over who participates in their nominating process.

Does it alter by state? My mother has repeatedly told me that she gets to vote in the Democratic primary even though she is a registered Independent. 

It does alter by state. All elections, primary and general, are state elections governed by state law. This includes what is commonly thought of presidential elections. The 2020 was a great one for highlighting what the vote is actually doing. We don't vote for president, we vote for a slate of individuals running to be our state's representatives in the Electoral College. Each slate has pledged that, if elected, they will cast their vote for "X". And even the strength and consequences for not following through on that pledge is governed by state law.

[billisonboard]

Aug 6, 2022 1:43:52 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 5, 2022 13:39:49 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I question the fact it would be illegal to vote in multiple party caucuses. Here is why - political parties are private organizations in charge of making their own rules for attending their caucus. I don't see a governmental right to limit attendance by making it a crime to attend and vote in more than one.

No.  To have your vote counted in the presidential primary or caucus you have to make a party declaration.  If you refuse, or simply neglect to check the box, your vote is not counted.  The presidential primary consists of two ballots: a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot. They both appear on the same piece of paper.  Voters may vote either ballot, but for their vote to count, they must affirm a declaration that appears on the return ballot envelope.  For the 2020 election:

The Democratic declaration states:

I declare that my party preference is the Democratic Party and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2020 Presidential election.

The Republican declaration states:

I declare that I am a Republican and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2020 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

To vote in both is thus a violation of that declaration, and yes, it is against the law.  By the way, the reason that the declaration exists is because we do not register by party in Washington, and this was a sop to the parties to let them have "control" over who participates in their nominating process.

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with my county auditor, a staunch Republican, about the presidential primary voting in this state. She voiced strongly her thought that the state had no business running an election for the political parties.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 5, 2022 22:30:01 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 5, 2022 19:24:50 GMT -5 tallguy said:

In fairness, much of that probably could have been relied on until Newt Gingrich took over the GOP in 1994.  For the last three decades or so it has been pretty much off the table.  

Newt is married to my cousin, so he has a pretty strong following in my family...which is...fun.  

Callista Gingrich is your cousin? Wasn't she the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and appointed by trump? Newt should say thousands of Catholic prayers in pennance for his lies about the 2020 election and continued support for trump.

[tallguy]

Aug 6, 2022 7:04:50 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 6, 2022 1:43:52 GMT -5 tallguy said:

No.  To have your vote counted in the presidential primary or caucus you have to make a party declaration.  If you refuse, or simply neglect to check the box, your vote is not counted.  The presidential primary consists of two ballots: a Democratic ballot and a Republican ballot. They both appear on the same piece of paper.  Voters may vote either ballot, but for their vote to count, they must affirm a declaration that appears on the return ballot envelope.  For the 2020 election:

The Democratic declaration states:

I declare that my party preference is the Democratic Party and I will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the 2020 Presidential election.

The Republican declaration states:

I declare that I am a Republican and I have not participated and will not participate in the 2020 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

To vote in both is thus a violation of that declaration, and yes, it is against the law.  By the way, the reason that the declaration exists is because we do not register by party in Washington, and this was a sop to the parties to let them have "control" over who participates in their nominating process.

I am not questioning the legality of voting in both the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections. I am questioning the state's ability to prosecute you for attending and voting at caucus meetings of multiple political parties. It you did vote in the presidential primary election, signed one of the two declarations, and then participated in a different party's caucus, perhaps force of law is there, maybe. But if you don't vote in the primary and haven't made that declaration, what would be the basis for prosecution? Now it would certainly be possible for the political party to bring a civil suit against you if you declared you wouldn't be disloyal to them and then went out with someone else. But that is different than illegal.

Because you have to make a similar declaration to attend and vote in the caucus.  You can attend both if you wish to observe the process, I believe, but you cannot vote in both without violating that declaration.  
It has never been prosecuted to my knowledge, and it is "on the honor system", but it is illegal.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 6, 2022 9:47:37 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Callista Gingrich is your cousin? Wasn't she the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and appointed by trump?

Yes and yes.  Very small town WI girl. 

[Tennesseer]

Aug 6, 2022 10:05:31 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 6, 2022 9:47:37 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Callista Gingrich is your cousin? Wasn't she the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and appointed by trump?

Yes and yes.  Very small town WI girl. 

And married to a very small man.

[billisonboard]

Aug 6, 2022 9:49:06 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 6, 2022 7:04:50 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I am not questioning the legality of voting in both the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections. I am questioning the state's ability to prosecute you for attending and voting at caucus meetings of multiple political parties. It you did vote in the presidential primary election, signed one of the two declarations, and then participated in a different party's caucus, perhaps force of law is there, maybe. But if you don't vote in the primary and haven't made that declaration, what would be the basis for prosecution? Now it would certainly be possible for the political party to bring a civil suit against you if you declared you wouldn't be disloyal to them and then went out with someone else. But that is different than illegal.

Because you have to make a similar declaration to attend and vote in the caucus.  You can attend both if you wish to observe the process, I believe, but you cannot vote in both without violating that declaration.  
It has never been prosecuted to my knowledge, and it is "on the honor system", but it is illegal.

You keep declaring it is "illegal" which I interpret to mean that there is a law that makes it a crime against the state. I can't find a WAC code that indicates that it is. I don't think it exists but, of course, can't proof a negative. I have granted that state laws apply in state run elections. I just don't think the state can enforce criminal sanctions against a violation of a declaration made regarding a vote in a privately run election. I welcome evidence of state law in regards to political party caucuses which would prove me wrong.

[Cookies Galore]

Aug 5, 2022 15:14:20 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I see I have a whole lot to learn, many of these posts are so far over my head it’s ridiculous.

I guess I always felt like as long as I vote for the “big” stuff, I was doing okay. And I realize that even with that, I was doing more than a lot of people that don’t vote at all. But, still it’s not enough.

Due to recent events in this nation, the point has been proven that it all matters. I always knew that, but I never saw it coming, the attacks on our democracy and personal freedom on such a large scale.

Just your friendly local elected official here to say that local elections matter! The big races are the sexy ones but municipal, county, and school board elections impact your daily life more directly. The federal ones are extremely important for the big issues but local elections also have big consequences.

I'm glad you decided to vote in the primary and started working through the wonky election process in your state. Holy moly!

[billisonboard]

Aug 6, 2022 9:49:06 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 6, 2022 7:04:50 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I am not questioning the legality of voting in both the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections. I am questioning the state's ability to prosecute you for attending and voting at caucus meetings of multiple political parties. It you did vote in the presidential primary election, signed one of the two declarations, and then participated in a different party's caucus, perhaps force of law is there, maybe. But if you don't vote in the primary and haven't made that declaration, what would be the basis for prosecution? Now it would certainly be possible for the political party to bring a civil suit against you if you declared you wouldn't be disloyal to them and then went out with someone else. But that is different than illegal.

Because you have to make a similar declaration to attend and vote in the caucus.  You can attend both if you wish to observe the process, I believe, but you cannot vote in both without violating that declaration.  
It has never been prosecuted to my knowledge, and it is "on the honor system", but it is illegal.

Thinking maybe a general "attempt to defraud" law could apply.