who gets to vote in the Primary?

[movie_girl99]

I became interested in politics back before the '04 election. I had always voted but really wanted to make a difference and do something so I volunteered to help John Kerry's campaign. I missed all the Primary stuff and now find myself so confused. I know the Texas Primary will be held on Feb. 21st in Austin but who gets to vote? I know this is a naive post so please point me in the right direction. I have googled and I can find info telling what the Primary is but nothing about whop votes. A little insight would be great.

[crispini]

1. Open primary.

March 4th. ;)

Better check your voter registration. are you in Travis county?

[Gman]

2. No...

the Texas primary will be held on March 4. Any registered voter can vote in the TX primary. Once someone votes in the primary, they are considered a member of the party in who's primary they voted. You must go into the polling place and tell the poll worker if you want a Democratic or GOP primary ballot.

I don't know what happens in Austin on 2/21, except maybe you're referring to a state executive committee meeting. That is not the same as the primary.

[NoPasaran]

10. There's a debate in Austin on the 21st

But no primary

[Gman]

13. Thanks

Been busy and missed that announcement.

[WolverineDG]

12. Early voting

which starts 2/19

dg

[movie_girl99]

3. no i'm in Denton county

I just don't know how the whole Primary process works. So only those in Travis County where the Primary is being held will be able to vote then?

[Vincardog]

4. Go to the Carrol County office and vote early in Denton County.

[crispini]

7. No, you can vote

This should help

http://elections.dentoncounty.com/go.asp?Dept=82&Link=975

[sonias]

5. Feb 21st? Nope it's on March 4th

If you're still registered to vote i.e. still on the rolls you get to vote.

You can check your voter registration here. Am I registered? Secretary of State's web site. I'm editing since I see you said your county was Denton.
team.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/Introduction.jsp

Here is the Denton Democrats site
http://www.dentondemocrats.org/

As long as you're still listed you can vote, even if the address is wrong. Assuming you still live in the same county as you are registered to vote. You can correct your address at the early polling locations. So I recommend you vote early. If you moved from one county to another and did not re-register it's too late to fix it before the primary. You would have to go back to your county to vote and have your vote counted.

Here are the deadlines
Tuesday March 4, 2008 -- Primary Election

* Voter Registration Deadline: Monday, February 4, 2008
* Early In Person Voting Begins: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
* Early In Person Voting Ends: Friday February 29, 2008

Sonia

[movie_girl99]

6. geez you guys are a fountain of knowledge..one more question

my old voter reg. card has a different precinct than the new card that i received? Is that normal?

[sonias]

8. Yes

Periodically counties will redraw precincts so your precinct may have changed since the last time you voted. Due to the redistricting in 2006 mandated by the Supreme court ruling, some of us even got a new Congressional district. So none of that is uncommon.

Your current voting registration form should be orange. If it's not orange your card is not current.

If Denton does early voting, I would suggest you just go to the early voting location. If you vote on March 4th - you have to vote in your precinct for your vote to count. If you go to your older precinct and you're not on their list, they will make you cast a provisional ballot. And provisional ballots usually don't count. Texas has the worst rate of counting provisional ballots in the country. It's 25%. You have a 1 in 4 chance of your vote counting if you vote provisionally.

Good luck and I hope we have helped answer your questions.

Sonia

[movie_girl99]

9. you have answered them...i really appreciate it!!! n/t

[Vincardog]

11. FEB 19 is the first time to early vote