Celtic Radio Community [Powered by Invision Power Board]

Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format

Celtic Radio Community > Politics & Current Events > Denied The Right To Vote

Posted by: CelticRadio 05-Feb-2008, 05:25 PM

Well I can't believe this has happened, but nothing surprises me living in Massachusetts.

Today my wife and I tried to vote. We have always been registered as Independents so as to choose which primary we can vote in. In Massachusetts though they did away with Independents so they refer to them as "unenrolled."

So we go to vote and find out that we have been placed with a party affiliation and can not vote in the party that we want to. First, this seems like it would violate a basic right to vote. Second, it seems that there is a pattern here because the town clerk said hundreds of people today complained of the same thing. Third, someone illegally moved us to a party when we have always been unenrolled.

According to the Town Clerk of Braintree there is nothing we can do. On top of that, the assistant violated my wife's confidential information by reading from a computer screen (for all to hear) what my wife's party affiliation was and what she voted in last election. This was when my wife was not present.

Ontop of all of this, Braintree Town Government does not even require identification for voting. My wife claims she did not vote what they said in the last election.

Well, emails off to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts!

Posted by: gwenlee 05-Feb-2008, 07:13 PM

Did the board of electors send a notice to the voters that these changes were being made?

So far here in Georgia they said we have had no major complaints. The number one complaint is the long lines.

Let us know what happens. Something is rotten in Massachusett.

Posted by: John Clements 05-Feb-2008, 08:05 PM

It’s not just Massachusetts that has something rotten. Here in New Jersey if you were not registered either as Democrat, or a Republican you couldn’t vote. Independent’s were out of luck! It’s far beyond rotten its ridicules!

Posted by: gwenlee 05-Feb-2008, 08:34 PM

This is the first election that we have had voter ID. I think it is about time. I saw on our local news that in some areas of Georgia the wait to vote was 90 min and we are having a pretty good turnout. It kind of reminds me of the elections of 1980 I waited 2 hr in line with a baby and it was raining. Hopefully we will continue to see a large number of voters. I don't think anyone should have to declare an allegiance to any political party in order to vote. Beside I don't think that belonging to a political party is a requirement to vote. Correct me if I am wrong.

Posted by: John Clements 05-Feb-2008, 08:46 PM

QUOTE (gwenlee @ 05-Feb-2008, 09:34 PM)

Beside I don't think that belonging to a political party is a requirement to vote. Correct me if I am wrong.

The voting rules in a Primary Election are different from other elections, and they may well differ in other states as well. Why I don’t have a clue. Sound like another thing that has to change.

Posted by: gwenlee 05-Feb-2008, 08:52 PM

For lack of a better word that stinks. In Georgia I decide at the polls if I want a democratic or republican ticket.

Posted by: John Clements 05-Feb-2008, 10:20 PM

I’m not looking for an argument here, are you?

Posted by: gwenlee 05-Feb-2008, 10:24 PM

No argument. I figured you and I would probably be in agreement on our right to vote. I can't wait to read your view on the primary results. I am surprised at some of the results.

Posted by: John Clements 05-Feb-2008, 10:28 PM

Oh good, I’m on it!
Later!

Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 06-Feb-2008, 08:39 AM

QUOTE (gwenlee @ 05-Feb-2008, 10:34 PM)

Beside I don't think that belonging to a political party is a requirement to vote. Correct me if I am wrong.

In North Carolina (in primary elections), one must belong to the party whose primary one's voting in. Independents are left out. I'm going to have to switch party affiliation to vote my choice.

Posted by: John Clements 06-Feb-2008, 08:58 AM

QUOTE (TheCarolinaScotsman @ 06-Feb-2008, 09:39 AM)

In North Carolina (in primary elections), one must belong to the party whose primary one's voting in. Independents are left out. I'm going to have to switch party affiliation to vote my choice.

Thanks for clarifying this Bill. I was beginning to question my own observation. JC

Posted by: Rebecca Ann 06-Feb-2008, 09:48 AM

According to the Constitution, which is the law of the land, no legal citizen of the US is to be denied the right to vote. If you are native born or a naturalized citizen it is your right to vote. We too are independants. But the primary is basically to find who will be chosen to go to the convention and be chosen by the delegates to run in the main election. In this case there are only two parties, democrat and republican. If you wish to vote in the primary you must chose one or the other. Often times we have local elections also at primary and they do not run again. Though we are independant, in the primary we vote republican because we have no others to vote for in our local area. In the primary you chose the party in which you can vote for your local offices, because, like here, in many places this is the only election you can chose your local officials. Problem is this county was never set up to have a two party only system but that is what we have, at least for the primary election. It's wrong but how do we change it?
Rebecca

Posted by: John Clements 06-Feb-2008, 10:12 AM

Ok! Now that we know for a fact, that “Registered Independents” couldn’t vote in the Primary Election, (at least in New Jersey, North Carolina, and God know how many other states). That in it self gives me reason to contest the entire election.
I mean one would think that being registered as an Independent means just that? But no… that would be too independent, wouldn’t it!
Anyway, that’s exactly why I was for Dennis Kucinich from the get go, and also the reason he was “Black Balled” out of the very process that he thought needed to change!

Posted by: Camac 06-Feb-2008, 10:29 AM

06/02/08

John C.

A fellow poster inferred that I was not interested in American Politics. I stated that I did not much care who became your president not that I wasn't interested. In fact I find your Politics quiet fascinating and complexing. This business of being a registered Dem., Rep., or Ind., boggles me. It is no ones business what an individuals political affiliation is. During our registering to vote or at anytime during the election process no inummerator or polling station attendant would dare to ask that question.

Camac.

Posted by: oldraven 06-Feb-2008, 11:17 AM

I really don't understand why the parties themselves don't pick a leader. This Primary Elections business seems like an extreme waste of time and money. And by the sounds of it, incredibly corrupt as well.

Posted by: John Clements 06-Feb-2008, 11:17 AM

QUOTE (Camac @ 06-Feb-2008, 11:29 AM)

Hi, it’s funny that you should say that, because I believe that most informed people outside of the US, are probably more interested in our elections, then most of the people who live her, (judging from the usual turnout).
It’s also funny because the second question after what my name at my poling station was…What party was I registered with, and in fact I was give a numbered, colored coordinated, voting ticket to indicate which party I was registered with.
The truth is I am an Independent Thinker, (who happens to be registered as a Democrat). You know the old saying: Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you now lie’s! Well that doesn’t hold water with me.
So if you’re wondering, I voted for Obama, simply because he is a dreamer, (and all would be lost) if we gave up on our dreams. (It’s as simple as that).
I have to go now, (and I’m not talking about going to the bathroom).
Later, JC

Posted by: Camac 06-Feb-2008, 02:17 PM

06/02/08

JC.
I do not find your choice of candidate the least suprising and if I were an American I would probably have voted as you. Being an outsider though and if I may I think that his inexpeirience will eventually wear on him if he is elected. A Clinton/Obama ticket might be the best choice as it wiil give him the experience and in 2016 a damned good shot at the Presidency.

Camac.

Posted by: gwenlee 06-Feb-2008, 05:35 PM

I talked with my sister in Washington and she said they can't vote as a registered independent. She has to choose a party or based on past elections they will place her in a party. She is frustrated because she feels like she is being boxed in.

Posted by: Camac 07-Feb-2008, 08:08 AM

07/02/08

JC.

As I said your election process is most perplexing. The amount of money that one has to solicit is in my opinion obscene. Unless one has the ability to tap into 10s if not 100s of millions of dollars one doesn't have a chance. Surely these massive donations by corporations or individuals are the basis for the expectation or fulfilment of post- election favours. Does this not smack of mass corruption? Is the Presidency, (like the Roman Empire) auction off to the highest bidder?

Camac.

Posted by: John Clements 07-Feb-2008, 10:19 AM

QUOTE (Camac @ 07-Feb-2008, 09:08 AM)

In my opinion you’re correct, because the only thing that’s absolutely clear. Is that corruption is absolute!
Recently the Record, which is one of the largest newspapers here in Northern New Jersey, published another one of my letter to the Editor, which was about the purposed Tax Rebate, (a tax rebate which implies that we’re all corrupt).
Dear Editor;
If you ask me, this proposed federal tax rebate is nothing more then bribe, which is what all criminals do when they get cornered.
John Clements
You know it all makes me wonder, if any form of government wouldn’t work, if it weren’t for corruption.
Later, JC

Posted by: John Clements 07-Feb-2008, 11:32 AM

QUOTE (oldraven @ 06-Feb-2008, 12:17 PM)

Hi oldraven, once again you are correct, especially now that we have, “super delegates”. Whose job is to simply overturn the majority votes in a primary election! Exactly the way that the “electoral collage” is designed to over turn the majority vote in a general election!
If you ask me we can’t even call this a democratic republic anymore, much less a democracy!
Later, JC

Posted by: Camac 07-Feb-2008, 02:31 PM

07/02/08

JC.

Denying citizens their rights is the first step to tyranny. Wasn't that one of the biggest complaints leading to your revolution?

Camac.

Posted by: John Clements 07-Feb-2008, 02:40 PM

QUOTE (Camac @ 07-Feb-2008, 03:31 PM)

07/02/08

JC.

Denying citizens their rights is the first step to tyranny. Wasn't that one of the biggest complaints leading to your revolution?

Camac.

You got that right, along with constantly being lied too!
I can’t think about this anymore today, catch you later, JC

Posted by: John Clements 08-Feb-2008, 09:23 AM

McCain Huckabee… Obama Hillary… Where’s the change… I don’t see it?

Check this out, cause you won’t see it on TV.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/videos/2008/jan/16/74/

I hope it works.

Posted by: Fiddle315 14-Feb-2008, 04:41 PM

You posters are the perfect example fo why the American Voter is considered IGNORANT.

You chose to NOT belong to any party, then when a primary comes along you think you can tell any party who they should run for office. How more foolish could you be?

If you want to be involved in the political process more than just being a voter, then you have to be PART of the political process, not just a by-stander afraid to identify yourself with a party or its platform. As an independent or not enrolled, you yourselves have chosen to NOT be part of any system.

Bottom line, as a Republican or a Democrat I do not want any of your opinions. I do not want you walking into my voting booth and telling MY Party who you want to see run for office. I want you to stay out of my party's business and I want you to wait until the General Election and I want you to vote for the best candidate. But I absolutely do not want a bunch of spineless no-nothings attempting to pervert my party in the primary election.

Get a life and realize your role. Again, YOU chose to not participate in any party efforts and so YOU have NO right to alter my party’s efforts.

Posted by: oldraven 15-Feb-2008, 06:45 AM

Welcome to the board?

Talk about jumping in with both feet on fire.

The main problem with a primary is that you put 100% of the emphasis on the two popular parties alone. The Rep. and Dem. convince their nation that there really are only two choices. Help us decide who should run, because those 'Independents' aren't going to get anywhere anyway. It's mass hypnotism to convince everyone that there are only two choices.

Pick a leader, and put him/her up against ALL the competition, the entire way through the election. No more air time for one candidate than any other. Otherwise, how can you pretend to dictate to other nations, like Pakistan, what is and what isn't free and fair election?

In Pakistan, the competition had been banned from rallying in the streets, and when they still try suppress their message, either by house arrest or eventually by having them killed. Since North Americans get 99% of their election platforms by watching TV, you need only block them from the media to suppress their message.

Posted by: stoirmeil 15-Feb-2008, 12:11 PM

Up until now, meaning this coming election, I used to worry that voting independent was an impractical and idealistic way to go, since it never looked like an independent would actually gain enough support to be elected to serve; and while I agreed theoretically with making room for the wider-than-two-party range of ideas to be expressed, from a practical standpoint an independent seemed more likely to just be a spoiler. Now, I'm not nearly as sure. A two-party system is what we're used to, but it certainly isn't the only way to go, and it has caused the extreme polarization that is turning us all so vehemently against each other on ideological grounds. If we had to club together into non-given coalitions and work hard at the necessary compromises, I believe this deadly political enmity that is gnawing away at the people from underneath would start to break up.

I had an "enemy" on these boards once, a man whose political views and ideological convictions were very different from mine. We fought a lot; then I kept vigil with him in the only way I could, over the internet, while he went through a shattering personal crisis with extraordinary courage. I saw what he was made of; and while I don't think either his or my ideological convictions have changed much, if at all, and while the man is still coming on the boards to voice his opinions, my "enemy" has disappeared forever. Whatever it takes to break up the extreme and damaging polarizing patterns of how we do political business in this country, it has to be worth it, including the eventual passing of a black-and-white, us-and-them concept of choosing leaders, and the growth of a system that recognizes and permits negotiation among a thousand shades of grey.

Posted by: John Clements 15-Feb-2008, 02:21 PM

QUOTE (Fiddle315 @ 14-Feb-2008, 05:41 PM)

If I were a councilor, I would suggest that both oldraven and stormeil peruse careers in the diplomatic corps, (and believe me, I mean that as a compliment).
But as for me, I just want to say thanks for straitening everything for us, (ignorant spineless political posters) who you now have joined!
And while I’m at it, thank you for giving me the impetus for writing the following: “True ignorance is not being informed enough to know that you are”!
That being said, welcome to the party.

Posted by: stoirmeil 15-Feb-2008, 09:32 PM

QUOTE (John Clements @ 15-Feb-2008, 03:21 PM)

And while I’m at it, thank you for giving me the impetus for writing the following: “True ignorance is not being informed enough to know that you are”!
That being said, welcome to the party.

Where the potato chips are not soggy, and they NEVER water the beer.

Posted by: Druid_of_Ark 23-Feb-2008, 03:38 PM

There is a true saying, "If two people think exactly alike one of them is not thinking." Well those who blindly support a party are the best proof of that. For that reason I like to see who the party offers then I select based on the values of the man.