Just a reminder, today is the LAST DAY to register to vote in Indiana’s primary. If you want to vote — and you ought to want to vote because you’re a citizen, dammit — make sure to register. There are probably many ways to do it, but if nothing else, go to your county’s voter registration office; Tippecanoe County’s is in the court house; and get it done. I believe you can register at any BMV branch as well. (Years ago, while in Marion County, there was some sort of screw up when I tried to register through the BMV and I have gone through the county voter registration office since then.)
Think you’re registered, but aren’t sure. You can check online.
But, I’m not a Republican nor Democrat, so I suppose I don’t get to vote (yet)?
To those that can, do you have to show a card? Doug’s link shows all sorts of info about me, but there isn’t a field for “Party”.
There isn’t any party registration. The official rule is that you can vote in a party’s primary: 1) If you voted in the last general election and voted primarily for that party’s candidates; or 2) if you didn’t vote in the last general election and you intend to vote primarily for that party’s candidate.
As a practical matter, voters are rarely (if ever) questioned. I was unaware of that rule until about a week ago. Typically, what happens, is that, if you’re registered, you are asked which party’s ballot you want, and that is that.
The state Democratic party has expressed an intent to challenge Republican regulars who want to vote in the Democratic primary with an “intent to cause mischief.”
How would they know?
An excellent question. In most cases, they probably wouldn’t. But a lot of counties are kind of small places when you get down to it. A lot of the party activists are known to each other.
Probably the main benefit to the state Democratic party is with the publicity of an intent to crack down on cross-overs. That might tend to inhibit the activity even if there is no earthly way to enforce a prohibition.
They are crazy if they try to do it. I have voted in the Repub primary for years in this county and NEVER Been challenged. But if the Dems challenge me (based on the R next to my name from last time) I’ll just have to point out that my name is actually ON THE 2008 DEM Ballot.
With the Vote Centers in Tippecanoe County, I doubt that there will be challenges, since most people won’t even know the faces in front of them. I will probably vote early just to test and see.
BY THE WAY– the TC Board of Elections already announced that they were cutting off registration at 3:30, although their office is open until 4:30. Anyone know why they would do that– and not announce it to the general public by the media??
Another side note– I personally delivered over 76 new registrations and change forms to the County office. I know the Obama campaign has delivered like over 500-800 per day for the last 8-10 days. I wonder if any of your readers are from the Clinton campaign.
I’d say that there may a major increase in voting in this county primary– based solely on new registrations and the ability to vote early. I wonder what the final stats will be?
Also, side note: anyone think they can predict if and which candidate Klinker, Micon, Margerum and Roswarski might be ready to endorse? I think there is movement there — possibly contrary to my own wishes.