When an individual registers to vote in Florida, a party affiliation option is given. This determines which primary elections one is eligible to vote in. For those of us who choose not to affiliate with a political party, we choose "NPA" (No Party Affiliation). By selecting "NPA," we cannot vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries, except for situations where there is no opposition in one party or the race is non-partisan. It was no light decision when I switched to NPA several years ago. I was denying myself the opportunity to vote in Presidential Preference primaries, something I had done religiously since I was first able to vote for President in 1984. For most of my adult life, I tended to vote for Republican candidates.
In Georgia, where I lived until 2000, no party selection is associated with voter registration, so the primaries are considered "open." Still, I usually voted in the Republican primaries and for the Republican candidates in national elections. I voted for Reagan, Bush, Sr., Dole, and Bush, Jr. Not until McCain, a candidate that I supported, picked Sarah Palin as his VP running mate did I change my designation to NPA and begin to search out other party candidates, candidates that I knew had no chance of winning, but for whom I could vote in good conscience. I voted Republican (for Romney) again in 2012. When the Republican Party nominated Trump in 2016, I knew in my conscience that I had made the right choice for myself. As much as I did not care for Hillary Clinton, I listened to the future Republican nominee with my own ears and not through the filter of the "liberal media." This candidate distorted the truth and behaved in ways unbecoming our nation's highest office, more than any other candidate I had experienced in my lifetime. I voted for Gary Johnson (Libertarian) in that election, even though I knew he would not win. I was told by some of my Republican friends that I had thrown my vote away or that it was the same as voting for Clinton. But no, I did not, and it was not. I voted for the person I believed was the best choice among our choices.
When Trump won the election in 2016, I sincerely hoped he would become more presidential, respectful, and unifying. He did not. And as other Republicans realized he had gained the unquestioning fealty of their constituents, they fell in line. In 2020, Donald Trump attempted to overturn an election, first through the appropriate challenges in court (with which I have no problem), but then by directing his VP to violate his oath to the Constitution and by trying to convince state officials to find votes or seat slates of electors other than those chosen through the election process. Then, he did nothing for hours as an increasingly agitated and angry mob tried to disrupt Congress as it performed its duties in the election certification process. I thought this would convince many republican voters that they needed to move on, but no. In 2020, with very reasonable choices like Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson, conservatives with good experience and strong records of service and leadership, the republican party chose overwhelmingly to nominate a candidate who had violated his oath to the Constitution and had pressed others to do the same. I don't care how much gas cost back in August of 2020. I cannot and will never vote for a candidate who does not respect the Constitution and the peaceful transfer of power that has been a hallmark of our nation since its inception. I'm told by many that they don't like him, but he's better than the alternative. Here's the problem with that argument: first of all, attempting to overthrow an election is worse. I'm sorry. It just is. Secondly, as long as people are willing to elect someone who does not respect the law and the Constitution, just based on the fact they think that person is better for the economy or will stop illegal immigration, elected officials will continue to push the limits of authoritarianism to maintain power. Eventually, the experiment that began in 1776 will be over.
So, I remain NPA. I vote my conscience. Our country has and will survive leaders with bad policies, but it cannot survive leaders who do not respect the principles on which it was founded.
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