The same confusion that many voters feel is exactly what put our current commander in chief in office. Voter confusion & lack of knowledge. You ought to have to pass an intelligence test (and pay taxes) to vote.
Georgians have been voting in primary elections since about 1964.
And we still don't have it down.
Why do Democrats get to answer intriguing straw poll questions when Republicans can't -- and vice versa? Why can't I vote for whomever I want? Why am I stuck with one party's ballot or the other?
These and other frustrations continue to haunt voters decades into the primary election system here.
One voter we talked to was fit to be tied after trying to vote as an independent in the July 20 primary. Of course, you can't do that: A primary election is essentially a function of the two major parties -- the state is merely facilitating it. The primary basically took the place of conventions and smoke-filled rooms in which party bosses picked nominees to elective office.
Fact is, as frustrating as it seems at times, Georgians have more freedom than most: In many states, you have to register as Republican or Democrat ahead of time, and you're stuck with that ballot on election day. In Georgia, you merely declare an affiliation at the polling place and, in the case of primaries, you pick up a ballot for that party.
That threw our friend in Columbia County for a loop July 20. When asked to declare a party, she said Democrat. She got the Democratic ballot. Unfortunately, she had wanted to vote in the Republican races -- as most people do in Columbia County -- but could not. She says no one explained to her that the ballots are mutually exclusive.
Nope. We still don't have it down.
Likewise, some folks in Richmond County were perturbed when they wanted to vote in Republican races but also wanted to answer the four straw poll questions Democratic leaders decided to ask their voters. Election director Lynn Bailey says some voters even opted to forgo the Republican ballot just to hop over and answer the Democratic questions, which included measuring the public mood on funding of a new downtown baseball stadium.
But having to choose between the two didn't sit well with some.
"People were ticked off," Bailey says. "They were more than frustrated. They were angry."
Why can't the same questions appear on both ballots? Answer: They could. But Republicans and Democrats have declined to cooperate in their straw polls. Too bad; the stadium question is of significant interest, and polling members of both parties would have been enlightening.
And when that doesn't happen, and one party's voters feel left out, it's Bailey and other election officials who get the flak for it on election day -- even though that's purely a party decision.
The larger point, though, is how unfamiliar voters still seem to be with how the primary election system works.
A cynic might suggest that we'd be more familiar with it if more of us made use of it: Fewer than 15 percent of Richmond County voters went to the polls July 20.
You also have to wonder if schools are teaching civics as well as they ought to.
Ultimately, though, if we don't understand our system of government, whose fault is it but our own?
Comments
The same confusion that many voters feel is exactly what put our current commander in chief in office. Voter confusion & lack of knowledge. You ought to have to pass an intelligence test (and pay taxes) to vote.
one man one vote... still the best system on the planet, with all of its inherint problems. ps chillen, you really think that McCain/Palin ticket was the best the party could do ? hope the party learned something from that fiasco and doesn't repeat in '12.
CHILLEN, I think the article was addressing the fact that Republicans were denied the benefit of participating in the vote on the issues covered in the straw poll on the Democrat ballots; yet, you choose to "blow smoke" about why President Obama is in office at this time and how voters should be required to take intelligent tests before they vote.
I can only wonder, as I marvel at your lack of reason. Do you really believe that the failure to take an IQ test was the only reason the Republicans weren't able to vote in the recent straw pole; or maybe, that Governor Palin obviously rated a 160 on her IQ test?
GGpap
The parties can get together and work out the straw poll questions so both sides can vote on the same question. It used to be done that way, but now it seems like there is too much division for them to even work that out. Imagine that.
Faithson, you really think Obama-Biden was the best the Democrats could do?
I have to admit I'm disappointed with the Republican party. Unfortunately, the democrats are so much worse, I HAVE to vote for Repubs.
"You also have to wonder if schools are teaching civics as well as they ought to." Oh, it is to laugh.
The dumbing down of America is still the socialistDems most successful move. This country never knew what hit them, and it's unlikely most ever will.
Thank you , Rush Limbaugh and Rupert Murdoc, for replacing government education with factual information.
And yes, the vast majority of obama voters failed their IQ tests. While knowledge is power, for the Dems, a lack of knowledge by the masses is just as powerful for their masters.
Cliff, Funny I read that republicans were the ignorant and less educated voters in the last election...You sure you didn't get that backwards? btw, chalk up Obama to confusion all you want, the fact is and will always be that he won and he is the POTUS; like it or not, explain it away or not...And if anybody was confused after al those debates and after the long campaign trails by he and McCain they wanted to be confused...Please! I think it is a good coping mechanism for people still sulking about the election to simply say "those other folks were confused and dumb!" Well, if they were too bad sobeit that's nothing new! Nobody was calling for a IQ tests when politicians would come to town on election day with wagons loaded with booze and bbq...Then after all the "good ole boys" were all full and wasted they would say "ya'll gon vote fo me, c'mon load up in this wagon so I can git ya'll down to the courthouse to vote!"
Riverman, you think McCain/Palin was the best the republicans could do? I think not! For any political process to be educated is to understand the best canidates usuallyget weeded out by the big parties long before you get to see them...Politics is about POWER, not the BEST!!! That's why I'm an Independent, I understand it's a shell game and I won't let a particular political party own me!!! I can't stand "die hard" democrats just like I can't stand "die hard" republicans...Both are kool-aid drinkers in my opinion!
LOL at thanking Rush Limbaugh OMG... the crazies. FACTUAL *FALLS OUT LAUGHING* Rush with FACTUAL information *DEAD*
faithson wrote:
. . . do you really think that McCain/Palin ticket was the best the party could do?
Nominating geezers does not work. Bob Dole and John McCain show that. If the Republican party nominates geezer Newt Gingrich in 2012, they will continue the pattern of defeat.
Don't get me wrong. I like the ideas of Gingrich. It's just that his day is past and he is too old to gain enough votes of the young people who are brainwashed in the cult of personality and celebrity.
Nativeson1, "ya'll gon vote fo me, c'mon load up in this wagon so I can git ya'll down to the courthouse to vote!"
Yeah, things have really changed. Now you have organized groups like ACORN. They tell the folks just get on the bus we’ll take you down to the voting place. We’ll tell you how to work the voting booth since you are too dumb to do it. But don’t worry your welfare check will be in the mail. We’ll pay your rent out of Obama’s stash. Boy, you DUMocrats are really an intelligent bunch.
Nativeson1, when trying to make fun of someone else don’t have your pants down around feet.
ggpap I know what the article is about it just made me think about all the pure idiots who vote. And idiots is a kind word for what I really think.
How about the woman who lined up to get her "obama money"? She has absolutely NO CLUE how this country or our economy works. She simply voted for someone to give her more goodies. Scary thing is, there are millions more JUST LIKE HER. It's the only way Obama was elected. It's a fact.
At the very very least you should pay taxes to get a vote. It is not logical to get "Representation without Taxation".
That issue is a huge part of what is wrong in this country.
The fact that the Republicans didn't have intriquing straw poll questions on their ballot is just more failure and ineptitude by the Republican leadership.
As always, never, ever underestimate the ignorance of the general electorate.
"I have to admit I'm disappointed with the Republican party. Unfortunately, the democrats are so much worse, I HAVE to vote for Repubs."
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This pervasive, illogical, defeatist thought process is exactly why American government has gotten to its current state over the past century.
Baron, what exactly is wrong with my thought process here. I voted for who I feel is the best candidate on the ballot the same as you did. My disappointment with politicians in general doesn't change that.
Way to go Mrs. Sherrod I'm glad you are suing Briebart, let's get FALSE news next. Ok now that she has said she's going to sue Briebart, what FALSE news personality is going to start the defense fund for him. I hope she sues him and shuts down his lying sites.
Okay whatever...Let's remember also it wasn't the democrat vote or more specifically the black vote that elected our current POTUS, it was the independents that the republicans couldn't close the deal on...And no matter how you try and twist the facts that's one fact that is etched in stone...Instead of looking back my suggestion is looking ofrward and finding a conservative that has independent appeal if you want "Change" in 2012, and right now the only conservative that I would vote for ain't running. Convience Joseph Arpaio to run and I'll gladly vote for him; but if they put that silly hillbilly woman up on the platform forget my vote!!!
Onlyinags2, ‘Way to go Mrs. Sherrod I'm glad you are suing Briebart, let's get FALSE news next.’
The only way she will get anything is with a black jury. She has NO case. With a black jury she will win even with no case at all. I was on a jury where a black guy was very obviously guilty and the one black on the jury would not vote him guilty. Several witness saw the guy steal the stuff. The judge even chewed us out because we couldn’t come too a verdict on an open and shut case. The black juror still would not vote him guilty but of course that is not racism.
You’ll find about 1 out 12 blacks that will stand up for what is right against another black. But that is the way black leaders and the DUMocrats have trained them.
Nativeson1,’ Instead of looking back my suggestion is looking ofrward and finding a conservative that has independent appeal if you want "Change" in 2012, and right now the only conservative that I would vote for ain't running.’
If you find anyone that believes you will vote for ANY conservative please send me their name. I have some ocean front property in AZ for sell at a cheap price.
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