Hopefully you know this, if you saw the News Journal Headline on Sunday….IF YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND YOU WANT TO CHANGE PARTY AFFILIATION IN ORDER TO VOTE IN THE FEBRUARY 5TH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION……YOU MUST DO IT BY WEDNESDAY…..Get the paperwork from your local election office. You will also have another opportunity to switch parties in the Spring, FOR THE DELAWARE STATE PRIMARY IN SEPTEMBER.
The second enrollment opportunity will be from Febrary 6th through March 31st.
Apparently, only Delaware and New York have such tight deadlines….I WONDER IF IT ALL DOESN’T COME FROM “BACK IN THE DAY”, WHEN THEY REALLY DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO CHANGE PARTIES.
I believe that the party affiliation switch may be more important in the Delaware elections now, than ever before; especially for the Governor’s election.
REMEMBER…BY WEDNESDAY, YOU MUST HAVE THE PARTY SWITCH PAPERWORK DONE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY FEBRUARY 5, 2008.
Delaware VIEWS Journal 
October 29, 2007 at 10:41 pm |
TO….JOHN FLAHERTY: I am just testing this with a comment on my own. Try it again John. Let me know the results.
October 29, 2007 at 11:12 pm |
Gerry:
Thanks for the public service announcement about the deadline for voters to change their party affiliation in order to vote in the upcoming Delaware presidential primary.
Your announcement is timely and should help those who want to participate in the February 5 election.
Changes should be made to encourage people not registered, about 50% of eligible voters, to register to vote and participate in elections.
A number of states have same day voter registration system which allows unregistered voters to go to the polls on election day, register to vote and then vote.
In 1999, state senator Dave McBride introduced Senate Bill 257 which, if passed, would have instituted such a registration system here in Delaware.
Below is a summary of McBride’s 1999 bill which I hope is reintroduced in 2008.
Thanks,
John Flaherty
———————————————————————————————————————SB 257
Primary Sponsor: McBride
Cosponsor(s):
Long Title: AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 20, TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR ELECTION DAY REGISTRATIONS.
Date of Introduction: 10/28/99
Current Status: Senate Insurance and Elections – Committee
Vote Type: Simple Majority
Fiscal Note: Not Required
SYNOPSIS
This Act is a “same day voter registration Act,” and would permit previously-unregistered voters to register and vote at their polling places on election day.
Each state which has election day registration has witnessed significantly higher voter turnout rates compared to previous years.
Persons in those states that have same day registration say that it is a proven boost to the democratic process, and removes artificial barriers from voting.
In the 1992 Presidential Election, those states utilizing election day registration had a turnout rate of just about 70%, while the national average was just over 55% (55.1%). Those states which permit election day registration tend to lead the nation in voter turnout.
Election day registration would directly benefit two important voter groups: young voters (who tend to be less familiar with registration rules); and those who, because of employment or other reasons are compelled to change residences, often from state-to-state.
This latter group (the highly mobile) is of no small consequence. Studies show that one-third (33 1/3%) of the national population remain at the same residence for less than two years.
October 30, 2007 at 9:06 am |
Thanks for the reminder about registration.
October 30, 2007 at 8:26 pm |
Can you even vote since you’re a convicted felon or did you take the cure and apply for the pardon?
October 30, 2007 at 8:45 pm |
ROB GOFF: You may not understand the reasoning, but here is the story.
My felony was some bad checks from my compulsive gamgling past. I started the spread of gamblers anonymouns, I developed the first ever compulsive gambling council in the country. (1978). I always maintained that we should never forget what we can go back to. In l980 an attorney with public defender’s office, Bill Killen,had governor duPont ready to give me a pardon…I turned it down and vowed to myslef to keep the “felon” lable as my way of never forgetting what we are capable to going back to.
I’ve been repeatedly asked by attorney friends, assistant AG friends to take it’ but I do what I do, and said “no”. Now adays all felons can vote if they want to; after meeting certain conditions. I just chose to deprive myself of the pardon, and of the right to vote. It’s a personal thing, and it doesn’t make sense to any one but me. What can I tell you?
November 1, 2007 at 12:58 pm |
In Delaware all felons can vote if they have served their time and paid their fine(s)….it’s the law.
November 1, 2007 at 1:22 pm |
ANNON…. I have known that for years…in fact, I gave some material to the committee which drafted the legislation…what I was saying was that I have personally chosen to deprive myself to that right…as a kind of “pay back”….it is what it is.
November 4, 2007 at 11:40 pm |
Gerry:
Thanks for the public service announcement about the deadline for voters to change their party affiliation in order to vote in the upcoming Delaware presidential primary.
Your announcement is timely and should help those who want to participate in the February 5 election.
Changes should be made to encourage people not registered, about 50% of eligible voters, to register to vote and participate in elections.
A number of states have same day voter registration system which allows unregistered voters to go to the polls on election day, register to vote and then vote.
In 1999, state senator Dave McBride introduced Senate Bill 257 which, if passed, would have instituted such a registration system here in Delaware.
Below is a summary of McBride’s 1999 bill which I hope is reintroduced in 2008.
Thanks,
John Flaherty
——————————————————————SB 257
Primary Sponsor: McBride
Cosponsor(s):
Long Title: AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 20, TITLE 15 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ELECTIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR ELECTION DAY REGISTRATIONS.
Date of Introduction: 10/28/99
Current Status: Senate Insurance and Elections – Committee
Vote Type: Simple Majority
Fiscal Note: Not Required
SYNOPSIS
This Act is a “same day voter registration Act,” and would permit previously-unregistered voters to register and vote at their polling places on election day.
Each state which has election day registration has witnessed significantly higher voter turnout rates compared to previous years.
Persons in those states that have same day registration say that it is a proven boost to the democratic process, and removes artificial barriers from voting.
In the 1992 Presidential Election, those states utilizing election day registration had a turnout rate of just about 70%, while the national average was just over 55% (55.1%). Those states which permit election day registration tend to lead the nation in voter turnout.
Election day registration would directly benefit two important voter groups: young voters (who tend to be less familiar with registration rules); and those who, because of employment or other reasons are compelled to change residences, often from state-to-state.
This latter group (the highly mobile) is of no small consequence. Studies show that one-third (33 1/3%) of the national population remain at the same residence for less than two years.