This morning I opened my vote by mail packet and found an information pamphlet informing me that I would have to register myself as voting democrat or republican in order to vote in a partisan race and to then vote with that party for all partisan races. I was stunned. This law violates my rights as a citizen to vote for who I chose. Although I tend to vote conservative most of the time, I have always voted for individual positions as an independent instead of for parties. I cannot do that any longer. Well, this is unacceptable. I decided not to vote at all to express my resistance to this goofy law and I sent my voter packet back without any entries along with the following letter.

If you feel the same as I, please feel free to copy and paste the text of my letter, modify it as you see fit and send it to your county auditor along with your own voter packet.



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September 11, 2006

Pat McCarthy
Pierce County Auditor
2401 South 35th Street, Room 200
Tacoma, WA 98409-7484

RE: Pick a party primary law.

Greetings,

I received my mail-in voter packet in the mail and opened it all ready to do my patriotic duty and vote when I encountered your voting instructions sheet.

Please be advised that I have always voted independent. Having to pick a party violates my right to vote the way I chose. I do not know what fool decided it was a good idea to force partisanship down the throats of citizens but I strongly disagree with this "law". The law is the servant of the people, not the other way around. Laws are (or should be) written to preserve rights, not take them away. This law has stolen my right to vote the way I want and I consider it to be a violation of fundamental principles of democracy. I know of no one who agrees with this law and I consider myself pretty informed and politically savvy. (I even write a blog on my website (www.countrycopbooks.com) that frequently addresses political issues.)

I have lived overseas under dictatorships in the past so I have very personal reasons to cherish my right to participate in the election process. I therefore feel compelled to register my opinion by refusing to vote in this and all future primaries until this law is rescinded. I am hereby protesting by returning your voter packet without any entries. I recommend you work to change this law immediately or face lower voter participation in the primaries.


Sincerely,

Michael James Jaquish
Retired law enforcement officer and International Security Consultant
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These are my opinions, for what they are worth. Do you agree, or disagree?