Saturday, March 1, 2008
Ohio Ballot Lists GOP Names Twice
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Republican voters in Ohio will vote twice for the presidential candidates on a single ballot in Tuesday's primary.
The Ohio ballot asks voters to make selections in the GOP race in two sections. Voters first select which candidate they want to receive an at-large delegate to the Republican national convention; then they pick a candidate to receive three delegates from the voter's congressional district.
The double listing is unusual for state primary ballots.
Most people vote for the same candidate each time, but a small percentage split their votes, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett said Friday.
For example, voters who are torn between Arizona Sen. John McCain and rival Mike Huckabee may give McCain an at-large delegate and vote to give Huckabee the slate of district delegates, he said. An individual also could make a selection in just one of the two sections for presidential candidates.
The ballot arrangement has caused only minor confusion in the past, Bennett said.
"Some people don't get it and want to know why they are voting twice," he said. "You have to look at it as separate races."
Ohio will send 88 delegates to the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., in September _ 34 at-large delegates and 54 district delegates.
The Democratic ballot is a standard ballot in which voters select an individual candidate.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Republican voters in Ohio will vote twice for the presidential candidates on a single ballot in Tuesday's primary.
The Ohio ballot asks voters to make selections in the GOP race in two sections. Voters first select which candidate they want to receive an at-large delegate to the Republican national convention; then they pick a candidate to receive three delegates from the voter's congressional district.
The double listing is unusual for state primary ballots.
Most people vote for the same candidate each time, but a small percentage split their votes, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett said Friday.
For example, voters who are torn between Arizona Sen. John McCain and rival Mike Huckabee may give McCain an at-large delegate and vote to give Huckabee the slate of district delegates, he said. An individual also could make a selection in just one of the two sections for presidential candidates.
The ballot arrangement has caused only minor confusion in the past, Bennett said.
"Some people don't get it and want to know why they are voting twice," he said. "You have to look at it as separate races."
Ohio will send 88 delegates to the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., in September _ 34 at-large delegates and 54 district delegates.
The Democratic ballot is a standard ballot in which voters select an individual candidate.
