Super Tsunami Tuesday

Forget America's Top Model or picking the next American Idol. You can vote (without standard text messaging rates applying) on Tuesday for the ultimate Survivor - The Next American President. It has all the excitement of your favorite reality show, and just as many guest celebrity appearances. Here's what you need to know to participate in this year's Presidential Primary.


If you have not yet registered to vote, you are out of luck for Tuesday. If you are not sure if you are registered the best place to check is at http://www.utah.gov/government/elections.html and go to the link to Find Your Polling Place. This site can tell you where you need to show up on Tuesday too. If you are not yet registered to vote, do it now! There is another primary election coming up on June 24th. The mail in registration date for that primary will be 30 days before the election. Simply print off the form found on the above site, fill it out, make a copy of your drivers license and send it to your County Elections Clerk. Those addresses are found on the second page of the form you print. If you have any questions, send me an email.


When you arrive at the polling place on Tuesday you will be presented with some options. The Republicans Primary is closed, meaning if you are not registered as a Republican on your voter's application, you must change your voter affiliation at the polling place to vote in their primary. The Democratic Primary is open, you can be unaffiliated with a party or a registered Democrat to vote in it.


Now, who are you voting for? On both parties' ballots, candidates will appear that have dropped out of the race. For example, you could still vote for Guiliani or Edwards. Those votes will not mean much since they are no longer in it. Do some research of your own to find your personal favorite. If you are totally clueless on even who to look at, take this 36 question quiz at http://www.electoralcompass.com/ As always, realize that there is no such thing as an unbiased source. Read, read, read and then judge for yourself. There is no perfect candidate. Decide what you value most, and vote for the candidate who is most aligned with you on those priorities.


There are 20 states voting this Tuesday. Every state will divy up their delegates differently. In Utah the Republican party is a winner take all contest. Whoever gets the most votes, gets all of the delegates. The Democratic Party will divide up the delegates proportionatly to the number of votes each candidate gets. So as always, every vote counts.


I hope this helps, I know that I have received a lot of questions this past week. If there something I have not covered that you want to know more about, let me know.


Happy Voting!