Subscribe
Shop Local
Magazine
Gas Prices
Today's Poll!Senator wants party affiliation required for primaries
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Many of state Sen. Jay Wasson’s southwest Missouri constituents want to change the Missouri law that lets voters register without declaring their political party affiliation.
So the Nixa Republican asked the Senate’s Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee to endorse his bill, changing the law and creating closed primary elections.
Committee members didn’t vote on the bill Monday, nor did it draw comments from anyone, for or against.
“I think there’s examples — probably on both sides — where (people from) opposite parties have voted in another party’s primary,” Wasson told the panel. “I guess my thought is, in this bill — if you’re going to elect folks from your party in a primary, to run in a general election, you probably ought to be of that party.”
Marry Me
Comments
whocares 1 year, 2 months ago
I want to vote for the person not the party. I'm sure there are plenty more out there so speak up!
2warped757 1 year, 2 months ago
I agree, whocares. I don't want to be tied to one or the other, and then if the one I've chosen doesn't have any decent candidates in my area, I have to jump through hoops to change it before I can vote. That is NOT making voting easier for people (which I thought was the goal with all of the other laws re: early voting, motor voter registration, etc.) While I sometimes have to consider long and hard before a primary, to decide which party's ballot I want, in a General I will most definitely vote for the person and not the party. And then, if you register as an Independent, I think you can't vote in the Primary elections at all!
wyriontair 1 year, 2 months ago
As a Registered Independent I have no party affiliation and can vote in Primary elections. Since I registered to vote many moons ago, I do remember being asked what Party affiliation I was and was very proud to declare that I belong to no Party and think for myself.
wyriontair 1 year, 2 months ago
hkchas--at 2 courthouses when I registered to vote they asked, I answered.
tonto_goldberg 1 year, 2 months ago
In Boone County, Missouri, you register to vote. When they have a primary, you are asked which ballot you want. Most of the time, only one party has a qualified candidate for an office and a primary is wasted effort.
Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting
Or login with:
OpenID