I've voted ever since I turned 18. My opinion is, if you don't fulfill your right and obligation to vote, you have no right to complain.

I vote absentee and it's awesome. Haven't been to a polling booth in god knows how long.

Unfortunately, I will most likely not vote in my state's primary this year because under our new laws we have to declare party affiliation and get a ballot with one party's candidates only (I can understand that part) and I refuse to declare for either side. I'd rather not vote in the primary, and up here in the fiercely independent state of Washington I won't be alone.

I voted yesterday in Georgia's primary.

I really think it's ridiculous so many states still force you to declare with a party - I'm glad Wisconsin doesn't because I think it would disenfranchise a lot of people, since I'm sure you're all aware we're a swing state. :)

Party affiliation as compared to primary voting does vary by state. For example, in Colorado, to vote in the 8/10 primary, you have to have your party affiliation (if one is declared), correctly done by 7/12/04 (last week).

However, if you are NOT affiliated, you can still vote in the primary on 8/10, by declaring an affiliation at the balloting precinct (I'm jazzed because I'll be an election judge this year - should be fun!) - you have to fill out an affidavit to do this, but it can be done, and you can always unaffiliate after the primary election is over.

Good to know -- I had no idea how it worked here.

Why do people think it's such a big deal to declare your party affiliation?

I don't necessarily agree with required party affiliations--but we all know that Floriduh has some bleeped up election issues. :rolleyes: I'm registered as an Independent--it means that I don't see an absentee ballot until November, but I don't want to be pigeonholed.

A member of our city council went to each black church over a period of time, encouraging the congregations to register as Republicans in order to have a say in the primaries--since there are rarely more than enough Democrats to require primary elections. In my area, 80% of people are registered Republicans--but most voting tends to go 50-50.

I always vote. The only time I missed an election, it was just a proposal and I was on the fence about it, so I didn't vote.

My great grandmother was a sufragette. My grandmother was a President for the Detroit League of Women Voters. My mother was a President for the Warren League of Women Voters. If I didn't spend so much time volunteering for Alpha Gam, I would also join the League. Perhaps when my kids are grown...

Dee

I will be voting for the first time this November...and believe me, I WILL be voting. Last election, the absentee ballot didnt get there in time....rawr....

It's more a matter of principle for me. I don't like either of our two main parties. If I could, I would maybe register Green party, but Ohio only recognizes Dems or Republicans. (Incidentally, the past couple years I've seen a lot of effort from the Green and Libertarians to become recognized).

Ultimately, I am against the 2 party system. I debated about declaring myself Democrat to vote in the primary (because I really, really like John Edwards). But I decided that is just feeding into a system I disagree with.

My parents used to each register separately so they could vote in both primaries and then just vote whatever they wanted anyways.