Truth in Voting

Come January 29th, 2008, I am well prepared to accept the fact that I will be placing an invalid primary vote for one Democratic candidate or another, but I am less concerned about the impact of casting away that worthless ballot than most of the electorate in Florida.

The petty squabbling between Florida Democrats and the Democratic National Committee will have a profound affect on the political scene far beyond the upcoming primary election and it is a sure bet that, while the candidates campaign in New Hampshire, they will be looking over their shoulders at what had already transpired in the Sunshine State, trying to come to terms with how we viewed their worthiness. As they march toward Iowa, again they’ll be giving a side-glance to the south, still not sure what to make of the outcome in what will be the most important of all the swing states on that final election day on the second Tuesday in November.

Voter turnout for the Florida primary election should be extremely high considering there will be some type of property tax legislation on the ballot. Every homeowner has their financial well being on the line, so the stakes will be high on more than one item of voter concern. The candidates might act nonchalant about our primary, but whatever the outcome, it will be analyzed by every commentator and editorial writer across the political spectrum. Florida will be in the headlines.

Florida may not have any valid delegates at the Democratic National Convention next summer, but no doubt there will be some behind-the-scenes politicking going on to accommodate us maverick voters in a state that may very well decide who will be the next President of the United States. Again, voter turnout next November will be very high when the Hometown Democracy amendment will be another crucial drawing card for the electorate. Both Republicans and Democrats are well aware of this.

Regardless of who wins the Presidential and Vice Presidential nominations for the Democratic ticket, Florida will become a campaign hotbed next fall as a result of the current head banging amongst the Democrats. They will have to convince us that they heard us loud and clear even though our delegation was null and void. The candidates will be in our faces from sunrise to sunset. They will be hopping from one city to another, sure to return again and again as the weeks go by beyond the haunting of Halloween. Campaign funds will be flooding every nook and cranny of every media source. Republican candidates will be hard pressed to follow suit and do their best to keep up with the pace. Democrats may have an advantage.

It will also bring into light the political savvy of Governor Charlie Crist. No one can discount his popularity. Republicans cannot be discounted.

We, as a voting electorate, will have more clout because of the Florida legislature’s insistence to stand firm with the earlier primary vote date. Neither political party can afford to lose the Florida vote next November so we may eventually be victors of our own rights after all the votes are done and counted.

I was a registered Republican through the two terms of fellow jellybean eater Ronald Reagan, at which time I chose to be an Independent. Moving to Hernando two years ago, I had to register with my new address and chose the Democratic Party, primarily because of the current president in office. The 2006 election still found me placing more votes for Republicans than Democrats, so it makes no difference to me. When my final votes are cast, there’s little chance of a clean sweep; my broom swings every which way.

I could very easily change my political party affiliation prior to December 29th (the minimum 30 day requirement before the primary election) and salvage half of my vote to be delegated at the Republican National Convention, but I kind of like the idea of “wasting” my Democratic vote. In the end, it might be one of the most important votes that don’t count.