Is this what you think, and say? “If you’re not registered as a Democrat, then you can’t vote in county elections.” Many (still) say this because it used to be the case. Why? Most candidates who ran in local races in Jefferson County ran as a Democrat, therefore if you weren’t registered as a Democrat then you couldn’t vote in the Primary Election races. It’s time candidates, and voters, affiliate with the party that best corresponds with their values. It’s time to stop using the excuse that one must be a registered Democrat to vote in Jefferson County local races. It is no longer true, and hasn’t been for a while now.
When I was a first-time candidate in 2020 for a local race, I was a registered Republican. I filed and ran as a Republican. I’ll interject this now: one of my biggest pet peeves regarding candidates; they are registered as a Democrat or Republican, yet they file and run as a NPA (No Party Affiliation) Candidate. I find this totally deceptive on their part, trickery, hoping a voter will not know or ignore their actual registered party affiliation. Even the races designated as non-partisan (such as Florida county School Board Member races and Monticello City Council races) in most cases are anything but non-partisan. The candidates themselves almost always are registered as one of the two major parties in Florida, a Democrat or Republican. And as a voter, do you know why candidates run as a NPA candidate rather than how they are actually registered to vote? The NPA’s are automatically on the November General Election ballot, they go through no primary elections, even if there are multiple NPA candidates for a race, where as those registered as a Democrat or Republican do, if there are opponents within a party for a particular race. Rarely is a candidate both registered as a NPA and runs as an NPA, so verify!
Well, this same principle can apply to us, as voters. Are you registered to align with your moral or religious values and convictions, and how you typically vote? This isn’t to say from time to time you vote for candidates that are a different party affiliation than you, you’ve vetted the candidates and decide one is better than another. That’s what we all should be doing, be an informed voter. But, to remain registered as let’s say a Democrat, knowing you rarely vote for a Democrat candidate anymore, because your values no longer align with the party’s platform and voting record, is also deceptive.
While campaigning all over Jefferson County (3,157 addresses to be exact) and meeting voters at their homes, I lost track of how many voters’ first question, after I introduced myself: “What party (affiliation) are you?” My answer, “A Republican.” Many of them then said, “Well I only vote for Republicans anymore.” Since I was working from a voter list, I typically was aware of what party affiliation they were. Often, if they were a registered Democrat, I would ask them, “Then why are you (still) a registered Democrat?” Their answer was almost always the answer to the question I began this letter with.
The trend in Jefferson County has obviously changed, based on election outcomes in the recent past. More Jefferson voters are voting for Republican candidates than Democrat candidates, even though there are more registered Democrats than Republicans on the voter roll in this county (not statewide), although that too has been steadily changing.
According to the Florida Division of Elections website, on June 30, 2018 there were 5,451 registered Democrats, 3,050 Republicans, 1,115 NPAs, and 35 Minor Parties. On November 30, 2021, there were 4,571 registered Democrats, 3,788 Republicans, 1,106 NPAs, and 66 Minor Parties. In 3.4 years, the Republicans have gained 738 registered voters to the Democrats loss of 880.
So, my request to registered voters in our county, register as the party affiliation you typically (most of the time) vote in elections that a line with your values and convictions. And those running as candidates in our county, file and run as the party affiliation to which you are registered. This is the least deceptive, honest thing to do, and will provide transparency for both voters and candidates.
Respectfully,
Lynn Stafford