Reporter: Eric Glasser
Photographer: Gary Russ
Adam Rockoff says he'll still cast a ballot in the January 29th primary election, but he's angry that his, and thousands of other votes, may be cast aside at the national conventions this year when each party nominates its candidate for president. “I'm gonna vote, and hopefully it'll count and if not I wasted an hour of my time,” says Rockoff.
The reason our state’s delegates are getting the cold shoulder is that Florida Democrats and Republicans decided to move up the state's primary date this year, hoping to make Florida more relevant than it was in the 2004 primary elections.
But the idea seems to have backfired. Instead the national parties decided to punish Florida for cutting in line, so to speak, making the state almost irrelevant. How? Republicans say only half the states delegates will be counted at their national convention. And democrats say none of Florida’s delegates will be counted at theirs.
Dr. Arthur Anderson, supervisor of elections for Palm Beach County says the negative impact is clear. “Absolutely, without a doubt, without a doubt,” says Anderson, “They do feel disenfranchised.” In a typical primary election year they'd issue about 30,000 absentee ballots to eligible voters in Palm Beach County. But this year, demand for those ballots is half that with just over 15,000, “So I think that does indicate somewhat of a low interest level,” says Anderson.
Those who do plan to vote hope the national parties will have a change of heart later this year or perhaps at the conventions, eventually allowing all of Florida's delegates to weigh-in on their party's nominee. Anything less, many feel - would be unfair.
“They're going to have a tremendous amount of pressure to count those votes so that there'll be one man one vote - fair elections,” says local resident and voter Steven Seftenberg.
“I want a say in who our next president is and in the primary process as well,” added Sheryl Thompson, who identified herself as a registered republican. “And I think it's important we should have our say whether you're Democrat or Republican,” she said.
The elections supervisor says regardless, Florida will still be relevant. Our primary, he says, will still get international press, and it's difficult to ignore the influence of voters in the nation's fourth most populated state.
Dr. Anderson also reminds voters that there's an important property tax referendum on the ballot that could affect everyone's pocketbook, regardless of party affiliation.
