Questions about voting

[Gabby]

Ok, as I had stated before I've recently registered to vote as an absentee voter. I've never voted before so I am unfamiliar with procedure. Anyways, the day before yesterday I received two ballots in the mail. One is for the Republican Party and the other for the Democratic Party. I assuming that I only fill in one ballot and not both. Is that correct?

On these ballots there is choices for President, Senator, States Rep, Governor, Secretary of State, ect. Do I have to make a choice in all these votes to make my ballot valid or can I leave some blank or unmarked?

Thanks for your help

[LostSheep]

Gabby, this is a wild guess, because every time I vote I cast my vote in every single office given. But I would think that you can omit votes for certain (or even all) offices, and your vote will simply not get counted for these offices. Your ballot should still be valid.

But, if you care enough to vote, you really should cast your vote for every office given on the ballot.

[nomad]

You have republicans and democrats in Canuckland? :)

Voting is done by county/state and so what is true for one state/county might be different in another. You definitely don't need to cast a vote in every category; only the ones you actually cast will count. But I have no idea why you got two ballots. Even in the primaries most places only let you vote in either the republican or democratic primaries, not both. And usually they choose based on how you registered to vote. That's pretty strange.

[Gabby]

I don't think I put down an affiliation when I registered, that's probably why. But really, what if I like the Democrat for Senator and the Republican for State Auditor?

The problem LostSheep is that I have no idea about any of these people and I can't in good conscience vote for someone I have know idea about. So if that counts as not really caring about my vote, so be it. I've only been following the Presidential stuff. I could probably research those running for Senator but as for the rest......

[nomad]

You can do that (vote different parties). At least in the regular election. You definitely do NOT have to vote a 'straight ticket' (I voted for Republicans, Democrats, and one LIbertarian the last election I voted in).

But on the regular ballot, there's only one candidate from each party. Before that, there are primaries, which are kind of like the playoffs, where the Democrats (for instance) decide who that one person will be from a list of contenders. Those usually are only open to that party (republicans aren't supposed to be meddling in the democrats' primary) and don't even have to held at the same time.

Maybe that's why you got two, but usually if you don't list an affiliation, they don't let you vote in the primaries at all (except for NH, I think). This is in the US at least.

[Gabby]

You can do that (vote different parties). At least in the regular election. You definitely do NOT have to vote a 'straight ticket' (I voted for Republicans, Democrats, and one LIbertarian the last election I voted in).

But on the regular ballot, there's only one candidate from each party. Before that, there are primaries, which are kind of like the playoffs, where the Democrats (for instance) decide who that one person will be from a list of contenders. Those usually are only open to that party (republicans aren't supposed to be meddling in the democrats' primary) and don't even have to held at the same time.

Maybe that's why you got two, but usually if you don't list an affiliation, they don't let you vote in the primaries at all (except for NH, I think). This is in the US at least.

I'm registered to vote in Montana, but maybe it's because I'm voting absentee that they send both ballots?

[nomad]

Looks like you are voting in the primary, not the general election, and that you do get both ballots, you pick which one you want to return at home, and return no more than one.

From the Montana elections website http://sos.mt.gov/eLb/FAQ.asp:

montana secretary of state

The primary election will be held June 3, 2008. The general election will be held November 4, 2008.
[br]...
There is no party registration in Montana. Individuals who vote in a primary election are given all the parties' ballots, and can choose in private which party ballot they wish to vote. They return the voted ballots to an election judge in one sleeve, and the unvoted party ballots in a separate sleeve. Voters in a primary election cannot vote more than one party's ballots.

© source where applicable

Hope this helps!

[Gabby]

Oh! Okie. Thanks nomad!

[Nonobviousness]

I'm in Montana. If you are a republican, they decided to have a binding caucus earlier, it went to Romney. So if you vote republican in the primary, it really doesn't matter. As for voting all offices, do what you want. Voting for what you don't understand is kinda stupid, if you don't know and don't want to vote, dont.

[Gabby]

I agree with ya on the "if you don't know, don't vote".

What part of Montana are you from?

[Nonobviousness]

Near Missoula.

[Gabby]

ah, cool. I used to be from Glendive.

[Nonobviousness]

Aren't you still from Glendive? : )

[Gabby]

I guess so.

[Gabby]

oops,