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WPEC-TV CBS12 News :: News - Treasure Coast News - Party Hopping: Record number of voters switching parties

Party Hopping: Record number of voters switching parties

STUART, Fla. -- Thousands of voters going to the mailbox to find their sample ballots this week, finding out they cant vote for their candidate of choice. A record number of voters are switching parties in Martin County.

As the sample ballots go out, people are looking at the columns finding they can't vote for the races they want. But it's too late to change.

Maria Lorenzo is here a little too late.

Maria Lorenzo/Changing Parties: Yes, I didn't do it early enough. I am upset about it, and I just wanted to make sure my vote will bring out the right election for everybody.

She's a Democrat switching to Republican, and she's not alone.

Vicki Davis/Martin Co. Supervisor of Elections: In the office we experienced over 2,000 changes in the last several months. People changing their party in order to participate in the upcoming primary.

Martin County Supervisor of Elections Vicki Davis says her office sent out sample ballots this week. And voters responded in a big way.

Vicki Davis/Martin Co. Supervisor of Elections: It always throws people off when they realize they are not of that registered party and they wanted to cast a vote in a particular race like the sheriff's race.

The sheriff's race and Treasure Coast congressional race with Republican candidates Allen West and Martin County Sheriff Bob Crowder, both running on the Republican ticket, has voters changing parties so they can have a vote.

The deadline to switch parties was last week, and Florida is a closed primary state. Meaning if you are a registered Democrat, in the primary you can only vote for Democrat races.

Maria Lorenzo/Changing Parties: There are some good Democrats and some bad Democrats, same thing with the Republicans. I feel locked in. The system locks you in.

When it comes to the general election, to change your party affiliation you have to do it by October 9th.

On the last day voters could switch party affiliation, 240 voters in Martin County changed from democrat to Republican. Most citing they wanted their vote counted for the congressional race. Primary day is August 14th. Party Hopping: Record number of voters switching parties

Thursday, July 26 2012, 07:55 PM EDT

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