WTHR posed the question to Marion Co. Clerk Beth White on whether registered voters who have voted in the past in the Republican primary can cross over and vote in the Democratic primary in the upcoming Indiana primary election on May 6. White told WTHR that a voter can choose the party of their choice; however, she added that a poll worker had the right to challenge a particular voter on his or her party affiliation on the spot. If that occurs, White explained that the voter would be asked to fill out an affidavit attesting to party affiliation before being allowed to cast a vote.
In the recent Ohio primary, tens of thousands of Republican voters crossed over, causing some Democrats to cry foul and to threaten legal action against Republicans for committing perjury. The consensus is that the campaign of Hillary Clinton benefited from the crossover votes. Ohio's law differs from Indiana's in that a voter must sign a pledge card vowing allegiance to their party. It will be interesting to see if Obama's Indiana campaign makes any effort on election day to challenge Republican who cross over.
UPDATE: My question has been answered by Democratic Chairman Dan Parker, a Hillary Clinton super delegate. "Indiana's state Democratic chairman says the party will challenge any longtime Republicans who try to use the state's open primary to create 'mischief,'" reports the AP's Ken Kusmer. "If there are Republicans sincere in their intent to support our candidates, then we welcome them into our party. If their motives are only to play mischief, we're not going to sit back and let this happen," Parker said. Parker's position will hurt his own candidate, but he tells Kusmer he is concerned about the potential negative impact on incumbent candidates further down the ballot.
The campaign of Obama is gearing up for May 6 by opening up four new offices across the state, bringing the total number of offices the campaign is operating in the state to 17. You read that right. 17 OFFICES!. I think it is safe to say that this is completely without precedent in Indiana.
Now that Ron Paul is back in the running for President as a Republican, I wonder if anybody will crossover to vote for him "to send a message"?
ReplyDeleteWilson I'm crossing over. Contact Dan Parker and tell him so.
ReplyDeleteParker and every other democrat party official can kiss my butt if they think that they can stop me.
Well, Ernie Shearer will have to sign an affidavit under penalties of perjury about Party intent or support.
ReplyDeleteDoug Masson explained it well:
http://www.masson.us/blog/?p=3046
No I won't.
ReplyDeleteShow me where I've ever registered as a republican. Just because I bashed Carson and Peterson in the past doesn’t label me a republican and if I’m who is to say that I haven’t had a change of heart. Maybe I’ve been pulling your leg for the last two years. Wilson, I see lawsuits flying.
This year I can vote as a democrat like the rest of you “rats“ early, often and without conscience.
New slogan for the Indy Activists "Anyone but Obama and Carson" Tell your boys to pucker up and bring plenty of chapstick.
Ernie Shearer is such an eloquent and reasonable debater, isn't he?
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, his past voting record in the Republican primaries may cause him to be challenged and to have to sign an affidavit under penalties of perjury about his true party affiliation...
Shearer a joke. At what precient will you vote Shearer. Mine I hope. Cause trouble...get arrested...again. What a jerk.
ReplyDeleteA different explanation.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/ytlbv2
The way you "become" a partisan in Indiana is to request a ballot in that party's primary election. The pollworker will mark a D or an R next to your name in the pollbook, so your request becomes a matter of public record.
The counties prepare a list of primary voters after each election and this list may be purchased by the parties for GOTV.
Technically you are now affiliated with the party of your primary vote.
However, here's the clincher: If you are a known partisan (say you are the precinct chair for the Republican party) and you request a Democratic ballot, your vote can be challenged.
This is a challenge to your good-faith intentions as described in state statute 2.10.1.6.
Mike B.
So what about Greens and Libertarians? If I vote in the May Primary, does that exclude me from voting in the Green Presidential Caucus in Indiana? What if your party isn't running a candidate for a certain race? Then is it OK to vote in another party's primary?
ReplyDeleteYou can read the law on primary voting affiliation here.
ReplyDeleteAs a practical matter, no you probably can't challenge more than the most egregious cases. And, probably you wouldn't want to. Incompetent as Bush and his followers have been, coupled with the fact that McCain offers more of the same, it wouldn't be surprising if a bunch of erstwhile Republicans wanted to convert.
But, from a legal standpoint, you are allowed to vote in a party's primary only if you a) voted in the last general election and voted for a majority of the party's nominees; or b) didn't vote in the last general election but intend to vote for a majority of the party's nominees in the next general election. IC 3-10-1-6.
There's an enforcement mechanism, but easily circumvented if you're willing to lie if challenged.
"There's an enforcement mechanism, but easily circumvented if you're willing to lie if challenged."
ReplyDeleteAs all good democrats do?
Indyernie, there is no such thing as "registering" as a Republican or Democrat in Indiana.
ReplyDeleteIndyernie, there is no such thing as "registering" as a Republican or Democrat in Indiana.
ReplyDelete_________________________________
ReplyDeleteLarge numbers of REPUBLICANS WILL
CROSS OVER TO VOTE for Hillary
(Just to keep the fight going in
the Democrat Party).
REPUBLICANS who cross over for
the Primary will mainly VOTE FOR
CAROLENE MAYS FOR CONGRESS!
The fact is that ONLY OFFICE HOLDERS (Precinct Committee Persons and up) can really be kept from casting a
VOTE FOR EITHER PARTY.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It looks like desperate Carolene Mays has sunk to hiring Jocelyn Tandy as an "internet consultant" ...
ReplyDeleteWell, Ernie Shearer will have to sign an affidavit under penalties of perjury about Party intent or support.
ReplyDeleteI guess they'll try that crap with me as well, Wilson. I welcome the challenge. .
Lord save us all from juvenile men.
ReplyDeleteThe law essentially disenfranchises all but the true believers in the Ds & Rs. Libertarians, Greens, and supporters of other minor parties as a matter of first choice *can* vote in the primary, but by the law, their pledge is that they will vote for a majority of that major party's candidates come November. It is possible, but unlikely that such is appealing to partisan Libertarians, Greens, etc.
ReplyDeleteFor my own part, I go to the polling place, sign the book, and go home. Oh, the glories of voting!
"there is no such thing as "registering" as a Republican or Democrat in Indiana."
ReplyDeleteThat's my point Flynn.
"At what precient will you vote"
Follow me around all day and find out. As with all good democrats maybe several.
Indyerne,
ReplyDeleteSorry...didn't mean to be contradicting you. I knew you had it right. Others don't however. I have people swear up and down that when they registered they checked the R or D box on the form. That box does not exist in Indiana.
So how will me (as a member of the GOP) voting in the Dem primary for President be creating "mischief"? Which one of the two candidates should I not vote for? Is one of them unqualified?
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteI think a better question is which of the Democratic candidates is actually qualified. We're talking two people who are very light on experience when it comes to Clinton and Obama.
Ok but the Dems think that they are both qualified... so I guess my question is what difference is it to Dan Parker or any Dem which one I vote for? What is the harm if 75,000 Republicans vote in the Dem primary for any reason that motivates them? Will either of the candidates turn those votes down??
ReplyDeleteI said it on another blog, just imagine that we Democrats wanted to do this very act to you Republicans, you'd have a fit, want the FBI to investigage us etc. You have no problem however lying, cheating and stealing in the best traditions of Nixon, Iran-Contra, etc to get your way in anything. Your Fuehrer Limbaugh has commanded you and you'd open concentration camps to read the Bible and gas us homosexuals, burn Playboy and force feed your philosophy all the while commanding you love liberty and that only you know the true meaning of freedom in America. What a immoral, unethical bunch and you call me a communist/socialist?
ReplyDeleteGet a grip MD nobody wants to hurt you.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans have no control over the "communist/socialist" ideas being promoted by Clinton, Obama and Carson.
The world will be a better place for all when these socialists are defeated.
As far as lying, cheating and stealing, its politics lying is unfortunately a part of the game. Cheating and stealing that’s business as usual for democrats.
Read the first page, item #8 for info about the "challenge" and later decision by "...the county election board, which decides whether or not the provisional ballot should be counted."
ReplyDeleteVoter Guide PDF Link: http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/pdfs/IVIG_2008.pdf
And here's the official Indiana Challenge and affidavit form:
http://www.co.allen.in.us/images/stories/Electi...
Look at pages 12 and 13 for the official "PRE-6" Indiana Challenge form.
Sorry- this time with unbreakable Tiny URL's:
ReplyDeleteRead the first page, item #8 for info about the "challenge" and later decision by "...the county election board, which decides whether or not the provisional ballot should be counted."
Voter Guide PDF Link: http://tinyurl.com/5x9xyy
And here's the official Indiana Challenge and affidavit form:
http://tinyurl.com/4rmqs5
Look at pages 12 and 13 for the official "PRE-6" Indiana Challenge form.