BREAKING: Bernie Sanders to register as a Democrat

[brooklynite]

@Politics1com 6h6 hours ago
P2016: US Sen Bernie Sanders (I) to officially register soon as a Democrat, his NH campaign director told the Manchester Union Leader today

[leftofcool]

1. I guess he will now officially be part of Tweedle Dee

[roguevalley]

25. sour grapes?

[leftofcool]

40. I am just repeating what Bernie said about Democrats.

Google it.

[jfern]

2. Vermont doesn't have partisan registration

[HereSince1628]

5. Maybe he'll fill out the Register to Vote form at the US Election Assistance Commission website

It apparently provides an option to state party of choice.

"You can also print out the Register to Vote form posted on the United States Election Assistance Commission's website. The form asks basic demographic questions and gives you the option to state your choice of party. While choosing a political party is optional, many states allow only registered party members to participate in primary elections, caucuses and conventions.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_2050541_join-democratic-party.html"


Of course this is DU and it could be caca del toro.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I'm glad to hear it.

I want him to be on the ballot in California.

[gateley]

20. Hiya, Peg!!!!!

Since apparently he CAN'T register with a party in VT, you'll still be able to write him in, won't you?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. I think that's always an option. I'd prefer to see him officially on the ballot, though.

Hiya, gateley!

[Travis_0004]

31. I imagine he will be

Federal elections have to be run under federal law. And Federal law does not prevent him from running as a Democrat.

California law has no bearing on a federal election.

[azmom]

4. Link

[brooklynite]

6. Twitter feed

[MADem]

18. They're retracting....

https://twitter.com/Politics1com/status/644680634577874948


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Sanders NH campaign dir says Union Leader got story wrong: "Legally impossible for Sanders to reg as a Dem. VT has no party registration"

[gateley]

19. Well that was briefly exciting until I got to your post. :-) nt.

[FloridaBlues]

57. How is there a democratic senator from Vermont than? Or registered dems for the congress from there

[MADem]

74. Because the other Senator declared his affiliation in conjunction with his candidacy, and when he is

placed on the ballot, there is a (D) written after his name. There is only one representative from VT (Peter Welch) who did the same thing--they are a tiny state in terms of population, like Wyoming (which has slightly fewer people and also only has one). The entire state of VT has a population similar to the size of the city of Boston.

[questionseverything]

24. can you clear something up pls?

Voter Registration Deadlines

September 10, 2015 State and Local Primary Deadlines
MAIL REGISTRATION (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-210(3))
Application must be postmarked no later than August 15th and received by a board of elections no later than August 21th to be eligible to vote in the Primary.

IN PERSON REGISTRATION (N.Y. Election Law Sections 5-210, 5-211, 5-212)
You may register at your local board of elections or any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act, on any business day throughout the year but, to be eligible to vote in the State and Local Primary, your application must be received no later than August 14th.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-208(3))
Notices of change of address from registered voters received by August 21th by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for the State & Local Primary.

November 3, 2015 General Election Deadlines
MAIL REGISTRATION (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-210(3))
Applications must be postmarked no later than October 9th and received by a board of elections no later than October 14th to be eligible to vote in the General Election.

IN PERSON REGISTRATION (N.Y. Election Law Sections 5-210, 5-211, 5-212)
You may register at your local board of elections or any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act, on any business day throughout the year but, to be eligible to vote in the November General Election, your application must be received no later than October 9th except, if you have been honorably discharged from the military or have become a naturalized citizen since October 9th, you may register in person at the board of elections up until October 24th.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-208(3))
Notices of change of address from registered voters received by October 14th by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for the General Election.

/////////////////////////////////

in ny do you have to be registered in august to vote in the ny primary that is like 6 months later? in april?

and the october registration for the general means in 2016 right?

[Jim Lane]

38. No, these deadlines refer to 2015 elections

There are a few elections this year. For example, there's an open State Assembly seat -- for once, not because of an indictment, but because the incumbent resigned to go work for Cuomo. There'll be a special election in November and last week was the Democratic primary -- story here.

There is one relevant deadline this year, though. New York has closed primaries, the most tightly closed in the country AFAIK. The primary is open only to registered members of that party. Furthermore, a change in party registration is ineffective for this purpose until a general election has intervened. Therefore, the October 9 deadline for registering for the 2015 election is also the deadline for changing your party registration to vote in the 2016 primaries. Someone who's now registered as a Green, for example, has only a few weeks left to change if they want to vote in New York's presidential primary or in any of the other 2016 primaries, such as for Congress or the state legislature.

[Uncle Joe]

47. And that Oct 9 deadline is before the first Democratic Debate on Oct 13th.

[questionseverything]

69. i still just can not believe it

oct 9th deadline is more than 6 months before the april 19th primary,if this was a red state we were talking about i would be disgusted but not surprised as they are known for voter suppression but to have this happening in a dem controlled state is down right scarey

[Jim Lane]

83. I wouldn't call it voter suppression. It's more complicated.

As mak3cats explained in #82, this extremely early deadline is only for changes in party registration.

Do you remember Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos"? At some point in 2008, McCain had the GOP nomination locked up, but Clinton and Obama were still battling. Rush's idea was that right-wingers should vote for Clinton because she was trailing, and success for her would prolong the Democratic fight, to the Republicans' advantage.

Whatever you think of his reasoning in that particular case, the general point is that, in many states, people can easily vote in the primary of the party they oppose, just to make trouble. For example, in some states you can register as Unaffiliated and ask for either party's ballot on Primary Day. Other states make it somewhat harder by saying you must change your registration at least 30 days before the primary, but that still leaves room for manipulation.

New York's rule can be seen as onerous but there is an argument for it. It restricts participation in a party primary to voters who have more consistently identified with that party. (More precisely, it's those who haven't declined to identify with that party. People who register for the first time early in 2016 will be able to vote in the primary of the party in which they register.) I wouldn't use the term "voter suppression" to describe suppression of Limbaugh-type game-playing.

[questionseverything]

85. for my entire adult life i have tried to enlarge the dem party voting base

the idea that someone could be a dem convert but not participate in the state primary unless they converted more than 6 months ahead of time is asinine,especially when the dnc has restricted debates to happen after that deadline

the idea that leaders in new york do not want an inclusive primary because limbaugh types could cause chaos looks like the party bosses want to make sure the "great unwashed" have no say

you can call it anything you want but it certainly is not the opposite of voter suppression which would be voter inclusion

still i appreciate your reply ,ty

[Jim Lane]

86. If you think that's bad...

You deplore "the idea that someone could be a dem convert but not participate in the state primary unless they converted more than 6 months ahead of time..."

It's 6 months ahead of time for the April primary, which will cover the Presidency and, I think, Congressional races. I think the plan is for a bifurcated primary in which the primaries for state legislature will again occur in September. That means the convert would have to have converted 11 months in advance to vote in that primary.

I now live in New Jersey. I plan to change my registration from Democratic to Unaffiliated because, that way, I can take either party's ballot in our June primary. It might be that the Democratic race is all wrapped up by then but I have the opportunity to make mischief on the GOP side. Although I'll be exploiting that rule, I think it's too lenient. New York's is arguably too onerous but there ought to be some restriction. I don't favor a fully open primary.

[questionseverything]

68. ty for your response

so just to be clear in new york state a citizen has to be registered to vote and registered as a dem to vote in the april 19,2016 democratic primary by october 9th 2015?

[mak3cats]

82. No, the October 9th deadline is for those already registered to vote,

but not registered as Democrats. That is the last day to switch party affiliation (or to add an affiliation, if you didn't indicate one at the time of registration).

From the NYS Board of Elections website:

http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html

Change of Party Enrollment

The voter registration form should be used to change your party enrollment from one party to another or to enroll for the first time in a party. A change of enrollment received no later than 25 days before the general election shall be deposited in a sealed enrollment box and opened the first Tuesday following that general election and entered in the voter's registration record.

2016's registration deadlines aren't even on the website yet, but I believe state law is 25 days prior to the election in question (e.g., October 9, 2015, is the last day to register to vote for the November 3, 2015 general election). So for someone not registered at all, they have until sometime next March to be able to register to vote in the primary.

[questionseverything]

84. the web site makes it bout as clear as mud

but assuming you are correct and new voters still have until march to register...that part is good or at least not horrid

i still find the oct 9th deadline to declare for the dem party as voter suppression

[mak3cats]

87. About the "clear as mud" part...

...welcome to New York! I was the treasurer for a local campaign a couple of years ago, and it took me two tries to get the initial paperwork right. And I was a member of Mensa until I stopped paying dues!

And Jim Lane has it spot on in post #83 and #86 - there's method to their madness, but it's a convoluted method.

[Luminous Animal]

7. Good to hear it. That will shut down all the annoying whining.

[restorefreedom]

11. lol and amen. nt

[Fawke Em]

13. My first thought, too.

I didn't care one way or the other.

[treestar]

54. not really

he may as well not do it - he waited until after he demanded the nomination for the Presidency. However, it turns out that he can't.

[Aerows]

8. BREAKING: This seems so ominous

Then I went meh.

What part was I supposed to react to in alarm?

[frylock]

9. Good. This will shut some people up.

[Aerows]

10. I wouldn't make that bet. n/t

[morningfog]

17. Fat chance.

[Aerows]

21. Oh no.

I mean it sincerely when I say that I wouldn't make that bet. I'm not a gambler,and I'm also confident that the blah blah blah Hillary crusaders will be with us until 2016

[restorefreedom]

12. yes, that will be nice. nt

[treestar]

56. after all the complaints about silencing people who don't agree

we see wishes that others be shut up. If they don't agree with us they should shut up, right?

[MADem]

14. Let me grab my pen.....!!!

?

[HassleCat]

15. I wonder how he will do that

This is from the Vermont Secretary of State website

Do I have to register as a Democrat, Republican, Independent or some other party in Vermont?

No. There is no party registration in Vermont.

All registered voters can vote in the primary election—but can only vote on one ballot. You will be given a ballot for each of the major parties. You mark one of the ballots and put the remaining unvoted ballots into a discard bin. Which ballot you chose to vote is private and not recorded (except during the presidential primary, where voters must publicly take one ballot or the other, and their choice is recorded on the entrance checklist).

I guess he could join the Democratic Party organization by paying dues or something. I don't know how they keep track of who is with which party. I suppose you belong to whatever party you specify when running in the primary.

[MADem]

16. UPDATE--Union Leader got story wrong.

https://twitter.com/Politics1com/status/644680634577874948

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Sanders NH campaign dir says Union Leader got story wrong: "Legally impossible for Sanders to reg as a Dem. VT has no party registration"

[Raine1967]

22. He needs to do this if he wants to be on the ballot in Virginia (and 8 other states)

I thought many people understood how it goes getting on the primary ballots in many states.

http://elections.virginia.gov/Files/BecomingACandidate/CandidateBulletins/2016PresidentialPrimary-CandidateBulletin.pdf

The Democratic Party of Virginia and the Republican Party of Virginia are the only organizations currently recognized as political parties under § 24.2-101 of the Code of Virginia. Therefore, they are the only political parties permitted to select a presidential primary in connection with the respective national conventions in the summer of 2016.

The deadlines provided below apply only to those political parties and candidates who wish to participate in either party’s presidential primary.

Labels matter after all. I suspect the campaign finally realized this.

[longship]

28. But VT does not have party registrations. And he is running as a Democrat!!!

That is the only label that is required.

Silliness! Pshaw!

[leftofcool]

41. Hello, it doesn't matter.

Bernie has to abide by other state's rules. Like closed primaries.

[longship]

48. He runs on any damned party he wants.

In many states there is no party registration, including VT.

So, stop with the rubbish about him not being able to run as a Democrat.

Just stop this shit.

[leftofcool]

53. I know my state laws

He has to register as a Democrat in Kentucky or he doesn't get on the ballot, period!

[longship]

58. Well, one can only be registered in one location at a time.

And damnit! Vermont does not register party affiliation.

Bernie is running as a Democrat. And he will get on the ballot as such in all fifty states because his staff will make sure he qualifies as such. For Christ sakes the man has caucused with Democrats his entire career.

I get sick and tired of debunking this utter rubbish.

And no, I have not selected a candidate yet. I just do not like misinformation being spewed here on DU.

PERIOD!

[leftofcool]

59. LMAO

[longship]

60. I see no reason for your response. nt

[ohheckyeah]

43. Voters don't register

by party affiliation in VA , just like VT.

If he runs as a Democrat that's the primary he will be on the ballot for in VA.

[Raine1967]

49. I wasn't talking about voters.

I was talking about getting on the primary ballot so people can vote for the candidate.

[ohheckyeah]

64. I addressed that. He doesn't have

to be a Democrat to run on the Democratic ticket. He has to have a certain number of signatures and choose that primary.

[Pope Sweet Jesus]

70. How'd Obama get on the ballot

Illinois doesn't have PARTY registration either.

[Raine1967]

71. I am talking about Virginia. PErhaps you know more about Illinois? eom

[MADem]

80. He ran for the Senate AS a Democrat, so he was established in the party when he ran for POTUS.

He didn't run as an Independent, and then run as a Democrat later. His name appeared on the ballot with a (D) after it. Sanders' problem is that, in the past, he has vocally rejected affiliation with the Democratic Party, even when it was offered to him.

I'm sure they'll sort this out--there may be some states that are truculent, and others that are not.

I've seen successful write-in (sticker) candidacies happenat a local level, too. Probably will be resolved before it comes to that.

[Half-Century Man]

26. Hop to it people

Join the Democratic Party and swing local boards left.
Run a candidate in every single election for every office in the country.
Canvas neighborhoods.

[ibegurpard]

27. how?

Vermont doesn't have partisan registration.

[840high]

29. Story was not true.

[oasis]

30. Good. The DNC chair is more likely to value the opinion of an actual member.

Party members takes party membership seriously. For DWS to fold to a non-member on the issue of debate schedule expansion, would be frowned upon by most of the membership.

[RufusTFirefly]

32. The source of the OP is curious to say the least

Especially now that the report appears to be a false alarm.

[Live and Learn]

35. And once again refuses to retract his false OP. nt

[Ken Burch]

33. So can we officially declare THAT non-issue "put to rest"?

[SonderWoman]

34. LOL!

Now we will here from the people who spent months lecturing DU why Bernie shouldn't become a Democrat now lecture DU about how this is a smart move on Bernie's part.

[leftofcool]

42. Bernie used the Democratic Party as his whipping post for years

[treestar]

55. exactly!

And look above, at those who would wish to silence anyone not in lockstep on Bernie.

[mmonk]

36. Just one of the sacrifices one makes to run for office in a closed system.

Ask the Greens how it is working outside the closed system.

[nichomachus]

37. Wow -- the Hillary dirty tricks are ramping up

No telling where her surrogate attack dogs will go next.

She's making Dick Nixon look like a wimp.

[ohheckyeah]

45. What the hell

does Hillary have to do with this? Here's a clue - NOTHING.

[Cali_Democrat]

46. What exactly is the Hillary dirty trick in this case?

The OP is a tweet from Politics1com.

What is the Hillary dirty trick?

[Cheese Sandwich]

39. Seems fake.

Ron Gunzburger's Politics1.com ?

wat?

[djean111]

44. Of course it is fake.

Aaaand - I don't believe I can ever support anyone who engenders this sort of shit. Every time I read something like this, that gets reinforced. I don't even know what the point is, any more - like Bernie supporters are going to all think, oh, yeah, I want to be in the same group as the people who spew this bullshit, and the candidate whose issues I really really disagree with. They don't have issues to work with, just lies and innuendos.

They are all pretty much Carlos Danger material. The spewers. Some just have designer underwear.

[Mike Nelson]

51. Yay!

Welcome, Bernie!

[demmiblue]

52. Lol!

[NCTraveler]

61. oops. lol. nt.

[Fred Sanders]

62. The DNC's and Clinton's iron fisted control of party rules seems to have strangely overlooked this loophole while

paving the path to her "coronation"....maybe their was no such control to begin with?!

New member, Bernie Sanders!!

Welcome!

Here is a free copy of the book of party rules as a welcoming gift.

Please note your new party's debate schedule.

[artislife]

72. So small a debate schedule

you will only need to glance at it once to commit it to memory.

[Autumn]

63. No correction of the "misleading" information in this OP either huh?

[bunnies]

65. Maybe there will be a correction....

WAY downthread. In a day or so.

[Autumn]

67. The Castro method. Lie in one state and correct it a few days later somewhere else.

[artislife]

73. Problem is:

They don't see this type of behavior as an inkling to their own character. I don't judge H on it. She does her own stuff.

[Autumn]

75. I won't judge her on it either, until and if she comes out and does it.

[artislife]

76. But I am taking names of those who ARE doing it...nt

[demmiblue]

66. It is clear that some are not to be trusted.

If the OP had an ounce of integrity, he would either delete his op, or edit and make note of the falsehood in the body of his OP.

[HassleCat]

77. I think you can stop now

This was kind of cute the first dozen or so times it was posted, but the novelty is wearing off. We all realize Clinton is a faithful third way Democrat, and Sanders has criticized, even bad-mouthed, the party. And you are certainly aware that Vermont has no means of registering as a member of any political party. If you want to run in the Democratic primary, you file papers to run in the Democratic primary. That's what Sanders is doing.

[JustAnotherGen]

78. Good for him!

Now we have one less petty argument at DU to have and can focus on the opposition.

[arcane1]

79. With a solid source like this, who can question it?

[fadedrose]

81. He always has always been a Democrat at heart,

a Progressive one, so there won't be any change whatsoever in what he tells his supporters.

It will help keep the fanatics away from attacking him as part of their campaign to win the presidency for another candidate by criticizing Bernie, while claiming any of their candidate's flaws are just right wing lies.