Big Brother is watching
According to the Tacoma News Tribune the IRS has tracked taxpayers' political affiliations in at least 20 states.
Washington residents may have escaped this dragnet because Washington does not require voters to register by party.
Washington residents may have escaped this dragnet because Washington does not require voters to register by party.
posted by Richard Shepard | 7:26 AM
3 Comments:
Yet another example of government caught with its hand in the cookie jar. Is it me, or does it seem that lately government operates from the position that they can do anything they want until we tell them they've gone too far? They've either decided that they don't have to or are not required to police themselves.
In about 12 of the states without party registration, the voter's choice of party on primary day is publicly recorded. So a voter who consistently votes in a particular party's primary can be assumed to favor that party.
The government could also track citizens' party preferences in these states-- although it wouldn't be as easy as in those states with party registration.
Washington is one of just nine states with "open primary, private choice." The voter's choice of party on primary day is kept secret. There are now 2 lawsuits challenging the open primary used by 22 states, one in VA and one in Mississippi. The VA case is in the federal appeals court there. One or both of these suits will likely result in party registration for considerably more states.
Post a Comment
<< Home