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Independents Also Denied Votes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2007

So the Democratic National Committee has decided that Democrats in Florida won't be allowed to have their votes count in the primary. Too bad. But as an independent voter, I have never been allowed to have a vote in the primaries here in Florida.

Primaries are a major part of the presidential election process, and there is no constitutional requirement that says voters have to be registered as a Democrat or Republican in order to participate in the process. In 21 states - including Washington, Idaho, Illinois, Ohio, Texas and Virginia - voters don't register by party but merely vote whatever party's ballot they choose on Election Day. But in Florida, independent voters are denied the right to vote.

Well, the Legislature decided not to follow the DNC's rules, and in return the DNC has said that Florida will not have votes in the upcoming primaries. That's not right, but I find it hard to have any sympathy for Florida Democrats. They are only having done to them what the Legislature has been doing to us for all these years.

STEVEN ATRAN

Tampa

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