« Primary: In Richmond, a turnout like no other | Today | Primary: Supporting their candidates at the polls »

September 12, 2006

Primary: Cranston low on disaffiliation forms

The city of Cranston is running low on voter disaffiliation forms, even after the state sent more forms today, according to the city's Canvassing Department.

When unaffiliated voters cast ballots in a party primary, they automatically become registered with that party. If they want to remain unaffiliated, thet must fill out a disaffiliation form when they leave the polls. (They can also legally do it later by going to City Hall, but who needs the bother?)

Maria Madonna, a clerk for Cranston's Canvassing Department, said that people are not disaffiliating in unusually high numbers, but that the state Board of Elections did not send enough of the forms.

"I don't agree with that," said Robert Kando, executive director of the state board. He said each polling place got 100 disaffiliation forms, the same as any election. He also said that any community running low on forms can call the state for more.

"We've sent out, I think, 1,000 or 1,500 extra forms to the Cranston Board of Canvassers," he said. "There's really plenty of forms."

So why does Kando think Cranston is running low?

"Probably because people are disaffiliating at a greater rate than anticipated."

-- Journal staff writer Paul Edward Parker

Posted by Jack Perry  at 12:04 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)