Opinion New York’s primary is ‘closed shut’ by insane registration rules

[Tom Joad]

IMO anything other than an open primary with same day registration is voter disenfranchisement.


http://nypost.com/2016/04/18/new-yor...tration-rules/

Because in New York, we don’t just have a closed-party system in which only enrolled Democrats and Republicans can vote for their respective candidates: The primary is closed shut. The deadline to switch parties or change affiliation is the earliest in the country — this cycle it was Oct. 9, 2015. If you’re a Republican, Democrat or unaffiliated voter, you’d better know six months out whom you’re supporting, because there won’t be an opportunity to reconsider.

This system both reinforces partisanship and punishes independent-minded voters, effectively disenfranchising them.

more

[icenine]

It is a little too late to whine about party rules in New York.

The Post is a Trump rag from what I hear.

Here is what the Huffington Post puts at the bottom of every story about Trump I quote:


"Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S."

[MrPots]

What I'm getting is that rules and regulations put into law by the two corporate political parties to keep voters from voting and to keep third party candidates from running are pretty much OK with everyone as long as it benefits their candidate.

Our country is fucked. We may as well have a dictator.

[barbara]

Originally Posted by MrPots

What I'm getting is that rules and regulations put into law by the two corporate political parties to keep voters from voting and to keep third party candidates from running are pretty much OK with everyone as long as it benefits their candidate.

Our country is fucked. We may as well have a dictator.

So instead of complaining, people should do something about it. Problem is.... It is never a problem until the wrong guy is winning.

Legislation does not happen in a vacuum. People can influence legislation if they put forth the effort.

[MrPots]

I disagree. Every time I contact my representatives all I get back are canned responses that basically tell me they will do what they want regardless of what I think. That's how elected representatives of the corporate parties think. That they've been elected to further party interests, not to represent the people. And people like us who do care? We're in the paltry minority. There's not enough of us to make a difference. Most folks don't care, they are too feckless to even notice the corruption.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by icenine

It is a little too late to whine about party rules in New York.

Call it whining if that's what helps you sleep at night.

I call it informing the public of how our electoral system is rigged.

Originally Posted by icenine

The Post is a Trump rag from what I hear.

So what?

This article is dead to rights about the Soviet Style New York Primary rules.

Originally Posted by icenine

"Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S."

I don't really give-a-fuck.

Both of these corrupt parties need to be gutted like fish.

If it takes a Trump Presidency to do it, then so be it.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by MrPots

I disagree. Every time I contact my representatives all I get back are canned responses that basically tell me they will do what they want regardless of what I think. That's how elected representatives of the corporate parties think. That they've been elected to further party interests, not to represent the people. And people like us who do care? We're in the paltry minority. There's not enough of us to make a difference. Most folks don't care, they are too feckless to even notice the corruption.

I agree with you entirely. But possibly in this election cycle, establishment candidates (Jeb! & Hillary->) are both getting a run for their money. Enter Trump and Sanders, the establishment is getting rocked and all of the duopoly electioneering is being exposed. Instead of commenting on the unfairness of the process, the usual culprits here go to their fall back 'should have known better' position. Guess one can make excuses for any democratic process as long as it is not impacting your horse adversely in the race. Let's all take a look at Brazil for a look into the future.

Good luck Hillary 'Dilma' Clinton today, not that you will need it. It's already been pre-paid.

[Tom Joad]

New York has 11.5 million registered voters.

27 percent of them are shut out of this primary election.

That's over 3 million voters.

Shut out because of petty arbitrary rules.

There is no way to justify that.

[Rajoo]

But New York is also known for its restrictive voting laws, which has so far excluded two of Trump’s adult children from voting and could go on to hinder Sanders supporters. As Russell noted, the state “has no early voting and same-day registration.” Last week, Trump told the hosts on Fox & Friends that Ivanka and Eric won’t be able to vote for him in the state’s closed primary because they missed the deadline to register with a political party. On the Democratic side, Sanders has fared well with independents, but unless they changed their party registration by the October deadline last year, they won’t be able to cast a ballot for their preferred candidate. In any case, county election officials are preparing for huge turnout—and perhaps voters unaware that they are ineligible to cast a ballot.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...-trump/478872/

"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…", Attributed to Churchill.

Works better if only we could practice it.

[barbara]

Originally Posted by MrPots

I disagree. Every time I contact my representatives all I get back are canned responses that basically tell me they will do what they want regardless of what I think. That's how elected representatives of the corporate parties think. That they've been elected to further party interests, not to represent the people. And people like us who do care? We're in the paltry minority. There's not enough of us to make a difference. Most folks don't care, they are too feckless to even notice the corruption.

If you get canned responses from your politicians when you want to have a voice..... Then you are doing it wrong.

You have to be ahead of the game and help craft the legislation.

Being a part of a bigger 'voice' helps.