Talk:Unenrolled voter

Nota Bene: This article has been extensively rewritten since its recreation at this location, so this is essentially another article. --HappyCamper 17:39, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

See /Archive 1 for details - it contains material from these two edits: [1]

Concept of Unenrolled voter

The concept of an 'unenrolled voter' does seem to be a genuine one (witness explanation of the situation in Mass. here -- http://www.ma.lwv.org/ElectionPubs/voting_in_ma.htm). As a non-US resident it is a concept that I am unfamiliar with and think that a Wikipedia article could provide a useful explanation. The existing stub needs quite a bit of work to make it such, but I don't see that the article is entirely without merit. Mazzy 12:29, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Exactly - it seems that it is something specific in Massachusetts, and that there is a distinction between an "unenrolled" and "independent" voter, although it is subtle. It seems that an "unenrolled" is more or less a free voter of some sort - they are not bound to any one particular party, and can freely choose to associate with whichever platform suits them best at a given time. Sometimes the distinction is not made between the two probably because of the misnomer that they are the same. --HappyCamper 13:47, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm floundering in the dark here because the idea of having to declare a party allegiance at voter registration is completely alien in the UK. However, I suppose if you are going to vote in some sort of 'primary' round which is essentially about determining a party's candidates the concept of declaring which party you'll do that for makes some sort of sense. As I understand it...an 'unenrolled voter' can make their mind up pretty close to the last minute (and presumably switch parties for which they'll do this). Presumably in later rounds of voting both enrolled and unenrolled voters can be as 'independent' as they want to be and vote for anyone. But, I'm talking through my hat here from trying to read the stuff I've stumbled across. Hence, it would be good if someone familiar with voting law in the US and in Mass. in particular could take this one on. But presumably it has to qualify for not being speedy deleted first. Mazzy 14:07, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Comment It is actually an alien concept in many parts of the United States. One of the primary problems with this article and its whole concept is that it seems to be based on voting rules in Merlinus' locality, which are by no means universal. Where I live, and in most of the states where I have lived in my life, there is no party registration. When I go to vote in a primary election, I am asked if I want a Democratic ballot, a Republican one, or a non-partisan ballot. The non-partisan one has no candidates listed, only referendum issues that may be voted on in the same election. I am not enrolled in anything, and I have never heard anyone describe themselves as unenrolled. I have no idea if the term is commonly used in Massachusetts. I do know I have never encountered it elsewhere, and I don't believe it's valid for any generalizations about the US as a whole. Fan1967 04:01, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Note Some googling finds the term "Unenrolled Voter" officially used for elections in Massachusetts and Maine. I don't find it anywhere else. Fan1967 05:24, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

That local expert on Wikipedia right now is Merlinus - we'll have to wait until he gets back online. I've modified the original AfD so that it should not be speedily deleted again. If it does, let the deletion go through and leave a note on my talk page. The delete page history is exceptionally convoluted for these sets of articles, and at the moment, it would be rather difficult for another administrator to figure out what is going on! I'll recover the article and do all the explaining afterwards I suppose :-) --HappyCamper 14:15, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I'd never heard the term before. In California we call such voters 'Decline to State' (i.e. a party preference). In a primary election, the DTS voter can't typically vote in a partisan primary, except that any party may opt to allow DTS voters to vote in their party's primary. Special ballots are provided for such voters. (In the June 2006 gubernatorial primary, three parties (Democratic, Republican, and American Independent) chose that option.

This looks like a can of worms where we should consider omitting some of the details.Bpmullins 20:01, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

Not Unique

Unenrolled Voters are not Unique to Massachuesetts, people are registered that way (especially in reuards to primaries in a number of other states in the USA, I will do a little research later and name all the other states for this article that follow this tradition. Also, Massachusetts just passed a new Universal Health Care bill that makes it the law that all citizens have health care coverage yesterday based on the English and Canadian plans... we are the first state to do so. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Merlinus (talk • contribs) .

Really? Like Universal health care? But this is getting off topic. Maybe if you found the percentage of unenrolled voters who would support this bill... --HappyCamper 14:46, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Locality

At the moment, is the term only used in Massachuesetts and Maine? --HappyCamper 05:25, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

No, also in New Hampshire and as I said I will research more:

This is a quote proving that unenrolled voters are there also... its also my mothers home state and she says so. [2]--[3]

Rhode Island is included in this too, but thet use the word "Unafiliated" Rhode Island:

Modified closed primary: Voters registered in a particular party can participate in that party's presidential primary, as can unaffiliated voters.

For more information, contact Rhode Island's [4] At least half the other states officially have Unenrolled Voters and include them by having what is called an "Open Caucus" merlinus 20:52, 14 April 2006 (UTC)Merlinus--merlinus 20:52, 14 April 2006 (UTC) [...]

What does "accinidate" mean in the article? --HappyCamper 15:31, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Distinction between Independent voters and Unenrolled?

From the article: "...in some circles people (mistakenly) refer to Unenrolled voters, synonmously with Independent (voter)." What exactly does this mean? Is there really a distinction between independents (those without a party) and unenrolled? Or is "unenrolled" merely an obscure synonym for "independent"? J. Tyler 00:58, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

From what I've read, there seems to be a difference. From what I understand, it depends on how one defines "indepedent" - an independent might support solely the Independent candidate, whereas an unenrolled voter could freely choose between the Democratic, Republican or Independent candidate. Granted, they need to do a bit more paperwork to ensure that their neutral status is preserved. In some sense, both independents and unenrolled do not have a party, but unenrolled is particular legality of some sort, and varies from state to state. We need more experts to take a look. --HappyCamper 14:51, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

A clear distinction between Unenrolled voters and Independent voters needs to be made, and as a non-American I would like an explaination as to why anyone would willingly disclose their policial affiliation to anyone. I was under the impression that the USA ran secret ballots, just like all other good democracies. Josh Parris#: 03:39, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

I still don't see what the difference is between an Unenrolled voter and an Independent voter. I'll be merging these articles soon. Josh Parris#: 04:47, 12 December 2006 (UTC)