Elections, Featured, Making Democracy Work For All

Primary Elections – What you need to know

KGNU is partnering with the League of Women Voters of Boulder County on a monthly commentary series called Making Democracy Work for All! which focuses on educating listeners on the workings of state and local government and letting them know how they can get involved at different stages of the political process. This month Susan Saunders takes a look at the 2018 caucuses and primaries.

Primary Elections – What you need to know KGNU News

If you CARE, VOTE; If you’re PAYING ATTENTION, VOTE; If you WANT CHANGE, VOTE; If you DON’T WANT CHANGE, VOTE; If you VALUE YOUR RIGHTS, VOTE;

IF YOU DON’T VOTE, DON’T COMPLAIN!

Why should you vote in the Primary election? You should vote because you can.

Not everyone living in our county has the right to determine who governs their state; who represents them in Congress or the State Legislature; who protects their safety locally; who manages their educations systems; who determines property value, voting procedures, motor vehicle regulations or even their cause of death.

You should vote because this is when and where your individual preferences are recorded. Your candidate may not win election, but she or he cannot win if you don’t actually mark your ballot and return it.

When a candidate wins at least 51% of the ballots voted, but only 50% of the possible ballots were actually voted, it means the elected officials, governing your life, were not selected by the majority, but by just over 25% of the population eligible to vote.

Why would you choose to allow that to happen?

If you don’t vote, you give up your right to complain!

You should vote in the primary election because it is the first step in advancing your preferred candidates to the November ballot so they might win in the General election.

Unaffiliated voters should cast their ballot in the Primary election because they are getting a voice in the election process, as close to its roots as currently possible.

Almost all unaffiliated voters will receive both the Republican and Democratic ballots. They must choose to vote and return only one of the ballots.

The Democratic ballot has competitors in 5 races. The Republican ballot has competitors in 2 races. The winners of these races in the Primary election, will appear on the ballot in November’s General election, competing with candidates of all parties.

In Colorado you can register to vote up to and including Election Day, June 26.

You can do this online, anytime, or in person at the Clerk & Recorder’s offices – during business hours. Beginning June 18, you can register and vote at Voter Service and Polling Centers listed on the Clerk’s website.

Assistance in Spanish is available at www.BoulderCountyVotes.org or 303-413-7740

Every voter should exercise the right to vote by marking and returning their ballot.

Unaffiliated voters should exercise their right by marking and returning only 1 ballot.

Registering to vote shows good intention. It is said the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Take the other road – Vote 1 ballot and return it.