Jeremy Adkison
Leavenworth
To the editor:
I have worked since 2006 as an election worker for the county of Leavenworth. I recently worked this past Aug. 3 as an election worker in the 2010 general election primary. I was absolutely appalled by an unbelievable lack of knowledge displayed by many people that came to the polls that day. An astounding numbers of voters did not seem to grasp the concept of what a primary election is.
A primary election is a partisan election. There are two ballots, one will be filled with only Democratic candidates, the other will only be filled with Republican candidates. The members of each party will come to the polls and vote on the ballot for the candidates that they want to be nominated in the general election. Then on the November ballot there will only be one Democrat and one Republican running for secretary of state, governor, the House of Representatives, etc.
The only time in which an independent will be able to vote without choosing a Democratic or Republican ballot is when there are ballot questions that do not pertain to party affiliation. Think of bond issues, amendments, or ballot initiatives. Typically, these questions come up on the November ballot and not the primary one.
Let me also point out that the Kansas Republican and Democratic parties set the eligibility standards for their primary’s- not the state. Although at the polls the state is required to enforce them.
An Independent may vote in the Republican primary but only if they re-register themselves as Republicans at the polls. Independents may vote in the Democratic primary either as just Independents or they may choose to affiliate themselves with the Democratic party.
Be aware that when you register to vote as unaffiliated that is not a political party. On the contrary the entire point of checking unaffiliated is to declare oneself as not choosing a registered political party.
Unfortunately this basic knowledge was lost to many voters. To be specific, we had several Independents get very upset at the polls and leave because they were informed that they had to choose a party ballot to vote on. We literally had a man come in and say that he wanted to vote but did not want to vote on either a Republican or Democratic ballot. I have no clue as to what he thought he would be voting on.
So, allow me to be crass. Primaries do not equate to general elections. There is no ballot on that day that will have Republican and Democratic candidates on it. This concept is very, very basic, but unfortunately, we have many unintelligent and undereducated voters that cannot seem to figure this out.
If you are in that category than I, as only a private citizen and not a future election worker, plead that you not vote in a general election as I sincerely doubt your ability to be informed enough as to choose a candidate with just reason.
