Back in 1966, when I turned 21, I was in the

[MineralMan]

USAF. I wasn't near my home town, so I had to register to vote by mail. I got the address for doing so from my parents, wrote for the form, filled it out and mailed it back. Then, I got an absentee ballot the same way and voted in my first election in November that year. This year, I'll vote as a Democrat for the party's nominee for President, and for all Democrats on my ballot. That's what I always do.

I registered as a Democrat. I've moved a number of times since 1966, and one of the first things I've done after moving to a new address was to re-register to vote as a Democrat, so I could vote in the next election that happened.

I've registered to vote many times, and have always done so at the earliest possible opportunity. I've also voted in every election, from presidential elections to school board elections. I check my registration before each election in time to re-register, just in case something has gone wrong somewhere.

Why do I go to all this trouble? Because exercising my right to vote has always been important to me. Why do I register as a Democrat? Because I want to have a voice in deciding who will be on the ballot in November. This year is no different. I want a part in deciding who the Democratic nominee will be.

I vote. I have voted in every election since I was eligible to do so. I want my vote to count, so I'm registered with my choice of the two major parties, since almost every election is won by a candidate from one of those parties.

Why do I vote for Democrats? Because we do better, locally, statewide, and nationally when Democrats are in power. It's that simple.

Do I always agree with what Democrats do? Not a chance. See the line above, though, for why I vote for Democrats.

Do you want to vote? Do you want your vote to make a difference? Then register to vote as a Democrat and vote in every election, not matter how small or how local. If you move, re-register as soon as you've moved in. Check your registration in time to re-register before every election, just in case.

It's not rocket science. It's just good sense. Make your vote count. Make sure you can vote. Be a good citizen. Be part of the decision.

Thanks for reading.

[closeupready]

1. So if you have always been a Democrat, why did you participate on Free Republic?

If you can explain that, I'd be grateful, thanks. Obviously, it's a free country, and you can do whatever you want, but if you are a Democrat, how was that supposed to be constructive...? K&R

[MineralMan]

2. I've explained that in the past.

I was there trying to change people's minds. It didn't work. I was banned from that site in 2006 for being a disruptor. I joined DU in 2008.

If you want more of an answer than that, you won't get it. That's the whole answer.

[closeupready]

3. Ok thanks.

[brooklynite]

4. Ditto

I registered when I turned 18, joined the Democratic Party, voted in EVERY Primary, General and School Board election I was eligible for since then (if I was traveling, I always got an absentee ballot and submitted it immediately).

I ALSO joined the Party organization and became a Ward Committeeman. Today I do funding of both qualified (irrespective of ideology) Democratic candidates and Party Committees.

I have NEVER beat my chest over how "the Party doesn't represent me". If I felt that way, I'd work inside the Party to change it.

If you can't be bothered to do the minimal work of checking the Democratic box on your voter registration as a requirement to participate in Primaries, then I'll see you in November; not before then.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. I'd like to point out that the OP lives in MN, where a voter can register on election day and where

one's Party is not recorded by the State. NY has the earliest deadline in the US for joining a Party out of the 11 closed Primary States NY is the only one whose Party change deadline falls in the prior calendar year, 6 months before the election.

So. I favor the way Minnesota handles registration and elections over NY's regulations and methods. Minnesota almost always has the country's highest turnout, they beat Oregon much to our chagrin and I think it is that election day registration that does it. NY's 2014 midterms saw a 29% turnout, second worst in the entire Untied States, beating only Texas and Indiana. Apparently Maine was the best 2014 turnout, guess what they have? Same day registration.


Voting should be easy and accessible. Too many hurdles and I worry about the franchise of the regular voter, not you nor Mineral Man nor myself but those who were not in fact born and bred to participation in elections and all aspects of society.

[MineralMan]

9. I have only lived in Minnesota for 12 years.

The rest of my adult life was spent in California. Yes, we have same-day registration in MN, and that's a very good thing. I registered, though, the week after I moved here. I also joined the DFL party at the same time and have been participation in the local party organization, up to the congressional district level ever since.

Each state has its own rules, so it's up to everyone to learn what those are and do whatever it takes to register and vote. In 1966, my official state of residence was California, since I was serving in the military. At that time, primaries in that state were closed, so your party of registration was important. It has since changed in that state, to a minor degree, allowing people who have declared no party affiliation to vote in Democratic, but not Republican, primaries.

It's incumbent on each voter to learn, understand and function within his or her own state's laws and practices. Since such laws change, it's important to keep up and make sure the right to vote is still something you have.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. And how does any of that verbiage apply to what I said, which is that all the States are different

and Minnesota has much better election practices than NY. The turnout proves their value. All the preaching, that's just not my style. As I said, it's not people like you and me and brooklynite that my focus is on because I assume, as I said, that you know the ropes. We are the folks who know all the ropes.

[MineralMan]

15. Is my reply required to apply only to what you said?

As for us knowing all the ropes, I believe that is not necessarily true. I've been thanked too many times by DUers for basic information I've provided to believe that. All DUers are not experienced political activists. Many are new to this or interested in learning more about it.

You're right, though. You and I and many other DUers do know a lot about how it all works. For me, that means that we have an obligation to make sure others understand it as well, if they want to. So, often, I write more than is required to answer a particular post. Each reply is an opportunity.

You mentioned that I live in Minnesota, so I explained that I did not always live here, and discussed the difference between MN and California. I don't assume people know that stuff. You often do the same thing - writing more than is required in response to a post.

Here's another example. I've posted a link to the greenpapers website multiple times during the primary season. Each time I do, people thank me and tell me that they've bookmarked that useful site. Each time I do, someone is sure to reply and tell me that everyone already knows about that site, too. The thanks from DUers for the information demonstrates the untruth of the second statement.

So, I'm a DUer. I post as I please about what I please and when I please. Sometimes, people learn things. That's my goal. I think that's probably an OK thing to do here. I also advocate for active voting and participating in GOTV and party organization activities. I'm an evangelist for those. I won't stop doing that, either.

If I over-explain something in a reply to you, I apologize, but I'm never just replying to you. Often, I don't reply to you at all.

[NurseJackie]

5. IMHO: People who vote "third party" for presidential elections are throwing away their vote ...

... they're "protesting" (for whatever reason) by voting for a candidate who has NO CHANCE of winning the office, but it makes them feel better I'm guessing.

I think these are the same type of people who REGISTER as Independents. They do it for vanity purposes, to demonstrate to the world (and to themselves?) that they're not beholden to any political party. It's a throw-away gesture that means and accomplishes absolutely nothing. They think they're "punishing" the party (or parties) but they're not.

In reality, they're only punishing themselves and taking away whatever measure of their OWN influence that they may have had in guiding or influencing the path of the party that more closely aligns with their political beliefs and philosophies.

They have, in the most literal sense of the phrase, "thrown away" their opportunity to participate in a party that they previously wanted nothing to do with. And NOW they complain? Now they blame the party for their OWN actions?

If they were really as active and engaged as they claim to be, they would have known this long ago ... and if they CARED as much as they now claim to care, they would have joined one party or the other long ago (at least in time to participate in the nomination process.)

We have a two-party system. That's just the way it is. It's not perfect, but it's the one we have. If someone wants to change it, then they really can't expect to do so from the outside (griping and complaining and sniping). Change happens from within and it happens from the bottom-up!

You'd think that politically savvy "Independents" would already know this. Apparently they don't. Or they forgot.

[AgerolanAmerican]

6. Get off my lawn!

whoops sorry, reflex

[MineralMan]

10. Nope. I welcome people to my lawn.

If they show up, I'll give them a voter registration form, too. I always have some in my cars. Just ask.

[AgerolanAmerican]

11. driving around with a van painted on the side with "FREE CAND

IDATE EVALUATION FORMS"?

[zappaman]

18. Are you against people who try to get others to register to vote?

[AgerolanAmerican]

20. um... "Zappa" man...

I would think someone with a handle inspired by Frank Zappa would appreciate the humor

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. I registered as a Democrat in 1965.

I usually vote for Democrats but spare my nose on occasion by not voting for a "lesser of two evils" Democrat.

Since moving to Washington State, we don't register by party. I'm an Independent. Which I find quite liberating.

And, my nose suffers less damage.

[snowy owl]

21. That's why so many in WA St went for Bernie. We have true civil rights and can vote our principles.

I am not bullied by an exclusive club run by the oligarchy. Too bad you all don't work to "change" your parties that preclude and limit real democracy.

[DemocraticWing]

13. I always register Democrat ASAP after moving.

Right now I live somewhere that I would need to register Democrat even if I didn't want to, because the primary election is the only one that matters. I used to live somewhere that the Republican nearly always won, but I registered Democrat to vote in Presidential primaries. I did know people who switched parties to vote in the local Republican primaries, but voted Democrat in the fall anyway.

I'm sympathetic to those who don't get re-registered in time to vote in a Presidential primary, but I understand why members of other parties should not be allowed to vote in our primaries. That being said, I have no problem allowing Independents to vote in our primary. My preferred method would just allow same-day registration. You can show up and register with the party you want to vote in that primary.

I do have to admit that I once voted for an Independent for an important office, but not President. They got 8% of the vote and Democrat easily beat the Republican anyway. I made that vote because the Democrat in question had disavowed some core progressive principles in the pursuit of conservative votes. I have also voted for Republicans in local and state races in the rare case they were the better candidates, but this is rare. The problem with living in a state with an often weak Democratic Party is that sometimes the nominees are even more reprehensible than the Republicans. One time the Democratic nominee for Congress in a district I lived in was somebody who was even more conservative than the Republican.

[PufPuf23]

14. Old enough to join the military but not old enough to vote.

Thank you 26th Amendment of 1971.

I registered for Draft in January 1971 with the expectation to do a non-religious CO and alternative service.

Got over 300 on draft lottery.

Registered to vote in 1972 and voted McGovern in general POTUS election 1972.

I have registered and voted Democratic ever since except registered GOP to vote for John Anderson in the 1980 California primary, a negative vote against Reagan.

I expect Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic candidate and to win POTUS.

Also expect Democratic Party members will be looking to primary Hillary Clinton in 2020 should Clinton be elected POTUS.

Hillary Clinton has almost no likelihood of being transformative and effective as a POTUS when compared to POTUS Obama.

So I agree with this: "

Why do I vote for Democrats? Because we do better, locally, statewide, and nationally when Democrats are in power. It's that simple."

[MineralMan]

16. Yes. I was 19 when I joined the USAF, and not eligible to

vote. As soon as I was, though, I registered in my home town in California. We're some of the last of those who couldn't vote at 18.

[closeupready]

17. I will say, when I first came to New York - before the internet took off -

I found that it was quite difficult for me to find out the process of getting registered here as a voter. I mean, I consider myself more informed than the typical person, but I'm no genius at this stuff. Being a place traditionally of heavy immigration, can you imagine how much more difficult it would be for someone whose native tongue was not English?

Anyway, the internet makes this so much easier, but it still seems like authorities here wish to obfuscate the process so as to keep voter turnout low. Because only years later did I figure out that keeping it low is PRECISELY what you'd want to do if you were an incumbent: a low turnout favors the status quo, i.e., incumbents.

So while they put on a friendly face and SAY people should get involved, they really don't help newcomers as much as they could, seems to me.

[Lucinda]

19. KNR