No Party Preference Voters: Pay Attention
Registered Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians and other party members, rest assured. You are guaranteed a primary ballot with all of your partys presidential contenders on it.
But voters who dont belong to a political party the fastest growing voting block in the state will have to navigate a more daunting set of obstacles to cast a presidential primary vote.
Some parties have members only policies:
- The Republican Party
- The Green Party
- The Peace and Freedom Party
If you want to vote in one of these three primaries, youll have to join that party. You cant do it as a member of any other party, or even as a no party preference independent. No exceptions.
The following three parties do allow political independents to cast ballots in their presidential primaries :
- The Democratic Party
- The Libertarian Party
- The American Independent Party
But and this is an important caveat these voters do have to specifically request the ballot they want.
For those who vote in person, this is a cinch. Just go into your polling place when its time to vote and ask. But independents who vote by mail need to let your county know which ballot they want ahead of time.
Maybe you received a postcard that looks like this:
And if youve already received a ballot in the mail and were disappointed by the lack of presidential candidates, do notfill it out. You can always request a new ballot, but trying to vote twice is frowned upon .
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Rutherford B Hayes: Campaigns And Elections
The Campaign and Election of 1876
As the favorite son of Ohio, Rutherford B. Hayes had much in his favor. Both regular and reform Republicans liked him. He was a war hero, had supported Radical Reconstruction legislation, and championed African American suffrage. He also came from a large swing state. His reputation for integrity was excellent, and his support of bipartisan boards of state institutions endeared him to reformers. Hayes ultimately, though, realized that his simple âavailabilityâ was his greatest strength. Distasteful to no one, he was the second choice among the supporters of the other leading candidates. Nevertheless, Hayes insisted on a united Ohio delegationand at the same time did nothing to lessen his availability.
Moreover, the 1876 Republican convention was in Cincinnati, which teemed with Hayes supporters. âAvailabilityâ did work for Hayes. James G. Blaine, the frontrunner and the favorite of partisan Republicans, was tarnished by allegations of corruption Oliver P. Morton, the favorite of Radicals, was in ill health Benjamin H. Bristow, the favorite of reformers, was anathema to Grant and Roscoe Conkling, the quintessential spoils politician, was unacceptable to reformers and to Blaine. In the end, none of these candidates could muster the votes of the majority of the convention. By the fifth ballot, Hayes had picked up votes by the seventh, he had clinched the nomination.
The Disputed Election of 1876
Political Primaries: How Are Candidates Nominated
Article two, section one of the United States Constitution discusses the procedures to be followed when electing the president of the United States, but it does not provide guidance for how to nominate a presidential candidate. Currently, candidates go through a series of state primaries and caucuses where, based on the number of votes they receive from the electorate, they are assigned a certain number of delegates who will vote for them at their party’s convention.
Earlier party conventions were raucous events, and delegates did not necessarily represent the electorate. Mrs. J.J. McCarthy describes her convention experience:
I can picture … the great Democratic convention of 1894 at the old coliseum in Omaha… right now I can hear the Hallelluiahs of the assembled. Oh how I wish I had back the youth and the enthusiasm I felt that night, I jumped on a chair and ask that by a rising vote the nomination be made unanimous, how the people yelled, how the packed gallories applauded, it cheers an old man now to think about it.
Politics played a big part in the life of this town years ago. Campaigns were hot, and there was always a big celebration afterwards. … Votes used to be bought — that is before the secret ballot was adopted. Some sold ’em pretty cheap. I remember one old fellow who sold out to one party for a dollar — then sold out to the other for the same price.
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Democrats Recall Dilemma: Should They Cast A Vote For A Candidate To Replace Gavin Newsom
For many Democrats and other opponents of the recall, question No. 1 is easy. They plan to vote ânoâ.
But what about question No. 2?
Thatâs a dilemma for Democrats because the best-known recall candidates are Republicans like Newsomâs 2018 opponent John Cox and conservative talk radio host Larry Elder. By not voting on question No. 2, Democratic voters risk ceding the recall election to a candidate whose views they oppose.
Elder, for instance, believes that the minimum wage should be abolished and supports former President Donald Trump. Cox courted Trumpâs endorsement in 2018. Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, another well-known candidate, supported Trumpâs 2020 campaign.
There are 46 candidates on the recall ballot, including nine Democrats.
The California Democratic Party is urging left-leaning voters not to select anyone on the recall ballotâs second question.
âThe California Democratic Party is activating voters to vote no on the Republican Recall and leave the second question blank. Itâs the only way to stop Republicans who want to take California back to some very dark days,â said party spokeswoman Shery Yang.
Former Newsom spokesman, Nathan Click, reiterated Yangâs advice for Democratic voters.
âLeave it blank. Voting no is the only way to block the Republican power grab and prevent the Republican takeover of California,â Click said.
âNo on recall, yes on Bustamanteâ
Why Are Democrats Voting In Republican Primaries
With Republican turnout far outpacing that of the Democrats so far in the 2022 primaries, different views are being offered as to why this is happening. Yahoo News, for example, is arguing that, at least in part, this is due to Democrats voting in Republican primaries to vote against Trump-backed Republicans in those primaries.
Perhaps.
In Georgia, for example, incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, was on the receiving end of the hostility of former President Donald Trump, due to what Trump and many of his supporters believe was a failure on the part of Raffensperger to oppose Democrats in that state from committing widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump supported an opponent in the Republican primary against Raffensperger, but Raffensperger won anyway, with 27,000 votes over the 50 percent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff. But over 37,000 Democrats voted in the Republican primary, in what is called crossover voting. In many states, like Georgia, citizens can cast their primary vote in either partys primary. These are called open primaries. In closed primary states, one must be a registered voter in the party before voting in that partys primary.
While the Democrats now hold the White House, the House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate , Republicans actually gained seats in the 2020 election, and President Trump received millions more votes in 2020 than he garnered in 2016.
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Are Americans Finally Ready For A Third Party
Are Americans finally ready for a third-party? Andrew Yang, a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, and Christine Todd Whitman, a former Republican governor of New Jersey, certainly think so. They have just founded the Forward Party with the avowed aspiration of promoting more moderate politics and candidates.
They have some evidence to back their hopes. In a just-released survey, the Pew Research Center found that the share of voters with an unfavorable view of both political parties has risen from 6% in 1994 to 27% today. When asked to respond to the statement that I usually feel that there is at least one candidate who shares most of my views, 43% disagree, up from 36% in 2018. Thirty-eight percent strongly agree that I wish there were more political parties to choose from in this country, a figure that includes 48% of Independents and 38% of Democrats but just 21% of Republicans.
This final finding is one of several replicated across all the surveys in this article. Democrats and Independents are much more dissatisfied with the current party system than are Republicans, and young adults are far less satisfied than are older Americans. In addition, some surveys suggest that there is more openness to a new party among college-educated than non-college votersand that Hispanics may be less tethered to the current party system than are either whites or African Americans.
Democrats Split By Bid To Boost Election Denier In Michigan Republican Primary
Democrats are intervening in Republican primaries, prompting fears the strategy could backfire or promote Trump allies
Some Democrats in Washington are publicly fuming over the partys decision to boost a Republican congressional candidate in Michigan who has questioned the 2020 election result.
The outcry escalated after Axios reported that Democrats plan to spend $425,000 to air an ad ahead of Michigans primary, highlighting the conservative bona fides of John Gibbs, who is challenging the incumbent Republican, Peter Meijer.
In his first term in Congress, Meijer was one of 10 House Republicans to support impeaching Trump after the January 6 attack.
The 30-second ad is styled as an attack ad against Gibbs but has dog-whistle themes designed to appeal to GOP voters.
It says Gibbs is too conservative for western Michigan and was hand-picked by Trump. It also highlights how he will push conservative policies in Congress, including a hard line against immigrants at the border and patriotic education in our schools.
The race in Michigans third congressional district is projected to be one of the few highly competitive contests this fall. Democrats are betting that Gibbs, who is endorsed by Donald Trump and worked in his administration, will be an easier candidate to beat.
But some worry that strategy could backfire and say its hypocritical for the party to meddle in a primary to defeat a Republican who took a difficult vote to hold Trump accountable.
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Arguments On The Open And Closed Methods Of Electing Leaders
Political and social analysts have discussed extensively the manner of conducting open and closed primary elections. Some argue in favor of the open primary election. Some also argue in support of the closed primary election. Let us look at their various views to understand what the electoral process stands to benefit from the use of these forms of elections.
Proponents of the closed primary elections are of the view that only members of a political party should be able to vote for the candidate that the political party presents. In this regard, their opponent political party will be unable to influence who the party presents in a general election. They believe that in open primaries, other political parties could play dirty to control the candidate that emerges on the platform of a particular party at the primaries. That way, they can ensure that the candidate representing the other party is the one not likely to draw the popular vote from voters at the general elections.
Thus, the advocates for a closed primary election are of the view that only those of a political party should participate in deciding who represents them as a political party.
How Are Presidential Primary Elections Conducted In California
Qualified political parties in California may hold presidential primaries in one of two ways:
- Closed presidential primary – only voters indicating a preference for a party may vote for that party’s presidential nominee.
- Modified-closed presidential primary – the party also allows voters who did not state a party preference to vote for that party’s presidential nominee.
If a qualified political party chooses to hold a modified-closed presidential primary, the party must notify the California Secretary of State no later than the 135th day before Election Day.
Voters who registered to vote without stating a political party preference are known as No Party Preference voters. For information on NPP voters voting in a presidential primary election, please see our webpage on No Party Preference Information.
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Cnn Poll: Most Voters Say Neither Republican Nor Democratic Congressional Candidates Have The Right Priorities
By Ariel Edwards-Levy, CNN
Neither Republican nor Democratic candidates for Congress are seen by most voters as having the right priorities, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS. The survey finds voters closely divided in their preference for this year’s midterm elections and on the potential consequences of a Republican victory.
How Readers Inform Our Work
Instead of letting only politicians set the agenda, we talk to voters and scrutinize polling data to understand ordinary Texans top concerns. Our readers questions and needs help inform our priorities. We want to hear from readers: What do you better want to understand about the election process in Texas? If local, state or congressional elected officials were to successfully address one issue right now, what would you want it to be? Whats at stake for you this election cycle? If were missing something, this is your chance to tell us.
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Can We Expect Anything Other Than Biden Vs Trump In 2024
A FiveThirtyEight Chat
Welcome to FiveThirtyEights politics chat. The transcript below has been lightly edited.
sarah : We know the 2022 midterm elections havent happened yet, but this summer has seen an unusual amount of activity on the 2024 front.
Namely, many Americans, including Democrats, are really down on the idea of President Biden seeking a second term, while former President Donald Trump continues to dominate the news cycle. A sizable portion of Americans say they dont want Biden or Trump to have a second term, but is there, uh a path for anyone who isnt Trump or Biden in 2024?
Lets tackle this chat in two parts:
OK, first up. Is there a Democrat who can take on Biden?
alex : I dont think so, Sarah, especially if Trump is the nominee. If Trump announces that hes running for a second term, I think: 1) Biden will run again, and 2) there wont be a damaging primary to take him down.
What Democrat is going to take Biden on against Trump? Democrats will coalesce around the nominee who can beat Trump, and Biden has already proved that he can.
alex: Right, Nathaniel. I just dont see notable Democrats wanting to participate in a messy, protracted primary against the sitting president. It would be a terrible look for the party.
nrakich: Yes!
Peltola Will Be The First Native American Woman To Represent Alaska In The Us Congress
Democrat Mary Peltola won the special election for Alaska’s only U.S. House seat on Wednesday, besting a field that included Republican Sarah Palin, who was seeking a political comeback in the state where she was once governor.
Peltola, who is Yup’ik, will become the first Native American woman to represent Alaska in the House. She is also the first woman to hold the seat.
Peltola will serve the remaining months of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term. Young held the seat for 49 years before his death in March.
Peltola’s victory, coming in Alaska’s first statewide ranked choice voting election, is a boon for Democrats, particularly coming off better-than-expected performances in special elections around the country this year following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, who was seeking reelection in 1972 when his plane disappeared. Begich was later declared dead and Young in 1973 was elected to the seat.
Peltola ran as a coalition builder while her two Republican opponents Palin and Begich’s grandson, also named Nick Begich at times went after each other. Palin also railed against the ranked voting system, which was instituted by Alaska voters.
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Is It Common For Democrats To Participate In The Republican Primary And Vice Versa
In short, no. According to Elizabeth Simas, a political science professor at the University of Houston who spoke about this with Texas Standard, cases of strategic voting dont happen much in primary elections. Certainly, there are people who do it but we just dont see it happening as much as theres potentially this fear for it to happen, Simas said.
In areas dominated by one party, especially rural areas, voters might cross party lines in the primary to have more of a say in their local races.
In my county, all the local races are Republican. Judges, sheriff, district attorney, Martha Mims, a Democratic voter who lives Williamson County, wrote in The Texas Tribunes Facebook group, This is Your Texas. If I want to have a say in local government, I have to vote in the Republican primary.
Voters like Mims can do that, thanks to Texas open primary. Do you have more questions about voting in Texas? Submit them to our Texplainer series.
Disclosure: The University of Houston has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribuneâs journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
