Disenfranchised voters

[Geechie]

About 3.5 million Floridians were disenfranchised this past election – and we’re not talking about convicted felons.

They are “No Party Affiliation” voters – people who don’t want to register as Democrat or Republican. They are Florida’s fastest growing political group – more than a quarter of the state’s registered voters.

Florida law locks them out of primary elections, including the races for key leadership roles (governor, U.S. Senate) this past August.

Because the state employs a “closed primary” system, independent and No Party Affiliation (NPA) voters are banned from participating.

more at [link:https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2018/11/21/more-than-a-quarter-of-florida-voters-are-disenfranchised-and-its-not-who-you-might-think/|

[brush]

1. They can vote in the general election though, right?

I for one am not in favor of open primaries as I feel Democrats should decide who wins Democratic primaries.

[murielm99]

2. Let them change the law

so independents can vote in primaries.

I, too, want closed primaries. No open primaries, no caucuses!

[hay rick]

3. NPAs are not disenfranchised. They opt out.

Last edited Wed Nov 21, 2018, 10:43 PM - Edit history (1)

They have opted out of voting in most partisan primary contests. In Florida they are still able to vote in nonpartisan races, judicial races, for or against referendums and amendments, and in partisan "universal primaries" on primary day.

Folks who don't want to identify with a party or be identified with a party should understand that they are also surrendering the opportunity to help shape that party.

[csziggy]

4. This