scrappinghappy
Pearl Clutcher
“I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say “Hello.” Goodbye. I’m late...."
Posts: 4,306 
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Post by scrappinghappy on Apr 26, 2015 11:37:17 GMT
officially in the U S?
if you're a registered whatever, and you want to change your affiliation, can you do it? Is it complicated?
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Post by hop2 on Apr 26, 2015 11:41:16 GMT
Yes. I am only registered so i can vote in a primary. I have changed multiple times. If memory serves correctly I'm currently a dem.
In my state, as long as you are already a registered voter, you can declare your party right at the polls on primary day ( that's how I got registered the first time )
Oh, and no it isn't complicated. Just have to sign a paper.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 22, 2024 4:41:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 13:07:22 GMT
Yes we can change. In Oklahoma you just send in a new voter application form. They are available at the post office, county election board offices, public libraries, or tag agency (Dmv) There is a period from April 1 through August 31 in even numbered years where they won't change a party registration. I guess that is to prevent people from voting in primaries for both parties.
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Post by eebud on Apr 26, 2015 13:12:18 GMT
To add to what hop2 said, all states don't have you register a party at all. I live in Texas. We don't register a party. When we go to the polls to vote in a primary, you tell them if you want to vote republican or democrat. If there is a runoff needed after the primary, you can only vote in the runoff in the party you voted for in the primary. So, if I vote in the republican primary, I cannot vote in a democrat runoff, I can only vote in a republican runoff.
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Post by kellybelly77 on Apr 26, 2015 13:53:48 GMT
Yes you can change. When I first registered I went with Republican because that's what my mom was and I didn't know any better. Ha! I quickly found I had nothing in common so I went down to the election office and changed. It took a minute to fill out a card and i was changed. Super easy!
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,987
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Apr 26, 2015 14:18:33 GMT
As others have stated, yes you can change. In fact, even elected representatives can change once they are in office.
IIRC, we have had situations where a representative or senator changed his affiliation after he was elected and ended up changing the majority party (but I could be thinking of a state legislature, not federal?). That affects which party controls the flow of bills and enforcement of rules in the legislature. |
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,947
Location: North Idaho
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Post by Nink on Apr 26, 2015 15:01:26 GMT
Yup. I registered republican because that's what my dad was and well... Anyway, I decided a couple years ago to go independent as that suits me better. I just did it online.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 26, 2015 15:10:47 GMT
As others have stated, yes you can change. In fact, even elected representatives can change once they are in office.
IIRC, we have had situations where a representative or senator changed his affiliation after he was elected and ended up changing the majority party (but I could be thinking of a state legislature, not federal?). That affects which party controls the flow of bills and enforcement of rules in the legislature. I believe it was Liberian and he went independent, so no one had the majority or something nighthorse-Campbell from colorado did it too. Pissed me off I am sure others have as well, those are just the two that popped into my head |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 22, 2024 4:41:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 15:55:25 GMT
I registered as unenrolled lol. In my state, that's different from independent, which is a party I don't agree with. If I feel obliged to vote in a particular primary, I vote in that primary, then fill out a sheet of paper when I leave to unenroll again.
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Post by Sharon on Apr 26, 2015 17:19:46 GMT
Yes, I registered Democrat when I was 18. That's what my parents were. DH and I both changed to Republican after we got married.
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,005
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Post by huskergal on Apr 26, 2015 17:34:02 GMT
I have also changed multiple times. I am currently independent. I get mailings from everyone.
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Post by colleen on Apr 26, 2015 18:11:20 GMT
No, it's like the mafia, once you're in, you're in for life.
Kidding!
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,350
Location: Dallas Texas
Member is Online
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Post by SabrinaP on Apr 26, 2015 18:56:56 GMT
One thing I love about Texas, is you don't have to declare a party and can vote in whichever primary you want.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 26, 2015 18:58:05 GMT
I have also changed multiple times. I am currently independent. I get mailings from everyone. yuck, I don't need more mailings. Who do they think those influence anyway? Waste of money and resources. |
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Post by hop2 on Apr 26, 2015 19:03:41 GMT
One thing I love about Texas, is you don't have to declare a party and can vote in whichever primary you want. I wish |
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Post by librarylady on Apr 26, 2015 21:33:03 GMT
One thing I love about Texas, is you don't have to declare a party and can vote in whichever primary you want. Yep, and then change again the next election!! |
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Apr 26, 2015 21:53:11 GMT
Yup. In DH line of work if you're not the right party you won't get the job. So many times people switch it up just to get work.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 22, 2024 4:41:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 22:01:16 GMT
Yup. In DH line of work if you're not the right party you won't get the job. So many times people switch it up just to get work. How does the person hiring know which party you align with? Is it public info? We don't register or have the same kind of system here in Canada at all, so it is very different to what I'm familiar with. |
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Apr 26, 2015 22:02:20 GMT
In my state, you go to the County Clerk's office. It has to be done about 30 days before any election.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Apr 26, 2015 22:26:09 GMT
Yup. In DH line of work if you're not the right party you won't get the job. So many times people switch it up just to get work. How does the person hiring know which party you align with? Is it public info? We don't register or have the same kind of system here in Canada at all, so it is very different to what I'm familiar with. If I remember correctly from what DH said they need your DL# and maybe SS#. I will have to ask him how exactly they find. I know a lot of law enforcment switch parties just for work. |
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Post by mdpea on Apr 26, 2015 22:57:08 GMT
Oh, this is interesting - so when you register to vote (is that just once or each time there is an election looming?) you have to declare which party you will vote for?
Is that so you can only vote on the primaries of that one party & not the other?
What happens on the date of the actual election? Can you change your mind & vote for the other party, or do you have to fill in a form like is mentioned above?
Excuse the dumb questions. In Australia voting is compulsory & you register when you turn 18 without making reference to any political party.
We don't have primaries, ie we don't directly elect our Prime Minister, he/she is chosen by & from within the party which is elected in to government
I have trouble understanding this really -It's hardly a secret ballot if you've registered which party you intend to vote for.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 22, 2024 4:41:17 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 0:59:20 GMT
Oh, this is interesting - so when you register to vote (is that just once or each time there is an election looming?) you have to declare which party you will vote for?
Is that so you can only vote on the primaries of that one party & not the other?
What happens on the date of the actual election? Can you change your mind & vote for the other party, or do you have to fill in a form like is mentioned above?Excuse the dumb questions. In Australia voting is compulsory & you register when you turn 18 without making reference to any political party. We don't have primaries, ie we don't directly elect our Prime Minister, he/she is chosen by & from within the party which is elected in to government I have trouble understanding this really -It's hardly a secret ballot if you've registered which party you intend to vote for. The answers will depend on the state the person is in and what the election is about. In Oklahoma you just have to register once. And you do have to declare a party if you want to vote in the primaries. For a primary election you are only allowed to vote in the primary of your declared party. I have an assigned voting place. They have a book of registered voters. I sign the book when I vote. If I'm not on the roll in the book I can't vote there. Once the primaries are over and a candidate has been selected to represent the party in the general election I can vote for any candidate I want. It is still a secret ballot. For the primaries there will be 2 or more candidates for each party. Say I'm registered as a democrat. For the primaries I will be allowed to vote in the democratic primary but not the republican one. Right now about 7 democrats and Hilary Clinton has expressed interest in running. So far Hilary is the only one to officially announce she is running but in time the 7 or 8 others will make their official announcements it is still VERY early in the process. 3-5 candidates is pretty normal list for a primary ballot. Not everyone who officially announces they are running will make it all the way to the primary elections. After the primaries are over the various parties will only have one official candidate on the ballot. For the general election I'll get a ballot that lists the candidates for all the parties and I can vote for any one of them. At that point I can vote for a republican or an independent or .... |
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Post by mdpea on Apr 27, 2015 2:55:24 GMT
voltagain Thanks for the explanation. Yes, Hilary Clinton is all we hear about down here.
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