Chief
02-11-2008, 02:59 PM
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/350701_ballots09.html?source=rss
By RACHEL LA CORTE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OLYMPIA -- Thousands of ballots being cast in Washington's presidential preference primary are invalid because voters aren't signing a ballot oath identifying themselves as a Democrat or a Republican, Secretary of State Sam Reed said Friday.
Reed said that while some people may just forget to do it, or may be purposefully skipping voting in the presidential race and voting on special elections being held in 36 of the state's 39 counties, [COLOR="Red"]he thinks many are protesting the requirement that they declare themselves loyal to a party for the Feb. 19 primary election.
"I think this is really indicative of the attitude of Washington state voters, who are these populist voters who refuse, as a matter of principle, to be put in that box," he said.
In King County, elections spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said that of the 120,000 ballots returned so far, between 20 percent and 25 percent did not check the appropriate box on the back and sign the oath "either because voters forgot, or in protest."
Egan said each voter received an insert with each ballot that explained the rules.
"We wanted to make sure voters understood this was a unique election and there were specific rules to follow," she said. [/COLOR
What is it about voting in Washington State that is so frickin' hard?? What is it that makes it so hard to follow the instructions that come with your ballot??
And it's almost as stupid to deliberately invalidate your own ballot in protest!
ddrrii
By RACHEL LA CORTE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OLYMPIA -- Thousands of ballots being cast in Washington's presidential preference primary are invalid because voters aren't signing a ballot oath identifying themselves as a Democrat or a Republican, Secretary of State Sam Reed said Friday.
Reed said that while some people may just forget to do it, or may be purposefully skipping voting in the presidential race and voting on special elections being held in 36 of the state's 39 counties, [COLOR="Red"]he thinks many are protesting the requirement that they declare themselves loyal to a party for the Feb. 19 primary election.
"I think this is really indicative of the attitude of Washington state voters, who are these populist voters who refuse, as a matter of principle, to be put in that box," he said.
In King County, elections spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said that of the 120,000 ballots returned so far, between 20 percent and 25 percent did not check the appropriate box on the back and sign the oath "either because voters forgot, or in protest."
Egan said each voter received an insert with each ballot that explained the rules.
"We wanted to make sure voters understood this was a unique election and there were specific rules to follow," she said. [/COLOR
What is it about voting in Washington State that is so frickin' hard?? What is it that makes it so hard to follow the instructions that come with your ballot??
And it's almost as stupid to deliberately invalidate your own ballot in protest!
ddrrii