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PRIMARY ELECTION ISSUE #1 of 4

In This Issue:
Mail Ballots Arriving Before You Know It ..1
Verify Your Voting Status Now! .................. 1
Voting ID .................................................... 1
Civics 101 .................................................... 1
Introduction ........................................................ 2
Primaries, Nonpartisan
And General Elections ............................... 2
What Is A Primary? .................................. 2
What Is A Closed Primary? ....................... 2
What Is A Straw Poll? ................................ 2
How To Join A Party ..................................3
Non-Partisan Elections ..............................3
General Elections ........................................4
Why Vote On The First Tuesday? ...............4
The Republicans Must Win Florida ...........4
What It Means To Be A Democrat .............4
A Letter From Congressman Deutch .........5
The 10 Worst Republican Actions Of 2011 .6
Offices Up For Election 2012 .......................7
Citizens United vs. FEC ...............................8
June 10, 2012 SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYONE Number 14
Mai l Bal l ot s Ar r i vi ng
Bef or e You Know I t !
Mail ballots are due in the mail to you between
July 10 and July 17. That gives you less than one
month to decide who to pick for the 16 races which
will appear on your ballot.
Your local Democratic Clubs are preparing Can-
didate Forums in June and July. You can get to
listen to, meet, and ask question of candidates if
you attend these meetings.
Be sure to look at the chart of Offices Up For
Election on page 7.
Ver i f y Your Vot i ng St at us Now !
Check to make sure the Supervisor of Elections
office has your voter registration and mail ballot
request. Registration.elections.myflorida.com/
CheckVoterStatus or 1-866-868-3321.
Vot i ng I D
When you go to vote, you will need an acceptible
ID with a picture. If you do not have one, we urge
you to vote by mail--no ID and no picture are re-
quired.
If your picture ID and your voter registration sig-
natures are not exactly the same (such as middle
initial on one and not on the other) your ID may
be challenged and you may have a problem voting
at the polls.
Ci vi c s 101
In case youve forgotten what you were exposed
to in your high school civics class with much
appreciation to the League of Women Voters of
Palm Beach County (www.lwvpbc.org)you may
nd what follows on page 2 informative.
2
What I s A Pr i mar y?
When two or more individuals in either the Repub-
lican or Democratic Party qualify as candidates for
elected office, the Supervisor of Elections holds a
primary to determine the partys candidate for the
General Election. Primaries are held ten weeks be-
fore the general election.
The candidate with the highest number of votes in
the Primary goes on to represent the party in the
General Election.
What I s A Cl osed Pr i mar y?
Florida has closed primaries which means only
registered Republicans can vote in the Republican
Primary; only registered Democrats in the Demo-
cratic Primary. Crossover voting is not permitted.
Therefore you must register as a Republican or
Democrat to vote for candidates in your respec-
tive party primary.
You may declare or change your party affiliation
if it is done at least 29 days before a primary elec-
tion.
Important: If all candidates for an office have
the same party affiliation and the winner will
have no opposition in the general election, then
all qualified voters, regardless of party affiliation,
may vote in the primary for that office.
After the primary, if there is only one candidate
for an elected office, that person is automatically
elected and his or her name will not appear on the
ballot.
What I s A St r aw Pol l ?
A straw poll is an informal opinion survey. The
term straw poll is thought to have come from
an 1800s American farmland practice of tossing
straws in the wind to test wind direction. By the
1820s, some American newspapers included a
straw poll that informally surveyed public opinion
as a way of testing the direction of the political
winds.
I nt r oduc t i on
One of the most baffling things about coming
to Floridaor coming of age in Floridacan be
learning enough about its government so you can
vote wisely.
Who is eligible to vote? What are the procedures
for voting in a primary?
How do I know which representatives and state
senators I can vote for? What is the role of a County
Commissioner? What are the responsibilities of
the Palm Beach County School Board?
These are some of the questions you may have as
you prepare to cast your first vote.
Or perhaps youve lived in Florida all your life but
have questions about Florida government and
recent changes that you may have found confusing.
Pr i mar i es, Nonpar t i san
And Gener al El ec t i ons
Registered voters may vote in a variety of elec-
tions. The most common types are described here.
In the spring of each year, most municipalities
hold nonpartisan elections. In compliance with
Florida regulations, elections on referenda and
special elections to fill unexpired terms may be
called at any time.
For information including voter registration,
election dates, early voting, precincts, Supervisor
of Elections, information on absentee ballots, and
early voting may be had by phoning the Florida
Division of Elections office at Voter Assistance
Hotline (in English and Espaol) Toll Free 1-866-
868-3321 or on line at www.pbcelections.org
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm EST. The toll
free Voter Hotline number for people using TTY is
1-800-955-8771.
Voters must be registered at least 29 days before
an election, to vote in that election. Registration
by mail must be postmarked at least 29 days be-
fore the election.
New Fox Mot t o:
We Di st or t , You Compl y.
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Whats the difference between a caucus
and a primary?
A caucus is a meeting arranged by either a political
or state party. Caucuses are different because only
registered voters can participate. For instance, the
Iowa caucus will only have registered Republican
voters in Iowa voting. A primary is a direct,
statewide process of selecting candidates and
delegates. There are two kinds of primaries: an
open primary means all registered voters can vote
for any candidate, regardless of political party
affiliation. This also means that Independents
can participate as well. However, a closed primary
only allows voters to vote for candidates of the
party they belong to.
Whats the Iowa straw poll?
The Iowa straw poll takes place in Ames, Iowa at a
fundraising dinner for the Iowa Republican party.
Candidates who pay a $15,000 minimum to set
up a tent at the venue also have the opportunity
to give a short speech. If a candidate does not set
up a tent, they cannot make a speech. Matt Riffe,
Constitution Daily
How To Joi n A Par t y
You can declare your party affiliation when you
register to vote. If you choose not to join a party,
you should check No Party Affiliation on your
Voter Registration Application. Remember, since
you are not registered as either a Republican or
Democrat, you may not vote in the Republican
Primary or the Democratic Primary.
Important: Do not check Independent on your
Voter Registration Application. This indicates a
minor political party in Florida (the Independent
Party).
Nonpar t i san El ec t i ons
In a nonpartisan race, candidates do not identify
themselves with a party label, such as Democratic,
Republican, Independent, and so on. Nonpartisan
candidate elections are held in conjunction with
the primary election. All voters regardless of party
affiliation may participate in the nonpartisan can-
didate elections.
So yes, Ri ck Sant or um. Yes,
Mi t t Romney. Yes, Paul Ryan
and Republ i c an pol i t i c i ans
al l over t hi s nat i on. You ar e
r i ght , as r i ght as you ve ever
been. Ther e i s a mor al c r i si s
i n t hi s c ount r y. A hor r i f yi ngl y,
bac k -br eak i ng, bank r upt -
t he-c or e-of -t hi s-nat i on st yl e
c r i si s. But i t i snt women
or t he poor or t he mi ddl e
cl ass or t he gay c ommuni t y
or heal t h-c ar e advoc at es or
envi r onment al i st s t hat ar e
c ausi ng i t .
I t s you.
In a nonpartisan race when there are three or more
candidates and no one receives over 50% of the
vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes
will advance to the General Election for a runoff
in November.
Examples of nonpartisan elections include:
Palm Beach County School Board
Constitutional Officers (Presidential election
years):
Property Appraiser, Sheriff, and Supervisor of
Elections
Circuit Court and County Court judges
Retention of Supreme Court Justices and
Appellate Court Judges
If you are unsure whether there are contests or
issues for which you are eligible to vote, call the
Florida Department of Elections at 1-866-868-
3321 or on line at www.pbcelections.org Monday
- Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm EST.
4
county seat in order to vote, Monday was not con-
sidered reasonable since many people would need
to begin travel on Sunday. This would, of course,
have conflicted with Church services and Sunday
worship.
Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday?
Lawmakers wanted to prevent election day from
falling on the first of November for two reasons.
First, November 1st is All Saints Day, a Holy Day
of Obligation for Roman Catholics. Second, most
merchants were in the habit of doing their books
from the preceding month on the 1st. Apparently,
Congress was worried that the economic success
or failure of the previous month might prove an
undue influence on the vote!
The Democ r at s Must Wi n Fl or i da
There are a handful of ways we Democrats can
win the Presidency . . . but theres no way the
Republicans can win the Presidency without
winning Florida. Thats been true since Calvin
Coolidge. Expect a huge number of shenannigans
by Republicans in 2012: causing disruptions at the
polls to try to make Democrats get discouraged
and go home before voting. Dont let them get to
you!
What I t Means To Be A Democ r at
Democrats come from all areas of the country, all
backgrounds, and all walks of life, but we share
beliefs and values that help shape a strong state
and nation.
Democrats believe in:
Equal opportunity for all.
Rewarding honest, hard work with a living
wage and a fair tax system.
Family values that are more than a political
slogan.
Quality education that gives all children an
opportunity to reach their potential.
Ther e' s somet hi ng si c k
about a pol i t i c s t hat t el l s
c hi l dr en t o gi ve up t hei r
l unch money so t hat
bi l l i onai r e spec ul at or s
c an avoi d payi ng t ax es.
And t hat si ck ness w i l l
onl y be c ur ed by a new
pol i t i c s. John Nichols
Gener al El ec t i ons
General elections are held the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November, in even numbered
years. This is primarily the election for national,
state and county offices.
Amendments to the Florida Constitution and lo-
cal referenda may also appear on the General
Election ballot. In November 2012, there are 11
amendments to vote on.
In a General election, all registered voters may
vote for any candidate or question on the ballot
regardless of party affiliation
Why Vot e On The Tuesday Af t er
The Fi r st Monday?
Why did Congress (in 1845) select the first Tues-
day after the first Monday in November as Elec-
tion Day?
The Answer:
For much of our history, America was a predomi-
nantly agrarian society. Law makers therefore took
into account that November was perhaps the most
convenient month for farmers and rural workers
to be able to travel to the polls. The fall harvest
was over, (remember that spring was planting
time and summer was taken up with working the
fields and tending the crops) but in the majority
of the nation the weather was still mild enough to
permit travel over unimproved roads.
Why Tuesday? Since most residents of rural
America had to travel a significant distance to the
Elections have consequences
VOTE!
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Rubi os Cont r ac ept i on Pl an
In response t o Presi dent Obamas
deci si on t hat al l women shoul d
have access t o cont racept i on, free
of cost , Senat or Rubi o i nt roduced a
bi l l t hat woul d l et any organi zat i on,
rel i gi ous or not , si dest ep t hi s
r ul e, put t i ng a womans access t o
cont racept i on at t he whi m of her
empl oyer. Hi s sol ut i on for women
who st i l l woul d l i ke i t ? Pay for i t
t hemsel ves, or f i nd somew her e
el se t o wor k.
Freedom from government interference in our
private lives.
Fairness and equality for all Americans,
regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual
orientation.
Security in our homes, safety in our streets,
and a strong national defense.
Strengthening our economy in ways that benefit
everyone, not just the wealthiest among us.
Supporting government programs that help
societys most vulnerable.
Separation of Church and State to preserve the
freedom to pursue our beliefs.
Protecting our environment.
A voting system that is fair for every American
and ensures that every vote counts.
A government that is respected at home and
abroad.
A strong United States - morally, economically,
and militarily.
Democrats believe in government that works!
A Let t er From Congressman Ted Deut ch
Dear Friends,
It is no wonder that approval ratings
for Congress sank to record lows
in 2011. During a time of unprec-
edented long term unemployment
and economic hardship across the
country, Americans expect results
from their leaders. Yet throughout
this past year, Americans only saw
the Republican majority in the House of Repre-
sentatives block jobs bills and instead jeopar-
dize our entire economy by threatening a default
on our debt, government shutdowns, and tax hikes
on the middle class.
Partisan brinksmanship and obstructionism may
help Republicans score political points with the
Tea Party, but a no-jobs agenda does nothing for
our economy. continued
Included among the jobs bills blocked by
Republicans in 2011 are:
A bipartisan trade bill passed in the U.S.
Senate to create 1 million new jobs by
holding China accountable for manipulating
its currency and unfairly disadvantaging
American businesses in the global economy.
An initiative included in President Obamas
American Jobs Act to put construction
workers, engineers, maintenance staff,
electricians and other Americans back to
work renovating 35,000 of our nations most
outdated and decrepit public schools.
An expansion of the Research and Develop-
ment Tax Credit to incentivize the private sec-
tor to continue driving innovation in America
through renewable energy, technological ad-
vances, and cutting-edge scientific research.
The creation of a National Infrastructure
Bank to leverage private capital in support
of energy upgrades, telecommunications
installations, transit projects, and other high
impact, job-creating infrastructure projects
that give American businesses a competitive
advantage in the global economy.
The list of missed opportunities goes on and on.
When Congress reconvenes this January, I hope
we seize the opportunity to start the year with a
renewed focus on our economy.
With every New Year comes a chance for a fresh
start. In 2012, we cannot afford to let our economy
take a backseat to Republicans partisan games.
Kind regards,
Congressman Ted Deutch
Poverty is not...a cultural
aberration or a character flaw.
Pover ty i s a shor tage of
money.
--Barbara Ehrenreich, Truthout
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The 10 Wor st
Republ i c an Ac t i ons of 2011
I couldnt choose just one. Can you?
Seems like these days everyones making Top
10 lists. Heres my compilation of the 10 Worst
Republican Actions of 2011. Which do you think
is the worst?
1. Bring Back Pre-Existing Conditions:
Health care reform is one of President
Obamas signature achievements. No longer
can children born with health conditions be
denied insurance. No longer can insurance
companies deny care for pre-existing
conditions. About 2.5 million young adults
who lacked health
insurance now are
covered by their
families plans. So what
did Republicans do? Try
to repeal Obamacare
and put control back in
the hands of insurance
companies.
2. Kick Grandma Off
Medicare & Give Her a
Coupon: Republicans
all lined up in favor of
Republican Rep. Paul
Ryans extreme budget
plan earlier this year
that would kill Medicare
as we know it and turn
it into a voucher pro-
gram. Thank goodness
the Democratic Senate was there to stop them
and keep our promise to seniors.
3. Hand Over Cash to Corporations and
the Wealthy: Another part of Paul Ryans
plan: Give huge tax cuts to corporations and
the wealthy. While the middle class struggles
to get ahead, Republicans tried to make things
worse by reducing taxes on the wealthiest -
and sticking everyone else with the bill.
4. Rip Away Workers Rights: When Republicans
won the governorships in Wisconsin and Ohio,
among other states, one of the first things they
did was go after public workers, including taking
away the rights of teachers and prison guards to
bargain for better pay and benefits. Bad move.
They clearly overstepped their bounds, and voters
will remember at the ballot box in 2012.
5. Prevent You From Voting: Republicans
this year decided that when it comes to
elections, if you cant beat, then cheat. From
Florida to Wisconsin to Ohio, Republicans
passed laws that will have the effect of
suppressing Democratic turnout in these
crucial swing states. The Brennan Center for
Justice estimates that more than 5 million
voters will be affected by these laws - a
number higher than the margin of victory in
the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
Senate Democrats are holding hearings on
the Florida laws in January.
6. Declare War on Women: It was bad
enough that Republicans tried to eliminate
funding for Planned
Parenthood and other
family planning programs.
Then they tried to change
federal law to redefine
rape and to allow hospitals
to deny lifesaving care for
pregnant women. So much
for the Republican promise
to have a laser focus on
jobs. The Republican War
on Women is alive and well.
7. Shove Gay Soldiers
Back Into the Closet: It
was a huge victory for civil
rights and basic human
dignity when President
Obama signed the repeal of
Dont Ask, Dont Tell into
law. Finally, all Americans
could serve openly in the military. Or not.
This year, Republicans tried to bring back
the policy, and some Republican presidential
candidates have said reinstituting
discrimination is one of their top policy
priorities.
8. Launch Assaults on Sesame Street
and Lake Wobegon: I dont know what
Republicans have against Big Bird and
Garrison Keillor, but they will do almost
anything to shut off their microphones. In
fact, earlier this year, Republicans vowed to
shut down the federal government if NPR
and PBS werent defunded. Luckily, Senate
Democrats were there to stop the nonsense,
and Sesame Street and A Prairie Home
Companion were given a reprieve - for now.
Amer i c ans t ypi c al l y
under est i mat e t he ex t ent
of pover t y and i nequal i t y
i n our c ount r y. Rec ent
c ensus dat a suggest s t hat
al most 50% of Amer i c ans
ar e i n pover t y or at a l ow
i nc ome l evel . Anyone t r yi ng
t o mai nt ai n a househol d i n
w hi ch 97% of t hei r ear ni ngs
go t o essent i al ex penses
under st ands t he r eal i t y.
Paul Buchheit For Buzzflash At Truthout
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9. Let Consumers Fend For Themselves:
One of the most important reforms passed
by Democrats in decades was the creation of
the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
to prevent big banks from ripping off their
customers with dangerous financial products
- some of the same products that contributed
to the Great Recession. But Republicans
hate anything that puts customers ahead of
corporations. So theyve fought the bureau -
and people chosen to lead it - tooth and nail.
OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION 2012
Palm Beach County, Florida
10. Increase Taxes for Middle Class Families:
And last but certainly not least, this week House
Republicans refused to support tax relief for
the middle class, even as they demand it for
billionaires and huge corporations. If your
taxes go up next year, youll have nobody but
Republicans to blame.
The Democratic Senate has been the firewall
stopping most of these measures dead in their
tracks.
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Authorized and Paid for by the Palm Beach County Democratic Party
Absent ee Bal l ot Request s
Made Bef or e Januar y 1, 2011
Have Now Ex pi r ed
To get your absent ee bal l ot :
By Phone: Right now, before you forget,call your
Florida Supervisor of Elections at 1-866-308-
6739 and request an absentee ballot for all the
elections through 2014. Your vote is important!
On the Web: You may also find your Supervisor
of Elections at: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/
SOE/supervisor_elections.shtml
Verify Your Voting Status Now!
registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus
Avoid Floridas New Voter Suppression Laws.
VOTE FROM HOME
The Democ r at i c Vot er
www.PBCDemocraticParty.org
561-433-1112
Editor: Dan Isaacson
Assistant Editors: Robin Blanchard, Allen Robbins,
Nancy Morse
The Democr ati c Voter is a Voter Education
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Show them, or email them, a copy and urge
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Call 561-340-1486
Send contributions to:
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Lake Worth FL 33467
Elections 2012
Mark Your 2012 Calendar!
Primary Election
Primary Election Day:
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Mail Ballots Arrive About July 10
General Election
General Election Day: Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Ar e You One Of The 78% Who Ar e
Not Fami l i ar Wi t h The Supr eme
Cour t Case: Ci t i zens Uni t ed vs.
Feder al El ec t i on Commi ssi on
In the 2010 US Supreme Court case, Citizens
United v. Federal Election Commission, the
judges narrowly ruled (5 to 4) that corporations
were "people" with First Amendment free speech
rights.
The result of this judgment is that corporations,
as "persons," have the right to contribute
unlimited funds to political campaigns as an
exercise of their free speech.
79% Of Americans Want To Overturn That
Decision. On the one-year anniversary of the
landmark decision, a survey conducted by Hart
Research found that only 22 percent of American
voters were even familiar with the Citizens United
case. However, the same study showed that 79
percent of Americans were in favor of passing an
amendment to overturn the decision and clarify
that corporations should not have the same rights
as people.
Requirements For An Amendment. An amend-
ment to the US Constitution requires a two-thirds
supermajority in both the House and Senate and
ratification by three-quarters of state Legislatures
or to call for a Convention of the US Legislature by
two-thirds of the state Legislatures, followed by rati-
fication of the amendment by three-quarters of the
states.