Californian Independents Check Your Registration ASAP if You Want to Vote in CA Primary: 500,000 may be improperly registered as members of right wing fringe party

California's Democratic Party allows independents to vote in its upcoming primary. However, roughly half a million California Residents, including celebrities such as Demi Moore, Emma Stone, Sugar Ray Leonard, Kaley Cuoco, and Patrick Schwarzenegger have registered with the American Independent Party (AIM), a previously extreme right wing fringe established back when George Wallace was running for President, apparently over the name confusion between registering a true independent or for this wingnut fringe party.

Apparently “a majority of (AIP) members have registered with the party in error,” as a survey of registered members found that about 73% of members polled did not realize they had joined the party.

The LA Times pollsters concluded that “fewer than 4% could correctly identify their own registration as a member of the American Independent Party.”

People who mistakenly registered as AIP members have only until May 23rd to change their registrations in order to vote in the primary; otherwise they will be blocked from voting. Naturally, the Democratic Secretary of State, a Hillary Clinton supporter, really couldn't care less that up to 500,000 people won't be able to cast their ballots because of the confusion created in California's registration process.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla met this alarming news with a shrug. “My office isn’t in the business of censoring or amending a political party’s name. It’s a very imperfect process,” he said.

Santa Cruz County registrar of voters Gail Pellerin, however, disagrees. “I think the name should be something different. Right now, it’s misleading.”

California residents intending to vote in the Democratic p[arty primary can check their party status at this website. If they registered improperly as AIM members they need to change their registration as soon as possible. Let's not have another voting travesty like Arizona or Bew York, folks.

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featheredsprite's picture

this on facebook and twitter.

Gotta get the word out.

Thanks for the post.

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Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.

voting shouldn't be this difficult.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

yesterday(Sunday) in NoHum, Cali. 400 people showed up on a sunny Mayday to show support for Bernie. The first(and probably only) time I registered for the Democratic Party. If you are UNAFFILIATED you can vote in the Dem primary with no problem.
If you vote by mail, you have, I believe, until the 23rd to request a Democratic ballot. DON'T WAIT THAT LONG! Request one ASAP to ensure your voice is heard!

peace

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Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Bisbonian's picture

because you seem to remember checking some box that said "Independent", then you probably can't vote. AZ, NY, here we come again.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

'In order to vote for Bernie on June 7, you must be a Democrat or 'No Party Preference.'
3 ways to vote in the primary; vote by mail-encouraged.
Early voting at Elections Offic.
In person at the polls June 7th.
May 9th thru June 6th in person early voting @ elections office.
May 23rd is the deadline for registering as a Dem or No party Preference.
May 31st is the LAST DAY to request a mail in ballot. Don't wait that long!
California Berning! In a good way.

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Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Damnit Janet's picture

Colonel Klink - "Where are your paperssssss?"

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"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison

ZimInSeattle's picture

Shared your post to Facebook.

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"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - JFK | "The more I see of the moneyed peoples, the more I understand the guillotine." - G. B. Shaw Bernie/Tulsi 2020

not surprised. Blatant in your face cronyism. They don't even try to hide it anymore...

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to take over that party and make it a true independent party for the 99%.

Really though, are people really that ignorant to think they were registering as independent of a party by registering for a party? My mind boggles.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

edg's picture

I know it's cool to make fun of people for being stupider than you are, but consider this. On the online registration form pertaining to party choices, one option is:

No, I do not want to disclose a political party preference. *
(If you select no, you may not be able to vote for some parties' candidates at a primary election for the U.S. president or party committee.) [Emph. added by EdG]

And the selection list for parties is a tad confusing. As seen in the following screenshot, the first choice is American Independent. It's not unimaginable that people would select that choice thinking it represented Independent.

Cal Reg.png

So if you choose No, the instructions say you may not be able to vote. If you choose Yes to party preference, the first choice is American Independent.

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Ender's picture

Seems pretty clear to me!

I still think that everybody registered with that party should get a letter warning them about what they did. The voter rolls are available to the public. Kickstarter anyone?

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It is true that in Illinois, where you can declare at the time you get the ballot, that many voters think "Independent" means that you get to vote the ballots for both parties.

Considering my experience as an election judge with a butterfly ballot, I guess I can answer my own question, "Yes, they are that stupid." Makes me reconsider some sort of literacy test for voting.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

josb's picture

The different states try different ways to make voting difficult, while feigning token support for democracy under our rulers.

I often wonder why we don't do the adult thing and drop the pretense altogether. For example, why doesn't the DNC just endorse Hillary Clinton and state she's the preferred candidate? It would explain what we see in the media, instead of insulting our intelligence.

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WaveyDavey's picture

No Party Preference. And I'm just itchin' to cast my ballot.

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The people, united, will never be defeated.

Imagine if we could ALL just vote by email after viewing a month of TV debates on cable AND network. No voter IDs, no obscene amounts of money in politics, no waiting in lines, no taking time off from work, no weather catastrophes, no Bill Clinton campaigning with a bullhorn at polling places, no purged voter registrations. Wouldn't that be lovely?

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