The GOP Presidential Primary takes place in Michigan on February 28th 2012. There have been some major changes in the rules for both the Caucus and the Primary Elections. These changes affect the entire State. The February 28 Presidential Primary Election is the next election in the City of Ann Arbor. All City polling places will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Last year Michigan (GOP) lawmakers moved the date of the Primary to Feb 28th, breaking a national GOP rule forbidding the state to hold the Primary before March. This new voting date will risk the loss of almost half its delegates as a penalty. Further action by Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has placed Obamas name on the ballot to further confuse and alienate Democratic voters.
To counteract the brazen moves of Secretary of State Johnson, The Michigan Democratic State Central Committee has approved lifting the ban on voting in both the Presidential Primaries and Caucuses for the GOP on February 28th and for the Democratic Party on May 5th 2012. Under current rules the Primary is technically closed, (another move to confuse voters) however all that is required is to state a party preference or affiliation in writing when arriving at the polls.
Michigan Democrats will choose their delegates at the May 5th caucus primary.
Arguments for Republicans who drew up the law say they are just following the law. They contend that “there was no political motive for putting Obamas name on the ballot.” Democrats contend that it is an attempt to keep Democrats away from the GOP Primaries and Caucuses and even with the scheduled elections it will cost the Michigan taxpayers 10 million dollars.
The February Ballot will look like this:
Republican Candidates Vote for 1
Gary Johnson
Fred Karger
Ron Paul
Rick Perry
Buddy Roemer
Mitt Romney
Rick Santorum
Michele Bachmann
Herman Cain
Newt Gingrich
Jon Huntsman
Uncommitted
Democratic Candidates Vote For 1
Barack Obama
Uncommitted
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