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D-Day for Pennsylvania
It’s D-Day in Pennsylvania. That’s for Democrats. And anyone who wants to be one.
Today is the last day to register to vote in the April 22 primary. For Democrats, that means that ability to cast a vote for either Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama.
But it also means something else for every other voter – or potential voter – in the state.
Pennsylvania runs a closed primary. That means in order to vote in the presidential race, you have to be registered with one of the parties. Those registered as Independent or non-partisan can vote only on ballot questions, not the presidential race. That explains why across the state, Independents have switching their registrations in record numbers. Most of those numbers have been moving into the Democrat column. That’s where the race is.
For Republicans, there’s not much sizzle. They have their candidate, Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Not so for the Democrats. Clinton and Obama have been going mano a mano for months, and will slug it out in a battle of the titans over the next month in Pennsylvania.
Of course, for those Republicans who’d like a little more drama on their Primary Day, there’s the notion of switching party registrations and taking part in the Democratic donnybrook.
Across both the county and state, it’s clear this race has energized voters as record numbers have been moved to register.
Between the last time we went to the polls in November and March 17, 6,400 people have registered to vote in the county. Of those 3,394 have registered Democrat, and 1,962 Republican. The same thing has been happening across the state.
Those numbers will swell as they tally the results from the past week, as well as an expected flood of those looking to sign up today.
It’s likely going to be a long day at the Voter Registation Office at the Media Courthouse. It will be open until 8 p.m. If you’re in line at that point, they won’t turn you away. But no one will be allowed in line after 8.
Join the fun. It’s going to be a wild month. But you can’t play if you’re not registered.
Today is the last day to register to vote in the April 22 primary. For Democrats, that means that ability to cast a vote for either Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama.
But it also means something else for every other voter – or potential voter – in the state.
Pennsylvania runs a closed primary. That means in order to vote in the presidential race, you have to be registered with one of the parties. Those registered as Independent or non-partisan can vote only on ballot questions, not the presidential race. That explains why across the state, Independents have switching their registrations in record numbers. Most of those numbers have been moving into the Democrat column. That’s where the race is.
For Republicans, there’s not much sizzle. They have their candidate, Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Not so for the Democrats. Clinton and Obama have been going mano a mano for months, and will slug it out in a battle of the titans over the next month in Pennsylvania.
Of course, for those Republicans who’d like a little more drama on their Primary Day, there’s the notion of switching party registrations and taking part in the Democratic donnybrook.
Across both the county and state, it’s clear this race has energized voters as record numbers have been moved to register.
Between the last time we went to the polls in November and March 17, 6,400 people have registered to vote in the county. Of those 3,394 have registered Democrat, and 1,962 Republican. The same thing has been happening across the state.
Those numbers will swell as they tally the results from the past week, as well as an expected flood of those looking to sign up today.
It’s likely going to be a long day at the Voter Registation Office at the Media Courthouse. It will be open until 8 p.m. If you’re in line at that point, they won’t turn you away. But no one will be allowed in line after 8.
Join the fun. It’s going to be a wild month. But you can’t play if you’re not registered.
posted by Heron's Nest at
7:50 AM
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