Primary Elections For Indiana Libertarians

I have documented at some length about my manner of 'voting' in Indiana's primary elections, wherein I would go to my precinct, sign the book, and walk out. This caused some amusing confusion among election workers, as they couldn't fathom how I didn't want either an R or D ticket.

Ok, in my precinct, they really couldn't fathom how I didn't want a Republican ticket.

I would ask for the non-partisan school board ballot. If there was none, I signed the book and left. If there was one, I would vote accordingly.

No more. The non-partisan school board elections have been shifted from the primary to the general election this year. Municipal issues will also be added to the general election ballot. There is no possible non-partisan voting at the primaries. I'm not complaining. I called for this back in 2006, in the hopes that the school board elections would see more voters, and the private partisan business nature of the primaries would be laid bare and eventually lead to their elimination

I found out about the changes when I went to vote early. It dawned on me that I would be out West on primary election day, so I went to my county seat of Noblesville to do my usual 'sign the book and run' voting. There was the usual confusion at my insistence that I was neither an R or D. Couldn't I just sign the book and go? No- the books aren't at the county for the early voting.

In Hamilton County, Kathy Richardson is the Elections Administrator, and also a member of the Indiana House. I went over to her office to confirm that there really was nothing for me this time around. She confirmed it. We discussed the perjury laws associated with the process, and in her opinion, it would be a perjury this year for one to sign the book and walk out, acknowledging that I used to do this in the past, and it was not an act of perjury then.

I looked at the Secretary of State's website, and found a lengthy pdf file with everything anyone wanted to know about the primary elections- except the bit about the non-partisan school board races being moved to the general election. It takes to Pg 20 before you even get to who is being voted upon.

More than ever now, the primary elections are the private business of the Republican and Democratic Parties, being held at public expense. I object to this, and am proud that the Libertarian Party nominates its candidates at conventions that it funds itself, without tax dollars.

I've heard some discussion about the Rs & Ds doing likewise, with the inevitable rejoinder that it would lead to party insiders picking the candidates.

Got news for you. In 2010, primary turnout in Indiana was only 21%. The people going to the primaries to pull a partisan ballot are largely party insiders. Certainly, the parties themselves treat primary voters that way. If you vote for the same party 3 primaries in a row, never wonder why that party and its candidates hit you up with regularity in their fundraising efforts. The primary voter rolls are where they grab those names from.

Still, a worthy debate to be had. In the meantime, no voting for partisan Libertarians to do.

More Podcasts Posted

Been ripping out the podcasts of late, ahead of the trip out west.

This Podcast Could Be Your Life #19: Part 2 of my interview with Andrew Lee, and a radio clip from June 1991. Andrew & I talk about ideologically driven radio vs market-driven, and podcasting & new media.

This Podcast Could Be Your Life #20: Pre-LP Convention spiels, endorsement of Mark Rutherford for LNC Chair, explaining my role as Floor Whip for Rutherford, audio clip of Gary Johnson speaking at 2002 Convention in Indianapolis

Click here to find the entire archive.

All Hail The Marxist Libertarians!

The Libertarian party always seems to be taking one step forward, then either one step back, or perhaps sideways. The latest insider battle leaves me shaking my head.

There is a minimum charge of $94 to attend the business meeting of the Libertarian Party's National Convention.

Maybe Karl Marx has simply won. TANSTAAFL is an acronym for the phrase attributed to Robert Heinlein, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch". This was adapted very early in the Libertarian Party's life as a slogan. The radicals have been arguing that the LP has been moving away from principle and core beliefs in order to accommodate those weak on core philosophy. Ok, radicals- Are you lining up for your free lunch? Who really is moving away from principle? If you can't live it in something as minor as a $94 floor fee, why can you be trusted to lead a political party by principles, or bigger yet, be elected to office and abide by those principles?

These things cost money to put on, so who should pay for it other than the people who attend? I mean, should the LNC be redistributing wealth? From each according to his ability to pay, to each according to their need?

The crazy thing is, the ones screaming about this measly sum are the so-called radical Libertarians. These are the folks who demand litmus test purity... and they don't measure up themselves.

Yes sir- should be an interesting time in Vegas!