Voting Began Today in Democratic Nomination Process

[tsipple]

No, I'm not talking about the superdelegates.

It's time to retire the "not a single vote has been cast" mantra. Because the voting has started.

In Washington, D.C., in-person absentee voting began today (December 29th). Voters who know they will not be present for the January 13th D.C. primary started voting. Details here:

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1203/115357.html

Tim Cooper, credited with originating the idea for the D.C. primary to highlight the District's lack of voting representation in Congress, cast the first ballot this morning at One Judiciary Square.

Before voting Cooper said, "I will cast my vote on behalf of the Democratic candidate I believe will be the most resolute and the most unwavering in his or her commitment to bringing down the Great Wall of Discrimination that surrounds the people of this city and bars them from enjoying equal representation," continued Cooper. "It is my belief that as DC votes, so will go the nation," he concluded.

Cooper revealed afterwards that he voted for Howard Dean.

[Padraig18]

1. Yay!

:)

[jumptheshadow]

2. Dean has one ballot

Cancel the primaries.

[robbedvoter]

3. The non-binding poll where he's running against himself? Bully for him!

Which HD will win? The one pro-CFR or the one agaist it? The secular HD or the born again? The presumption of innocence HD, of the "kill OBL - he's outrageous HD?' The suspense is killing me!

[tsipple]

4. Voting Tally So Far

Dean: 100%
Everybody Else: 0%

Note that Dean has infinitely more votes than everybody else. Or something like that. (You can't divide by zero.)

On edit: I'd also like to point out that Vermin Supreme, who is on the DC ballot, is expected to get more votes than Wesley Clark, Joe Lieberman, Richard Gephardt, John Kerry, and John Edwards... combined.

[robbedvoter]

6. candidates on ballot: Hd, HD, HD, and of course HD!

Saddam would be proud! Oh, the suspense!

[Padraig18]

7. And why is that?

Last time I heard, no one barred anyone from entering. Guess such an early loss would be sort of a bummer for the other campaigns, huh? :eyes:

[tsipple]

9. Why? Not Appealing to African-Americans, I Guess

Apparently many Democratic candidates -- though not Howard Dean -- had problems appealing to the predominantly African-American electorate in Washington, D.C.

I'm concerned that these candidates chose not to compete in the one part of the country where the African-American electorate dominates. That's certainly not a way to start your campaign for the Democratic nomination, by angering one of its most loyal and vital constituencies.

[Padraig18]

10. Yep!

:)

[chocolateeater]

11. Please do not complain

if your candidate chose not to participate with

[HFishbine]

12. Vermin Supreme?

I made that on a survival trip once.

[tsipple]

13. Thinking of Starting a Petition to Zogby

Many of us feel strongly that Vermin Supreme should be part of Zogby's polls. :7

[jumptheshadow]

14. Poor old Vermin

From his name I would have thought he was a Republican and acquainted with Tom Delay.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

16. So the question remains

why isn't your beloved candidate on the ballot? Oh, I remember, it's because he didn't think that people in D.C. deserve a true primary and a voice in our democratic elections. Smart move, I think. :eyes:

[Ficus]

5. none of these delegates count

right? It's delegates that matter.

[tsipple]

8. Well, Yes and No

DC is a bit complicated. Voting started this morning for the DC primary. The primary is a "beauty contest," meaning that, per Democratic National Committee rules, it cannot be used to select delegates. (Iowa and New Hampshire are protected and, by tradition, have that honor.)

However, real voters get to vote, and it's their first opportunity to do so. (It isn't a "straw poll," in other words.) Also, people attending the DC caucuses early next year will almost certainly reaffirm the primary voting results, so it is influential. And the caucuses select the delegates.

Anyway, the main point is that real voters are now starting to vote. The voting has begun.

[tsipple]

15. Please See This Related Poll Question

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=584014

Vote early, and vote often. :7

[bubba_fett]

17. Vermin Supreme?

I guess you have to live in DC to see that guy...

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/nh102003/vermins.html

[TexasSissy]

18. That's not an official primary. Doesn't count.

Iowa & NH are the first votes. Dean will win NH, of course. It's tight between Dean & Gephardt in Iowa, I believe, but Dean is leading there?

Then the REAL voting starts in February. South Carolina, OK, AZ, WI, and others. It is these states, and on to CA in March, that determine the nominee. (Ask McCain and Tsongas and Harkin and Clinton and others)

[tsipple]

20. Well, Yes and No

See above re: how DC's primary works. It is a real primary -- real voters get to vote, not just some subset (as a straw poll would be). But delegates are not awarded through the DC primary. (That comes later in the DC caucuses.)

Hope that helps clarify.

[Walt Starr]

19. So Howard Dean is in the lead after voting begins!

SWEET!!!!