Voting Principles 101... (I have not made up my mind, so please DON'T try to sway my decision in your reply,)

Question

I am a registered voter (but I'm NOT going to disclose which party I am for or against, so I will keep my question as generalized as I can), but what I am wanting to know is...

When I cast my ballot for the November, 2008 Presidential Elections, if I decide to go with someone outside my registered party, will my vote count for that person I decide to choose or not? How does this sort of a decision work (by that, I mean, I know that there are a certain number of delegates who are from each state, but who are these people and how are they selected to be a delegate)?

I have been a voter for a number of years, but I really never fully understood exactly how the process of voting worked.

(All I ask with your response to my question is that you DON'T ask me what party I am with and DON'T SPAM ME TO DEATH WITH ANY POLITICAL PROPAGANDA OF WHO I SHOULD VOTE FOR!!!...THANKS.)

Answer 1

HHHmmm, good question. I don't think it matters what party your classified with in your registration info. I think a vote is still valid as long as it's cast...I believe delegates are state official & people who have previously run for certain offices

Answer 2

Political parties use the primaries to get rid of potential candidates who are unlikely to win power.

They have various rules that attempt to accomplish that at the convention. Each party has the ability to ignore candidates who got the most delegates if the candidate  commits some gaffe that makes delegates think they will be unelectable or worse.

After the convention,  delegates stop being so important. and what you are choosing is electoral college seats. This time your vote is not based on what party you are registered for. Within the Nov election your party affiliation is unknown so you can vote any way you choose, but of course you do not have as many candidates to choose from.

It may be more important to think carefully about congress now.

Answer 3

The delegates are for the primaries not the general election in Nov. You can vote for who ever you want regardless of party affiliation.

In the general election it is based on who the people of each state vote for President, then each state sends their electors to vote for President. The electors represent the popular vote for their state. The states elect the President not the individuals because we are 50 separate sovereign states.

Answer 4

Delegates are for primaries... electors are for the presidential election.

In most states, the winner of the poular vote decides which electors are sent to actually vote for President.  In some states, electors are legally bound to vote for the person they're told to vote for.  However, I think that in all cases, electors are chosen for loyalty to the candidate... it is VERY rare for an elector to cast a ballot in a manner other than how they're instructed.

I suspect, to beomce an elector, that a person would need to have been active within their party for some time, enough to become known to the state (if not national) party leaders.

How you are registered to vote doesn't matter... Democrat, Republican, third party, or independent.  It's the votes cast that determine who gets sent as electors.