Sample Ballots, Key Dates, and General Info. for Walton County Aug 26 Election

[Smiling JOe]

I am trying to pass along as accurate information as possible, coming directly from the Walton County Supervisor of Elections Office. Please note any necessary corrections!


Attached are Sample Ballots, Key Dates, and General Info. for Walton County Aug 26, 2008 Election.

Note the differences between the Non-Partisan and Democratic ballots, and the Republican ballots. The Republican Ballots will differ, based on the location of your residence. On the sample ballots, the three voting areas are noted at the lower right corner in a box. The County is divided into three sections -- 1) south of the Bay, 2) north of the Bay, but south of the Choctawhatchee River, and 3) North of the Bay and Choctawhatchee River for the Republican ballots.

In South Walton, the only way you can vote for the offices which I starred on the ballots on the Aug 26, 2008 election --
Representative in Congress (District 2)
Public Defender 1st Judicial Circuit
Sheriff
State Committeeman
State Committeewoman

... is to be registered as a Republican.

That's right :bang: -- the only way to vote for these offices on Aug 26 is to be registered as a Republican. Remember that the last day to switch over your party affiliation for this election is July 28, 2008.


Edit: See Rapunzel's post below for info on voting in Nov, for the Democrat in the Sheriff's race.


(The files are two large to attach to one post. Republican ballots will follow in the next post.)

[Smiling JOe]

here are the Republican sample ballots

[rapunzel]

I am trying to pass along as accurate information as possible, coming directly from the Walton County Supervisor of Elections Office. Please note any necessary corrections!


Attached are Sample Ballots, Key Dates, and General Info. for Walton County Aug 26, 2008 Election.

Note the differences between the Non-Partisan and Democratic ballots, and the Republican ballots. The Republican Ballots will differ, based on the location of your residence. On the sample ballots, the three voting areas are noted at the lower right corner in a box. The County is divided into three sections -- 1) south of the Bay, 2) north of the Bay, but south of the Choctawhatchee River, and 3) North of the Bay and Choctawhatchee River for the Republican ballots.

In South Walton, the only way you can vote for the offices which I starred on the ballots --
Representative in Congress (District 2)
Public Defender 1st Judicial Circuit
Sheriff
State Committeeman
State Committeewoman

... is to be registered as a Republican.

That's right :bang: -- the only way to vote for these offices is to be registered as a Republican. Remember that the last day to switch over your party affiliation for this election is July 28, 2008.


(The files are two large to attach to one post. Republican ballots will follow in the next post.)

The Committeeman and Committeewoman offices are party posts, not elected representative offices. Any election that will be finalized at the primary stage (i.e., only members of one party are running) is deemed universal, and everyone will have the opportunity to vote. Where there is at least one candidate in both parties and the election will be decided in November, then the nominating primary is closed.

People do not, as I understand it, have to switch parties to have a vote in the outcome of the election.

There are Democrats running unopposed within their party for the offices (other than Republican Party Committeeman and Committeewoman) that appear on the Republican but not Democratic ballots, and therefore this is only a Rupublican primary to determine the Republican nominee to challenge Allen Boyd for Congress District 2, Tony Henderson for Public Defender, and Danny Griffith for Sheriff in November.

There are three fine candidates to vote for come November. The only reason to switch parties is if you suddenly decide the other party suits you better. Contrary to popular rumor, no one will be disenfranchised due to party affiliation in the state of Florida!

[jdarg]

"Florida is a closed primary state. If you wish to vote in a Primary Election, you must be registered in the party for which the primary is being held.


However, if all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the General Election, all electors may vote in the Primary Election for that office.


All registered voters may vote for non-partisan candidates and issues." Walton County Supervisor of Elections Guidebook


I'm starting to think we should put this to music!

[DuneLaker]

The SoWal District 5 Commissioners Race will be OVER Aug. 26 with the Primary. Since no Democrat is running, all can vote in this race. However, the Sheriff's race will continue until the November General election. But, only registered Republicans will be able to vote in the Primary among the many Republican candidates vying for this position to face the lone Democrat candidate in the General in November.

[Smiling JOe]

I was just reading today's editorial in the Defuniak Springs Herald and read the Editor's Comment titled, "Universal confusion about voting," and see that yes, there will be much confusion about this local election. Thought I'd come back on hear to try and correct my first post. See Rapunzel's post above for more info on how a registered Democrat can still vote in the Sheriff's race. Thanks Punzy!

So, if you want to be sure to vote against someone in the Sheriff's race, like Ralph Johnson for example, you either need to be registered with the Rep Party, or vote for whomever the Dem is that goes up against in Nov.

It sure would make more sense to have one freaking election where there weren't all of these games with hoops through which we must jump.


As a reminder, on Tues, July 15, at the Freeport High School, there will be a meet the candidates session at 6:00pm.



So where do we see the list of the Dems who are running?

[jdarg]

Here is a list of all races and all candidates (active and inactive).


http://www.voterfocus.com/ws/WScand/candidate_pr.php?c=walton&el=6

Interesting that The only Dem sheriff's race candidate, Danny Griffith, has raised zero money, has nobody discussing him, and should probably have dropped out, if, as the only Dem candidate, he was not going to mount an effective campaign.

While I wish we had a decent Democratic candidate in the race (so I could vote in the primary), I do not pick a sheriff based on political party, and I think there are several more qualified people way ahead of him. Yes, I wish I could vote for one of the Republican candidates, but the sheriff's race is lower on my local politics totem pole than the BCC, and to me it is not worth switching parties for this one race.

The sheriff's race should be non-partisan.:bang:

[Smiling JOe]

jdarg, switching parties is kind of crazy, but if Sheriff Johnson is re-elected, and you didn't vote for a better candidate, you may see more craziness and realize that switching parties might actually have been worth it. I really cannot see the Dems switching parties. Most want nothing to do with the REP party (cannot say I blame them). However, it is definitely worth considering, just to have a someone in that seat who will respect the office. Personally, I don't know who that is, but I know who it shouldn't be, and that might be enough to make even me, join a freaking political party, even if it is just for this election.

[jdarg]

jdarg, switching parties is kind of crazy, but if Sheriff Johnson is re-elected, and you didn't vote for a better candidate, you may see more craziness and realize that switching parties might actually have been worth it. I really cannot see the Dems switching parties. Most want nothing to do with the REP party (cannot say I blame them). However, it is definitely worth considering, just to have a someone in that seat who will respect the office. Personally, I don't know who that is, but I know who it shouldn't be, and that might be enough to make even me, join a freaking political party, even if it is just for this election.

Then do it!

Just voting period is the most important thing!

[wrobert]

Here is a list of all races and all candidates (active and inactive).


http://www.voterfocus.com/ws/WScand/candidate_pr.php?c=walton&el=6

Interesting that The only Dem sheriff's race candidate, Danny Griffith, has raised zero money, has nobody discussing him, and should probably have dropped out, if, as the only Dem candidate, he was not going to mount an effective campaign.

While I wish we had a decent Democratic candidate in the race (so I could vote in the primary), I do not pick a sheriff based on political party, and I think there are several more qualified people way ahead of him. Yes, I wish I could vote for one of the Republican candidates, but the sheriff's race is lower on my local politics totem pole than the BCC, and to me it is not worth switching parties for this one race.

The sheriff's race should be non-partisan.:bang:

The next fundraising period ends on the 18th of July. Reports will be in around the 1st of August. I think you will see a significant difference and Danny's fundraising efforts. I know I have seen him spend quite a bit lately as he ramps up his campaign. Keep in mind his election is in November so he may be waiting until the dust clears on August 26th before doing a lot.

[jdarg]

The next fundraising period ends on the 18th of July. Reports will be in around the 1st of August. I think you will see a significant difference and Danny's fundraising efforts. I know I have seen him spend quite a bit lately as he ramps up his campaign. Keep in mind his election is in November so he may be waiting until the dust clears on August 26th before doing a lot.

Punzy said the same thing and I hope you both are right. Nobody is talking about him. If he is a great candidate, how can we find out?

[wrobert]

The next fundraising period ends on the 18th of July. Reports will be in around the 1st of August. I think you will see a significant difference and Danny's fundraising efforts. I know I have seen him spend quite a bit lately as he ramps up his campaign. Keep in mind his election is in November so he may be waiting until the dust clears on August 26th before doing a lot.

Punzy said the same thing and I hope you both are right. Nobody is talking about him. If he is a great candidate, how can we find out?


I thought he had posted on here. But I see him in town from time to time, plus one of my employees lives next door to him. I will get word to him to come on and introduce himself.

[jdarg]

I did find this...


http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=22283&highlight=danny+griffith