Thread: Voters leaving Republican, Democratic parties in droves

Sorry, I guess what my point is I see left leaning propaganda for independents in states where independents are forbidden to vote in primaries. Which unchecked could have catastrophic effects in polls, primaries, anything but a general election.
By which time its to late. I'll find more examples that lead me to my opinion.
Yes I understand the California way on this.. But there are a lot of questions on what happens at the polls in other states pertaining to Independents and primaries.
I may be making a mountain out of a moe-hill. Maybe not. I'll pull up some newspaper (left leaning) articles that got me curious from states (not California) nudging moderate independents to cast ballots in primaries.
Thats the best I can explain it....

December 24, 2011
AZ. Independents, you can vote in primaries

by Linda Valdez - Jan. 12, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Independents make up nearly a third of all registered voters in Arizona. Too bad they don't know their own strength.

After I suggested in print recently that independents could have a moderating effect on the Legislature by voting in the primary, I got calls telling me independents are barred from primaries.

No, they aren't. "Independents can vote in the primaries," says Secretary of State Ken Bennett.

"They should be informed of that," says Steve Lynn, Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission chairman.

A registered independent, Lynn says the lack of understanding among independents about their voting rights is a significant problem.

Since July, both the Republican and Democratic parties lost voters, according to October figures from Bennett's office. Those who register as no party preference - independents - rose by 17,992. Independents make up 915,981 of the state's 3.1 million registered voters. Republicans are at 1.13 million; Democrats number 1.04 million. It looks to me like disgust with a system in which ardor for ideology - or a Grover Norquist no-tax pledge - is seen as virtuous. Lynn points out that some independents opt out of the Republican or Democratic parties because they feel neither goes far enough right or left. They might not want to engage in either primary.

But in many districts, registration is so lopsided that the race is decided in the primary. For independents, Lynn says, "it's not as effective or wise to wait until the general election to vote."

If voters sit out the primary by choice, that's fine. But if independents stay away because they think they are prohibited, that's disenfranchisement of a growing number of voters.
Lynn says he is the kind of independent voter who vacillates between the options offered by the two parties, depending on the issue. This rational approach probably reflects the attitude of many independents. It could result in more centrist candidates.

Arizona needs moderates in the Legislature as badly as it needs new revenue to get through this economic crisis. Unfortunately, moderates do not fare well in primaries, which are dominated by party extremists. That's where independents could make a difference.
Lynn says the League of Women Voters has indicated an interest in helping educate independent voters about their rights. And it isn't just voters who need to learn that independents are only barred from presidential primaries. Lynn says independents have been turned away by poll workers.

Raising awareness before the August state primary is a huge undertaking. Bennett says federal money might be available for voter education.

But public money is scarce. Arizona could use a few civic-minded sponsors with deep pockets and an understanding that engaging voters isn't about parties. It's about people. As in: We, the people.

Reach Valdez at linda.valdez@arizonarepublic.com.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...#ixzz1hVVeseAa

Americans Elect 2012 | The first direct presidential nomination
www.americanselect.org/

Americans Elect gives you the power to directly nominate a president in 2012. Who will you choose?

Sign Up
Become an Americans Elect delegate in just 20 seconds.
　
https://secure.americanselect.org/signup

And it isn't just voters who need to learn that independents are only barred from presidential primaries. Lynn says independents have been turned away by poll workers.

Now thats a good example. Is it just Presidential primaries that independents get turned away.?. Or do some get turned away? Others not?.... Bam!
Thanks JD2. theres a lot more out there on this topic that needs to be explored...IMO.

This is truly a tragic but not unexpected disaster. In our country, we are all supposed to be Americans with a common thought about a nation that serves its citizens while being fair and respectful to foreign nations who leave us alone. In our country, there should be no dramatic differences between Republicans and Democrats that affect our livelihoods or liberties or our prosperity or peace. While our nation is young compared to most, unlike other nations, we were blessed with the finest founding document ever written for the governance of free citizens.

Yet, along the way, there were factions who have infected our nation with their own versions of foreign concepts like slavery, fascism, authoritarianism, socialism, open borders, globalization, new world order, free trade treason and tyranny and then mixed them with their own recipe of busy-body family values which combined have ripped our country into a thousand fragments instead of holding us together with a thousand points of light.

Republicans. Our party was based on the philosophy of Laissez-Faire. Leave the people alone. Learn it, live it, lobby it, and we can still be the thousands points of light that unite our citizens and save our nation.

RELATED

Johnson quits Republican presidential race to run as Libertarian
http://www.alipac.us/threads/246684-...=1#post1245280

12/28/15

In New Hampshire, undeclared voters could be a key wild card in the primary

12/23/11
​
Trump Switches Voter Registration to 'Independent'

Trump Switches Voter Registration to 'Independent'