Did anyone had a difficult time voting in Maryland? (California: school, education)

[lscalder]

My husband was register to vote in DC until we moved to Maryland last yr. He had no issues voting in DC but when he went to vote today, He was told Independents can not vote. He was also told Independents only vote in Maryland for the Primary election only. Is this correct?

[dhelfoioracle]

Well sort of. Independents can not vote for either party right now because this vote is to decide who we want to run for which ever party we are affiliated with. However, Independents are allowed to vote in all nonpartisan primary held in their jurisdiction. Unless there was none; yes he should be allowed to vote. I would suggest contacting the Maryland State Board of Elections right away. An example of nonpartisan vote is for the Board of Education. What they did is wrong and against the law.

[FrankLaw]

Originally Posted by lscalder

My husband was register to vote in DC until we moved to Maryland last yr. He had no issues voting in DC but when he went to vote today, He was told Independents can not vote. He was also told Independents only vote in Maryland for the Primary election only. Is this correct?

Every state has different rules with regard to primary voting. In Virginia, for example, Republicans can vote for a Democratic candidate in the primaries and vice versa (although they can't vote in more than one party's primaries). The rule in Maryland is if you want to vote in a party's primaries you have to be a registered member of that party. That's just the way it is.

Those two sentences I've bolded contradict each other (at least as far as today's voting is concerned, since it was the primaries today), so I'm not sure what you meant to say there.

[LexusNexus]

For giving Obama the win there. Obviously, the state is made up of many progressive, wise, and enlightened people. Send some of that wisdom this way to the state of California. We need it!

[Wilkester]

The rule is that Independents can only vote in nonpartisan elections like a board of education during the Primary election. You will get to vote during the National election. In my district, there was weren't any nonpartisan positions being elected on so there wouldn't have been any reason for an Independent to vote this time. Go to Voting in Maryland. This is the Maryland State Board of Elections website. It might be able to help you.

[Gabrielle]

Here in Carroll County the Independents could only vote for members of the Board of Education.

[marcnelsonjr]

Originally Posted by lscalder

My husband was register to vote in DC until we moved to Maryland last yr. He had no issues voting in DC but when he went to vote today, He was told Independents can not vote. He was also told Independents only vote in Maryland for the Primary election only. Is this correct?

What is the point of declining to register with a party? All you get for it (in MD, anyway) is the inability to vote in the primary.

Just pick whichever party is more likely to have a competitive or relevant primary. Heck, I switch just about every election cycle. It's not like they make you take a loyalty oath or pay dues.

[Joykins]

If your jurisdiction wasn't having a school board nonpartisan primary, then if he's not registered under a party, he can't vote in their primary. That's the way it usually is in Md. Sometimes a party will open their primary to Independents, but I don't think it's been done often at all.

[lscalder]

Originally Posted by FrankLaw

Every state has different rules with regard to primary voting. In Virginia, for example, Republicans can vote for a Democratic candidate in the primaries and vice versa (although they can't vote in more than one party's primaries). The rule in Maryland is if you want to vote in a party's primaries you have to be a registered member of that party. That's just the way it is.

Those two sentences I've bolded contradict each other (at least as far as today's voting is concerned, since it was the primaries today), so I'm not sure what you meant to say there.

My husband was told since he is an independent voter he can only vote in November. He wants to vote but not register as either party because he votes either way.

[jaindow]

Originally Posted by lscalder

My husband was told since he is an independent voter he can only vote in November. He wants to vote but not register as either party because he votes either way.

Via friends, I've heard two different approaches --

1. Maryland is such a Democratic state that you should just be registered Democrat so you can vote in the Primary. If you are really Republican, then vote for the candidate you most likely think your Republican choice can beat. In the General election you can vote for anyone, so it really doesn't matter how you are registered.

- or -

2. As for which party to register with for primaries, you should register for the opposite party (i.e, register Republican if you're a Dem) and vote for the candidate YOUR party can most easily beat.