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March 4, 2008

Primary: Voters urged to keep 'disaffiliated' receipt

Always keep the receipt.

That’s what a handful of voters in West Warwick and a few dozen voters in Coventry learned today when they showed up to polling stations across the state to cast ballots in the presidential primary. There, they found out they were registered in an opposing party and unable to change their affiliation to vote.

The only recourse they had would be to reproduce an change of party affiliation affidavit -- a half sheet of yellow paper every voter receives when they disaffiliate.

Rather than any significant mechanical problems, several other Rhode Island voters today reported the problem of disaffiliation cropping up. They said that although they had disaffiliated, they were given a Democratic or Republican ballot when they arrived at the polls today. Chris Barnett, spokesman for Secretary of State Ralph Mollis, said earlier today that he had heard of a few such instances, and added that people may have forgotten to disaffiliate or switch parties after voting in the 2006 general election.

Check you voter registration and affiliation status online.

In either case, if a voter believes there’s an error in his or her affiliation, or is not showing on registration rolls, residents can always cast a provisional ballot, which can be added to the count once registration information is verified.

“That’s why we give them the receipt,” said Francis Perry, chairman of the board of canvassers in Coventry. “I know two years is a long time to save a piece of paper. I’m the same way. You don’t [think you need to] keep every receipt until you need it. Then, you think ‘why didn’t I keep that or carry it with me?’”

For the most part, voting went smoothly in West Warwick and Coventry, with midday tallies dwarfing vote totals in previous years. But for those voters who challenged their affiliation, the choice was simple: either vote using the ballot of their registered party, fill out a provisional ballot, or don't vote.

Some voters, like Sara Wye of West Warwick, chose not to vote.
“I’d say I’ve lived in Rhode Island for 35 years and I disaffiliate every time I vote,” she said. “It’s as automatic to me as voting. I’m not very happy.”

She'd gone home to search for her affidavit but gave up after she couldn't find it. She refused to vote on the Republican ballot and the concept of submitting a provisional ballot left her cold.

Provisional ballots are normally only counted after the regular election, which leaves many voters with the impression their vote does not count. But unaffiliated voters who produced their affidavit at the polling station, were assured their votes would be counted, Perry said.

-- Journal staff writer Talia Buford and projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:35 PM | Permalink

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