Got it! Friend misunderstood lack of Democrats on election ballot/Nebraska (Not for political debate

[alldiz]

Hi,
I love these boards and I live by common sense rules. I am finding out this is not so common.

Full disclosure. I live in NY which is a “blue” state. I have only voted in this state. I am a registered Democrat. I go to my polling place and I can choose a democrat or republican candidate. I don’t vote blue always I vote the person and their agenda.

Here is where I LOOSE MY MIND!!!!

My BFF moved to Nebraska. She is a registered Democrat. Apparently this is a red state and she was MAILED the people running.
NO DEMOCRATS ON THE BALLOT!
You have to write the name in!

I’m sorry but obviously this is extremely bias IMO ! Please educate me otherwise!
I live in a blue state and their are republicans on ballot.

So please correct if I’m wrong System is rigged.... anyone who might want to vote “the othe party” last minute can’t because they are NOT on ballot!!!

Honestly please help me understand this madness!
Kerri

 

[Deb & Bill]

If they don't run, they don't run. In California, there were ballots with no Republicans on the ballot, just two Democrats. Plus they might have a primary where the top two vote getters run in the regular election. That means if there were two Democrats who won the primary, they get on the ballot and no one else. If two Republicans won the primary, they get on the ballot and no one else. In Louisiana they might have eleven candidates on the regular ballot and then there is a runoff election a few weeks later of the top two vote getters.

If the primary is a closed primary, only registered voters will get to vote in the primary. Then the ballot will include the top vote getters for every registered party, including Green Party, American Socialist Party, etc.

 

[Southernmiss]

Bias-ed. Pet peeve.

It's not like anyone purposely took a Democrat off the ballot or said no you can't run. Just none with that party affiliation ran.

 

[alldiz]

Apparently you need a certain amount of signatures to get on the ballot.

My point is choice seems to be eliminated there.

Unless I’m wrong my friend said Democratic Party does not spend the money campaigning in big red states. Because they don’t win!

My question is I thought each part gets a line on the ticket with a name.

It seems that if one were to live in a red state it takes a LOT of effort to vote opposite!
This is ridiculous imo

 

[alldiz]

Bias-ed. Pet peeve.

It's not like anyone purposely took a Democrat off the ballot or said no you can't run. Just none with that party affiliation ran.

Every state should be able to have a republican and a Democrat on every election ballot. Honeslty there should be an independent also.
There is literally no choice for the person who wants to switch sides blue.
Because corect me if I’m wrong
Are there any blue states in the planet that does not have a Republican on be ticket. Think about tbat

 

[Southernmiss]

Apparently you need a certain amount of signatures to get on the ballot.

My point is choice seems to be eliminated there.

Unless I’m wrong my friend said Democratic Party does not spend the money campaigning in big red states. Because they don’t win!

My question is I thought each part gets a line on the ticket with a name.

It seems that if one were to live in a red state it takes a LOT of effort to vote opposite!
This is ridiculous imo

We just had a heated Senate race in Mississippi this week. It's considered a red state.

Both parties on the ballot. Both parties had significant numbers of voters. Both parties made lots of calls and ads.

But blue did not win.

Happens. Just adds motivation for next election.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Every state should be able to have a republican and a Democrat on every election ballot. Honeslty there should be an independent also.
There is literally no choice for the person who wants to switch sides blue.
Because corect me if I’m wrong
Are there any blue states in the planet that does not have a Republican on be ticket. Think about tbat

Yes, in California there were some ballots with no Republicans, just two Democrats. Think of Sen Feinstein and her opponent, also a Democrat. They were the two names on the ballot.

 

[ashley0139]

Every state should be able to have a republican and a Democrat on every election ballot. Honeslty there should be an independent also.
There is literally no choice for the person who wants to switch sides blue.
Because corect me if I’m wrong
Are there any blue states in the planet that does not have a Republican on be ticket. Think about tbat

Yes. In California there were several races with only 2 democrats and no republicans.

 

[Allison]

Every state should be able to have a republican and a Democrat on every election ballot.

Not if nobody chooses to run.

 

[robinb]

The system is not rigged if people don't choose to run. Maybe your friend should run!

 

[gwynne]

Your friend might google these words:
Nebraska
Democrat
There should be helpful links there for your friend to learn more about their new state.

 

[Hikergirl]

Apparently you need a certain amount of signatures to get on the ballot.

My point is choice seems to be eliminated there.

Unless I’m wrong my friend said Democratic Party does not spend the money campaigning in big red states. Because they don’t win!

My question is I thought each part gets a line on the ticket with a name.

It seems that if one were to live in a red state it takes a LOT of effort to vote opposite!
This is ridiculous imo

Voters have to sign the petition to have one put on the ballot so not really a lot of effort on their part. If they want it bad enough then that is what they would do.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Every state should be able to have a republican and a Democrat on every election ballot. Honeslty there should be an independent also.
There is literally no choice for the person who wants to switch sides blue.
Because corect me if I’m wrong
Are there any blue states in the planet that does not have a Republican on be ticket. Think about tbat

It’s not up to the state to make sure all the blanks on the ballot get filled in.

My guess is your friend now lives in a heavily Republican district where Democrats don’t see any point in running because they feel they would lose. I’m sure other parts of Nebraska have plenty of Democrats on the ballot. The state can’t force the parties to provide candidates for every office, and why would they?

On my ballot, it’s not unusual at all to see unopposed candidates for lower offices, though I can’t recall any national offices that were ever that way.

 

[ronandannette]

Every state should be able to have a republican and a Democrat on every election ballot. Honeslty there should be an independent also.
There is literally no choice for the person who wants to switch sides blue.
Because corect me if I’m wrong
Are there any blue states in the planet that does not have a Republican on be ticket. Think about tbat

You're entirely missing the point and failing to understand what's been explained. Nothing and nobody stopped a Democrat from running - the Party either couldn't find a suitable candidate or chose not to run one for that particular seat. It has nothing to do with your friend being from Nebraska or that Nebraska is a "Red" state.

 

[Southernmiss]

You're entirely missing the point and failing to understand what's been explained. Nothing and nobody stopped a Democrat from running - the Party either couldn't find a suitable candidate or chose not to run one for that particular seat. It has nothing to do with your friend being from Nebraska or that Nebraska is a "Red" state.

Because I don't know Nebraska politics, I googled like an above poster suggested.

There were a couple of interesting reasons no Democrats were one the ballot in a particular state race.

There also seems to be an active Democratic party. And there were Democrats in other races. Friend should look it up and get involved.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

You can't force people to run for office. It's crazy expensive and candidates don't want to throw money down a rat-hole if they feel there's very little chance of winning.

Also - if it's one of the big statewide races that you're referring to- google it. It's interesting

 

[sam_gordon]

Hi,
I love these boards and I live by common sense rules. I am finding out this is not so common.

Full disclosure. I live in NY which is a “blue” state. I have only voted in this state. I am a registered Democrat. I go to my polling place and I can choose a democrat or republican candidate. I don’t vote blue always I vote the person and their agenda.

Here is where I LOOSE MY MIND!!!!

My BFF moved to Nebraska. She is a registered Democrat. Apparently this is a red state and she was MAILED the people running.
NO DEMOCRATS ON THE BALLOT!
You have to write the name in!

I’m sorry but obviously this is extremely bias IMO ! Please educate me otherwise!
I live in a blue state and their are republicans on ballot.

So please correct if I’m wrong System is rigged.... anyone who might want to vote “the othe party” last minute can’t because they are NOT on ballot!!!

Honestly please help me understand this madness!
Kerri

First, tighten down your mind.
Second, what do you want the state to do? If no one elects to run as a democrat, should they just grab someone off the street and put their name down with a D next to them?

 

[cvjw]

I live in a county that is historically red. Lots of times when I voted, there were only republicans on the local ballot. It isn’t biased or unfair, just no democrats decided to run because they knew they would lose.

Probably the same in Nebraska. Why waste all the money when a democrat has no chance of winning.

 

[Hikergirl]

I don't know what race you are specifically speaking of, whether it is a local, state or federal one but this isn't unique to Nebraska

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/politics/midterms-uncontested-candidates/?noredirect=on

I'm sure if you do more research you will find even more examples

 

[alldiz]

First, tighten down your mind.
Second, what do you want the state to do? If no one elects to run as a democrat, should they just grab someone off the street and put their name down with a D next to them?

Thanks for all of the replies!!!
I quoted this because it just made me LOL!!!

I do see things as black and white sometimes. It just boggles my mind that one cannot go to the polls in a heavily red district.... or blue (California) from PP’s and be able to vote opposite their party last minute.

Sigh