Who Can Vote In The Texas Democratic Primary?—Any Registered Texan!!

(Update 2/15/2010—Just as in 2008, any registered voter can vote in either the 2010 Democratic primary or the 2010 Republican primary. You just have to have been registered one month before the March 2 primary election date. )

This morning I got a question from a Texas Liberal reader about who can vote in the Texas Democratic primary.

This is what the people want to know–Who can vote in the Democratic primary in Texas so that we can have a better Texas and a better America?

Here’s the question that was asked on the blog —

“My husband is registered as an independent but usually votes democratic. He wants to vote in the march 4 primary as a Democrat what must he do?”—Reita A. Troum

Ms. Troum–Not to worry. Any registered Texan can go to the polls and take the party ballot of their choice on Election Day or during early voting. You just have to been registered at least one month before the March 4 Primary Day.

The above picture is of downtown Mineral Wells, Texas.  This community is located in Parker County. Mineral Wells is just one place of the many in Texas where any registered voter can take either party ballot on Primary Day.

Here is the explanation from the office of the Texas Secretary of State—

“If you are a registered voter in the state of Texas, you will simply choose your party and vote in that party’s primary.  To explain, we do not register by party in Texas.  One becomes “affiliated” with a party by voting in a party’s primary and the affiliation lasts for that primary year.  As an example, if a voter voted in the March 2006 primary or April 2006 runoff primary, the voter affiliated with that party for the rest of that year, but on December 31, 2006 the affiliation expired.  The affiliation means that the person may not vote in another party’s primary or participate in another party’s convention or sign an independent candidate’s petition for place on the ballot if the independent candidate’s position appears on the primary ballot.  Note that in the general election in November, a voter may vote for whomever he/she wishes, regardless of how or whether he/she voted in the primary or runoff primary election, since all candidates are on the same ballot.”

This blog supports Barack Obama for President. I feel that hope and imagination are at the core of politics. If we can’t imagine a better future, I don’t believe we can take the needed practical steps to achieve a better future. Policy experts can be hired. The inspiration and energy to enact new policies comes only at certain times and from certain leaders. I feel that Senator Obama in 2008 is the right person at the right time for a better America.

Here is the link for the Barack Obama campaign in Texas.

Here is a post on the caucus to be held by Democrats after the polls have closed.

Texas Liberal is leading the way in political history blogging in 2008.

As G.H.W. Bush Endorses McCain, Here Is Bush’s Poor Record As A Texas Candidate

 

Former President George H.W. Bush has endorsed John McCain for President.

( Story here.  Picture is of Mr. Bush with Dwight Eisenhower.)

Will this endorsement help Senator McCain as he campaigns for the March 4 Texas primary against Mike Huckabee? 

It can’t be taken as a given.

Polls show Mr. McCain and Mr. Huckabee running close in Texas.   

Let’s look at the electoral record for Mr. Bush in Texas going back to 1964.     

In the 1964 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate nomination to run against the great liberal Ralph Yarborough, George Bush needed a run off to win the nomination. He took 44% in the three candidate first round. 

In the 1964 General Election, Senator Yarborough beat Mr. Bush 56%-44%. This even though John Tower had already claimed the other Texas Senate seat for Republicans.

In 1970, Mr. Bush was again the Republican nominee for the Senate. He lost this race to Lloyd Bentsen 54%-46%.

Mr. Bush was next on the Texas ballot in the 1980 Republican primary. Ronald Reagan won 51%-47%.

At the top of the ticket, Mr. Bush did win Texas in 1988 and 1992. Though in 1992 he won his home state with only 40% of the vote against Bill Clinton and Ross Perot. This was the worst showing for a Republican presidential candidate in Texas since 1968. 

In 1992, President Bush finished third in his other home state of Maine. Maine is where the Bush family keeps a second home. Mr. Perot, as well as Mr. Clinton, beat Mr. Bush in Maine in 1992.

The last major party nominee to finish third or worse in a state had been Harry Truman in Alabama in 1948. Though this was because Mr. Truman was not even on the Alabama ballot that year as the forces of Dixiecrat Candidate Strom Trurmond had taken over the Alabama Democratic Party. 

Will Mr. Bush’s endorsement help Mr. McCain in Texas or with conservatives?  

Well, based on these facts and on his lousy 37% national showing as a reelection candidate in 1992, it does not seem that to know Mr. Bush as a public figure is to have have full regard for his views. 

Texas Liberal Is leading the way in political history blogging in 2008.

1000 Views A Day Last Week—Thank You Blog Reading Public

 

A goal I set for Texas Liberal this year was to reach 1000 page views a day. I’ve not reached that goal as of yet over the long haul, but I am glad to report that thanks to readers such as yourself, I did last week hit 1000 views a day for a full week’s time.

I have the goal of 1000 and when I hit that target I’ll set a new goal.

I know some folks place more stock in unique visitors when counting blog traffic. I figure if someone comes to your shop and finds more than one thing of interest, then you have done pretty good with that person. 

All the ways that people count blog traffic have both good points and flaws. I just use my WordPress counter which gives me views and not unique visitors.

In any case, regardless of the traffic, it is good to have a forum with which to communicate and I appreciate all visitors to Texas Liberal.

An additional note–This Thursday I’ll be live-blogging the Democratic debate in Austin between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. I’ll be doing so on this blog and at my space as one of seven featured political bloggers on the Houston Chronicle web page.

The illustration above is of the Ichthyosaur. Here is a good web page with information about this pre-historic sea beast.