Meadows Misinformation

You did not have to change your party affiliation. You could have voted in the general election....I am confused....party primaries are pretty much normal all across America....

WHAT IS A CLOSED PRIMARY?
Florida is a closed primary state. If you wish to vote in a partisan primary election, you must be a registered voter in the party for which the primary is being held. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, can vote on issues and nonpartisan candidates in a primary election.

This is why it is important to indicate your preferred party affiliation at the time you register. If you leave the field blank on the registration form, you will be registered without party affiliation.

There are 12 states in the United States which use a strictly closed primary election process: Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Wyoming. For more information concerning the law in Florida, please refer to section 97.055, Florida Statutes.

UNIVERSAL PRIMARY CONTEST
There are times when all registered voters can vote in a primary election, regardless of which major or minor political party they are registered or even if they are registered without a specific party affiliation. During these elections, the race is considered to be a Universal Primary Contest:

• If all the candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner of the primary election will not face any opposition in the general election (i.e. no write-in candidates have qualified), then all registered voters can vote for any of the candidates for that office in the primary election.

When races for nonpartisan (i.e., free from party affiliation) judicial and school board offices, nonpartisan special districts or local referendum questions are on the primary election ballot, then all registered voters, including those without party affiliation are entitled to vote those races on the ballot.

During a general election, all registered voters receive the same ballot and may vote for any candidate or question on the ballot. If there are write-in candidates who have qualified for a particular office, a space will be left on the ballot where their name can be written.

PARTY CHANGES
Party changes must be made by the end of the 29th day before the primary election. For a general election, a party change can be made at any time. A party change must be made in writing, use the Florida Voter Registration Application to change your party affiliation.

If there had only been republican candidates in the primary, it would have been open to all party voters.
But with the addition of Amy (NPA), only republicans can vote for Cindy & Tony in the primary.

In addition if you were not a registered Republican yes, you did have to change your party affiliation to VOTE.

It scares me to think that people don't understand this and vote also. SMH!

In addition if you were not a registered Republican yes, you did have to change your party affiliation to VOTE.

It scares me to think that people don't understand this and vote also. SMH!

So the folks who are not Republicans and posting here would have preferred to ONLY have Republicans running so that there wasn't a chance at ALL for a NON Republican to serve in the office?

Wow this is convoluted. I understand the universal primary idea but most of the time voters who are not republicans like having someone other than a republican to vote for in November so I am having a super hard time following your logic.

You did not have to change your party affiliation. You could have voted in the general election....I am confused....party primaries are pretty much normal all across America....

Changing my affiliation gave me the opportunity to vote for the right candidate and reject the wrong candidate in the Republican Primary. With the added bonus of being counted as one of the millions of Republicans who reject Donald Trump. Ain't Democracy Grand!!!

So the folks who are not Republicans and posting here would have preferred to ONLY have Republicans running so that there wasn't a chance at ALL for a NON Republican to serve in the office?

Wow this is convoluted. I understand the universal primary idea but most of the time voters who are not republicans like having someone other than a republican to vote for in November so I am having a super hard time following your logic.

Yeah to what LakeViewToo said below you.

Changing my affiliation gave me the opportunity to vote for the right candidate and reject the wrong candidate in the Republican Primary. With the added bonus of being counted as one of the millions of Republicans who reject Donald Trump. Ain't Democracy Grand!!!

And you can always switch back after the Primaries!

Nobody is being disenfranchised by a "no party" candidate running...people of other parties can vote in November election where there will be choices for all voters...and frankly the presence of an NP candidate gives voters more of a say because more people vote in November than August.

So the comments seriously confuse me....

Doesn't anyone have the right to run for office as long as the candidate meets the qualifications? Also....There are no party candidates running in all races except Tax Collector. Is it all a conspiracy ?

If Democrats want more of a say in local politics why not start a local Democratic Party? What happened to the party?

You did not have to change your party affiliation. You could have voted in the general election....I am confused....party primaries are pretty much normal all across America....

Don't be pinheads, not even puppets are that dumb.

You did not have to change your party affiliation. You could have voted in the general election....I am confused....party primaries are pretty much normal all across America....

So, to make sure you don't stay confused, I changed my affiliation, and a whole of other people changed their affiliation, to be able to reject the candidate in the Republican primary who fails to have the governmental experience, the educational requirements, and the concern for the welfare of the residents and visitors of South Walton County.

So, to make sure you don't stay confused, I changed my affiliation, and a whole of other people changed their affiliation, to be able to reject the candidate in the Republican primary who fails to have the governmental experience, the educational requirements, and the concern for the welfare of the residents and visitors of South Walton County.

I believe around 1000+ did the same thing...

I think the Incorporation Movement is looking for nonpartisan elections for the council seats, should that move forward.

I believe that is one of the main reasons the movement continues to move as it unites both Dem and Rep (Indy too) and it also is probably frouned upon by the establishment local repubs.

It's funny, while I've met a lot of Dems here locally, we disagree on a global level, but see many similarities locally...

Something to think about.

It's backwards in South Walton in many ways.

I don't see the Visions group only in favor of incorporation, but I may be naive. I think it's looking for solutions. And this election cycle is breaking down Dem-Rep divisions in absolutely curious way, nationally and here at home.

I don't see the Visions group only in favor of incorporation, but I may be naive. I think it's looking for solutions. And this election cycle is breaking down Dem-Rep divisions in absolutely curious way, nationally and here at home.

I think for the first time in about 30 years the "good ole boys" in Walton County are scared too. The change in parties to vote in the primaries has been huge as compared to years past. I think allot of folks are just disgusted and have had enough. I've seen more negative comments about current Commissioners (not the ads and stuff just people) on Facebook than I ever recall seeing in the past. The "good ole boy" groups are pockets of folks now rather than packs of them or half to 3/4 the county. I think the lawsuits have been a wake up call and as much as I disagree with Our Generation the ads assuredly woke folks up.

I think for the first time in about 30 years the "good ole boys" in Walton County are scared too. The change in parties to vote in the primaries has been huge as compared to years past. I think allot of folks are just disgusted and have had enough. I've seen more negative comments about current Commissioners (not the ads and stuff just people) on Facebook than I ever recall seeing in the past. The "good ole boy" groups are pockets of folks now rather than packs of them or half to 3/4 the county. I think the lawsuits have been a wake up call and as much as I disagree with Our Generation the ads assuredly woke folks up.

Your post is an eloquent way of saying; to quote the late great Waren Zevon (Lawyers, Guns and Money), " ...the s**t has hit the fan..."

Hopefully we can be one voice and form a better Community...

Your post is an eloquent way of saying; to quote the late great Waren Zevon (Lawyers, Guns and Money), " ...the **** has hit the fan..."

Hopefully we can be one voice and form a better Community...

Thanks for that.

Change is coming, one way or another. It may not happen Aug. 30th in the way allot of us hope but it's definitely been a wake up call for the BCC.

In addition if you were not a registered Republican yes, you did have to change your party affiliation to VOTE.

It scares me to think that people don't understand this and vote also. SMH!

1400 people changed their party affiliation to Republican this year.

1400 people changed their party affiliation to Republican this year.

I saw where Robert Nelson made that claim on the Visions group. He is not my "go to guy" for accurate information.

According to the SOE Office the totals since March 2016 are 1131.

I also saw that the SOE received 1,800 mail ballots so far for the Primary Election, bringing their mail ballot rate of return to about 40% so far and the voter turnout to over 4%!

This is getting ridiculous! The first time maybe a mistake the second time on a mailer......SHADY!!! Cindy Meadows, shame on you!

Walton County Supervisor of Elections
3 hrs ·

Clarification: It has come to our attention that a political mailer has gone out to households that incorrectly states the last day to vote early, and incorrectly states the hours that the polls are open on Election Day. Once again, here is the correct information:

Early Voting is August 20th - 27th, Saturday - Saturday, and the polls are open from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
(There is NO Early Voting on Sunday, August 28th or Monday, August 29th.)

Election Day is August 30th, and the polls are open from 7 am - 7 pm.

Walton County Supervisor of Elections
3 hrs ·

Clarification: It has come to our attention that a political mailer has gone out to households that incorrectly states the last day to vote early, and incorrectly states the hours that the polls are open on Election Day. Once again, here is the correct information:

Early Voting is August 20th - 27th, Saturday - Saturday, and the polls are open from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
(There is NO Early Voting on Sunday, August 28th or Monday, August 29th.)

Election Day is August 30th, and the polls are open from 7 am - 7 pm.

Why can't she get herself together, unacceptable! She has not once corrected her own mistake.

It looks like the Supervisor of Elections and your timely posts are getting the correct information out there. Isn't that what is important?

Seriously, Jasper, if you are so concerned about those misinformed voters, you should tell all your friends and neighbors that Election Day voting is 7 to 7 and then get out on the shoulder of 331 with a big sign that says Election Day 7 to 7. Isn't that what's important?

Seriously, Jasper, if you are so concerned about those misinformed voters, you should tell all your friends and neighbors that Election Day voting is 7 to 7 and then get out on the shoulder of 331 with a big sign that says Election Day 7 to 7.

Isn't that what's important?

I expect nothing less from a Cindy supporter. Just like Cindy you want to hold others to the rules you don't think you should have to follow.

Hey Jasper, pass along this information to anyone who is misinformed: Election Day 7 to 7: isn't that what's important! We don't want any misinformed voters Jasper!! Get the word out!!

Jasper: When are the polls open on Election Day? 7 to 7!! Pass the word!!