Ohio is a semi-open primary

Digg this!

See: Pennsylvania is a closed primary – March 24 deadline to change party

Can Republicans vote in Ohio’s Democrat presidential primary?

According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website:

How do I establish which political party’s ballot I am entitled to vote?
“You may vote the primary ballot of the political party with which you currently wish to be affiliated. If you voted the primary ballot of a different political party in 2005 or 2006, you will complete a statement at your polling place confirming the change in your political party affiliation.”

Switching party affiliation on primary election day, at polling place.

I would expect that poll workers, being political critters by nature, will not like Republicans or independants voting in the Democrat primary election, and they may try to throw sand into the gears.

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Here’s how it works, as best I can figure:

1. A registered Ohio voter goes to the appropriate primary election voting place, with the required personal identification.

2. A poll worker will ask if you want a Republican or a Democrat ballot.

3. The poll worker checks which party primary you voted in last time, and if it is not the same party as you are asking to vote in this time, you may be challenged. If you are not challenged, then there should be no problem.

4. If you wish to switch party affiliations, say so.

5. You will be given a form, either Form 10-X or Form 10-W, which you must fill out and sign.

6. Ohio Revised Code 3513.20 Effect of challenge to voter at primary, states in part:

“Before any challenged person shall be allowed to vote at a primary election , the person shall make a statement, under penalty of election falsification, before one of the precinct officials, blanks for which shall be furnished by the board of elections, giving name, age, residence, length of residence in the precinct, county, and state; stating that the person desires to be affiliated with and supports the principles of the political party whose ballot the person desires to vote; and giving all other facts necessary to determine whether the person is entitled to vote in that primary election. The statement shall be returned to the office of the board with the pollbooks and tally sheets . . . . ”

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A mere pro forma change of parties is not contemplated by the statute, but I don’t want to get into a discussion of what the meaning of ‘principles’ is.

According to the The Democratic Party web site, the party’s principles are:

• Honest Leadership & Open Government,
• Real Security,
• Energy Independence,
• Economic Prosperity & Educational Excellence,
• A Healthcare System that Works for Everyone, and;
• Retirement Security.

If you can support these principles, you can legitimately align yourself with the Democratic Party

Please remember, things frequently don’t go as they are supposed to.

Don’t panic, and don’t over-react.

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March 21, 2008 – Possible problems for malicious party switchers:  Will Rush Limbaugh Be Indicted for Voter Fraud?

“On Thursday, March 20, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the “Cuyahoga County Board of Election has launched an investigation that could lead to criminal charges against voters who maliciously switched parties for the March 4 presidential primary.” According to the report, “One voter scribbled the following addendum to his pledge as a new Democrat: “For one day only.”

“Such an admission amounts to voter fraud,” the report continued, attributing that conclusion to BOE member Sandy McNair, a Democrat.”