Dozens of Palm Beach County voters were “really mad” on Tuesday when they learned they were unable to vote in the presidential primary because they were not registered as a Democrat or a Republican, Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher said.
And as election results came after polls closed at 7 p.m., the election supervisor’s website stopped updating for about 90 minutes, even though results were showing up on the local access television station, Channel 20.
Because Florida is a "closed" primary state, only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary and only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. Independents and members of other parties can vote only in municipal races and on ballot questions, but not in either of the presidential primaries.
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In Palm Beach County nearly one in three voter is registered as “other” — 245,400 out of 845,165 voters, as of Tuesday. The category includes independents and members of parties other than the Democratic and Republican.
“We have dozens and they’re really mad,” Bucher said of those who tried unsuccessfully to cast a ballot in the presidential primary. “Traditionally they haven’t voted in primaries.”
People not registered as Democrats or Republicans in cities that have no races or referendums, as well as such voters living outside city boundaries, had no issues to vote on at all.
In a Facebook post, voter Savanna Lemm said she learned Tuesday that she wasn’t affiliated with a political party, and as a result could only vote in a municipal race.
“I found out today that I am bipartisan and could only vote for a mayor,” Lemm said in the post. “I could have swore I chose a party when I registered.”
Facebook user Allison Pryluck had the same experience.
”I am one of the people that couldn’t vote,” Pryluck said in a Facebook post. “I didn’t know I was no party affiliated.”
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner said “all eligible voters” in Palm Beach County were able to cast ballots.
Florida law requires voters to be affiliated with a party at least 29 days in advance of a presidential primary to cast a ballot. That deadline was Feb. 16.
“The Florida Department of State has spoken with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office and all eligible voters are able to vote,” Detzner said. “… Pursuant to Florida law, only voters registered for one of Florida’s major political parties by the book closing deadline are eligible to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary.”
Detzner's comments came after reports circulated on Twitter that Republican front-runner Donald Trump's name had been left off the ballot in Jupiter.
“It’s been the law since 1913,” Bucher said about Florida’s closed primary law. “What I think we’re seeing is people who vote in the general election – when you can vote for any candidate – but not in the primaries.”
The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that a group of activists is looking to change that law. The newspaper said the bipartisan group will file a proposal for a constitutional amendment Wednesday to open the state's primary system.
Bucher said voters get plenty of notice about what will – and will not – be on their ballots. Her office sends out sample ballots to all registered voters along with public notices about the deadlines for registration for every election.
As for why Detzner singled out Palm Beach County, Bucher said she heard there were complaints throughout the state “but we’re Palm Beach County,” Bucher said with a shrug.
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