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still_one

(91,947 posts)
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 12:39 AM Mar 2016

The election today in Arizona is a Presidential preference election, not a primary

Last edited Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:31 AM - Edit history (1)

The PPE stands for a Presidential Preference Election. That is the election that was held today in Arizona, and requires a party declaration to vote:
The PPE is a closed election, which means you have to be registered as a Democrat, Republican, or Green party in order to vote


"The March 22, 2016, PPE ballot only contains presidential candidates from participating political parties. (Note: Arizona’s open primary provision does NOT apply to the PPE.)

The August 30, 2016, Primary Election ballot contains federal (U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives), state and local candidates and will NOT contain any presidential candidates. Click here for more information on the August 30, 2016, Primary Election.

The PPE* and the Primary Election are an opportunity for Arizona voters to nominate candidates to the General Election. The General Election is when candidates are actually elected to office.

*Party winners of the Arizona PPE may not appear on the General Election ballot. The official party nominee is determined at the party’s national convention."

http://www.azcleanelections.gov/en/presidential-preference-election




28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The election today in Arizona is a Presidential preference election, not a primary (Original Post) still_one Mar 2016 OP
Thank you! LuvLoogie Mar 2016 #1
I didn't understand it myself, until another DUer provided the information. I learned something still_one Mar 2016 #2
With this and their timezones AZ is really wonky. joshcryer Mar 2016 #3
Our AZ timezones? DesertRat Mar 2016 #4
Hehe joshcryer Mar 2016 #5
can't argue with that still_one Mar 2016 #11
We don't change our time zones, either. Cha Mar 2016 #26
Yes, that's right! DesertRat Mar 2016 #28
That explains a lot of the problems we're hearing about. kristopher Mar 2016 #6
You're the person who actually helped understand the process, and I decided just to start a seperate still_one Mar 2016 #12
I'm glad you did. It's an education issue. kristopher Mar 2016 #20
It doesn't explain it. People who registered correctly as Democrats were still not processed correct Cheese Sandwich Mar 2016 #15
2 separate issues, no? kristopher Mar 2016 #21
Right Cheese Sandwich Mar 2016 #23
I think the pattern could be relevant also. kristopher Mar 2016 #24
That is a different issue. The only issue this OP addresses is for those who registered as still_one Mar 2016 #22
But when you go to the SOS website that is not evident ... slipslidingaway Mar 2016 #7
I am stating how Arizona runs their elections. The link you produced is discussing the primary still_one Mar 2016 #10
All I am saying is that their site is confusing, if you google Arizona elections ... slipslidingaway Mar 2016 #19
I agree it is confusing, but that is how Arizona runs their elections. They seperate the PPE from still_one Mar 2016 #25
Arizonia? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Mar 2016 #8
Thanks, just corrected still_one Mar 2016 #9
You are missing the entire story. People DID change their party affiliation before the cut off date. jillan Mar 2016 #13
That's the one thing, I don't see any reports of Republicans complaining. joshcryer Mar 2016 #14
Just found out it was happening in Tucson too. jillan Mar 2016 #16
Was thinking low level subterfuge. joshcryer Mar 2016 #17
This is true. Many many people who were correctly registered as Democrats still had problems. Cheese Sandwich Mar 2016 #18
Then that is a problem that needs to be rectified. I was only stating the difference between a PPE still_one Mar 2016 #27

still_one

(91,947 posts)
2. I didn't understand it myself, until another DUer provided the information. I learned something
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:09 AM
Mar 2016

tonight

DesertRat

(27,995 posts)
4. Our AZ timezones?
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:13 AM
Mar 2016

We stay on standard time year round and don't change. It's the rest of the country who change their clocks twice a year that messes us up.

kristopher

(29,798 posts)
6. That explains a lot of the problems we're hearing about.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:16 AM
Mar 2016

The ones where people who thought they could vote were turned away. They went to the SoS's website and thought they were asking about a primary.

From the Arizona Secretary of State Election page http://www.azsos.gov/elections

Topic Question:
How does an independent voter receive a ballot for the Primary Election?

Answer:
An independent voter on the early voter list will receive a post card in the mail asking for the voter to choose which party ballot the voter wishes to receive for the Primary Election. If the independent voter goes to the polls on Election Day the voter will be given the option to choose a party ballot at that time.

To learn the answer you have to go into the site knowing this isn't a primary.

still_one

(91,947 posts)
12. You're the person who actually helped understand the process, and I decided just to start a seperate
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:41 AM
Mar 2016

thread to state the rules that you informed me about.

So I thank you again

 

Cheese Sandwich

(9,086 posts)
15. It doesn't explain it. People who registered correctly as Democrats were still not processed correct
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:56 AM
Mar 2016

There are many reports of people who followed the process and updated their registration to Democrat by the deadline. But due to some "error" their registration was not recorded correctly and they were given provisional ballots. It wasn't clear whether those provisional ballots would be counted as valid ballots because of the "error". There have been reports of this all day long on twitter.

You can see a government official admit the error in this video





 

Cheese Sandwich

(9,086 posts)
23. Right
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:27 AM
Mar 2016

If people don't understand the rules that's kind of sad, maybe the instructions should be more clear. That's pretty normal stuff, the rules are being followed and maybe they can improve it for next time. That's not a crisis.

But on the other hand if you have millions of people who did follow the rules and register as Democrats before the deadline but their votes are still not being counted correctly due to some government "error", then it's a much more serious problem. And it's more urgent too because we would like to make sure those votes actually count. Many of those people we given provisional ballots. With provisional ballots it's not known if each one will actually count until they are reviewed later. It's not clear if the same "error" will invalidate the provisional ballot. Some people heard from the Arizona Sec. of State that there provisional ballot would not count.

Besides that it's just undermines confidence in the election system.

kristopher

(29,798 posts)
24. I think the pattern could be relevant also.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:31 AM
Mar 2016

I think I'll do a bit of reading on the political history of that area.

still_one

(91,947 posts)
22. That is a different issue. The only issue this OP addresses is for those who registered as
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:21 AM
Mar 2016

independents or non-partisans.

For those who registered a Democrat, Republican, or Green, if they were listed as registering as independent, that is an error that needs to be addressed.

slipslidingaway

(21,210 posts)
7. But when you go to the SOS website that is not evident ...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:17 AM
Mar 2016

this is on the front page of their site.

http://www.azsos.gov/elections

I can easily see where someone thinks an independent can choose a party on election day.


"How does an independent voter receive a ballot for the Primary Election?


An independent voter on the early voter list will receive a post card in the mail asking for the voter to choose which party ballot the voter wishes to receive for the Primary Election. If the independent voter goes to the polls on Election Day the voter will be given the option to choose a party ballot at that time."





still_one

(91,947 posts)
10. I am stating how Arizona runs their elections. The link you produced is discussing the primary
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:33 AM
Mar 2016

election rules, not the Presidential Preference Election, PPE, rules, which are stated here:

http://www.azsos.gov/elections/voting-election/election-information

If you look to the right of the link you supplied:


http://www.azsos.gov/elections

It states the exact dates for the PPE verse the primary. With the PPE being today, and the primary being on the 30th


slipslidingaway

(21,210 posts)
19. All I am saying is that their site is confusing, if you google Arizona elections ...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:01 AM
Mar 2016

this is the first official site that appears, essentially the starting point. It mentions voting in the Primary, but does not clarify Which primary, the focus is now on the presidential primary, that should be delineated on their site so people can easily follow be the rules.

Our goal should be to increase turnout, not try and make people hunt for obscure rules in each state.

Having lived in a state that never sees a candidate, never sees a line longer than 2 minutes, but also never has a chance to vote in a primary, all these rules to make it difficult to vote seem strange.

Appreciate your reply in another thread


http://www.azsos.gov/elections


"I moved recently, when is the deadline to update my voter registration?


The final day to update your voter registration or register to vote is midnight on the 29th day before the election. For the 2016 Primary Election that day is Midnight on August 1, 2016 and for the 2016 General Election you must register before Midnight on October 10, 2016. All voter registration forms that are mailed in must be postmarked on or before the deadline. The final day to update your voter registration or register to vote is midnight on the 29th day before the election. For the 2016 Primary Election that day is Midnight on August 1, 2016 and for the 2016 General Election you must register before Midnight on October 10, 2016.



How does an independent voter receive a ballot for the Primary Election?


An independent voter on the early voter list will receive a post card in the mail asking for the voter to choose which party ballot the voter wishes to receive for the Primary Election. If the independent voter goes to the polls on Election Day the voter will be given the option to choose a party ballot at that time."


still_one

(91,947 posts)
25. I agree it is confusing, but that is how Arizona runs their elections. They seperate the PPE from
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:41 AM
Mar 2016

the primary. The people of Arizona I would imagine voted for that. In other words to make the election for the nomination for President a PPE, which is a closed election, and to make the election for the primary an open election.

Obviously, if someone wants to vote in both the PPE and the primary, they need to register as a Democrat, Republican, or Green party.

The part that is troubling is for those that indicate they registered as a Democrat, Republican, or Green, and were told at the polling place they were registered as independent. I would think as long as they have the confirmation that they did register with a specific party, their votes need to be counted, along with why did that happen?

I think there are two sets of issues. One is those who registered as independents, and didn't realize that there was a difference between the PPE and the primary, and two, those who registered with a political party, but when they got to the polls, were told they registered as an independents.

As I see it,

The second one is definitely an issue, which needs to be investigated, and remedied somehow.

The first one, while confusing, is the way the state runs their elections, and I doubt anything will happen with that unless the people of Arizona vote to change the rules

jillan

(39,451 posts)
13. You are missing the entire story. People DID change their party affiliation before the cut off date.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:51 AM
Mar 2016

Many had their voter registration cards with them.

When they went inside to vote & to sign in their party affiliation was wrong. Some lifelong registered Dems were showing up as Republicans. Others were showing up as Independents even tho they were registered Democrats.
Something went wrong today.

And it was not just Bernie voters, it was Hillary voters too.

The people that went in today as registered independents weren't the problem.
The registered DEMOCRATS were the ones that were disenfranchised.

joshcryer

(62,265 posts)
14. That's the one thing, I don't see any reports of Republicans complaining.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:55 AM
Mar 2016

It's Democrats whose registrations were changed to independent / blank.

I post my theory here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1556594

jillan

(39,451 posts)
16. Just found out it was happening in Tucson too.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:56 AM
Mar 2016

This isn't the first time there have been major irregularities in Az.

joshcryer

(62,265 posts)
17. Was thinking low level subterfuge.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:58 AM
Mar 2016

Couple of workers in the system messing with stuff just because they're terrible people. But if it's other counties, too, it could be something higher level, maybe in the registration system itself.

A full investigation needs to be done.

 

Cheese Sandwich

(9,086 posts)
18. This is true. Many many people who were correctly registered as Democrats still had problems.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:59 AM
Mar 2016

There were reports of this all day long.

You can see a government official admit the error in this first video




still_one

(91,947 posts)
27. Then that is a problem that needs to be rectified. I was only stating the difference between a PPE
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:49 AM
Mar 2016

verses a primary.

If someone registered as a Democrat, Republican, or Green, and when they arrived at the polling place were told they were registered as an independent, then they should be allowed to vote in the PPE, and their votes counted.

An investigation of the SOS also needs to occur to determine what happened, and if charges need to be filed

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