Democratic Primaries

BlueMTexpat

(15,485 posts) Wed Mar 25, 2020, 04:11 AM Mar 2020

If only we ALL resided in good blue states!

I saw that Sanders won the Democrats Abroad Global Primary. But I, for one, did not vote in the GP.

As an American Abroad who also pays taxes in the state of Maryland, I have the option to participate in the regular state vote by absentee ballot. Since I cannot vote in two primaries - at least not legally - I most often choose to vote the state ballot so that I have input in state and local elections, which are every bit as, if not more, important than the federal elections.

It is not only the people at the top who can make differences AND we need to encourage all local Democrats.

When last in the US, I registered for a MD absentee ballot. Two weeks ago, I received the ballot by email, with instructions for how to vote.

As you know, MD, even with a GOP Governor, is a good blue state and is taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously. So yesterday, I received the email message below:

...
Last week, Maryland’s Governor announced changes to upcoming elections in Maryland in response to COVID-19. These changes are:

The special general election for the 7th Congressional District will be conducted by mail. Ballots must be postmarked no later than April 28th.

The presidential primary election originally scheduled for April 28th is moved to June 2nd

You previously asked for an absentee ballot for these elections, and we have sent it to you.

If you have already sent back your ballot, don’t worry. We will count your vote for the special general election for the 7th Congressional District in April and safely store your votes for the presidential primary election until June. Your votes for the presidential primary election will be counted in June.

If you have not yet sent back your ballot, please vote all of the contests you wish to vote for and mail back all the pages of your voted ballot. It must be postmarked on or before April 28th and received by May 8th for your vote for the special general election for the 7th Congressional District (the last contest on the ballot) to be counted. We encourage you to mail it as soon as possible. When we receive your ballot, we will count your vote for the special general election for the 7th Congressional District in April and safely store your votes for the presidential primary election until June. Your votes for the presidential primary election will be counted in June.
...

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If your state does not make it as easy to vote as MD does, this is something that you can and should be working very hard to change there, beginning right now.

It is not only Presidential or Congressional elections that make differences.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden