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If you want to vote, you have to go to their web site and register. They will then email you a ballot. Only, one ballot, one vote.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,59323,00.html
An online primary sponsored by a grass-roots political group is creating a stir among Democratic presidential contenders and pundits. Observers say the early vote tally is likely to favor candidates -- like former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean -- who aren't at the top of the class in campaign fund raising.
The vote, sponsored by the left-leaning activist group MoveOn.org, http://www.moveon.org/, will begin Tuesday at midnight and last for 24 hours. Voters, pooled from MoveOn's estimated 1.4 million members, will choose from among nine Democrats who have officially put their hats in the presidential ring.
Although critics complained that the vote comes too early in the campaign season, with the closely watched Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary still months away, organizers dismissed their concerns. The greater risk, they said, would be to hold a primary too late in the campaign season to have an impact.
"In most presidential primary processes, pundits, pollsters and wealthy donors determine the outcome long before the actual primaries. By the time the rest of us cast our ballots, the nomination is typically a done deal," said Zack Exley, MoveOn's organizing director, in a written statement. The group hopes a successful showing in the online primary will add oomph to the campaigns of candidates with grass-roots appeal.
MoveOn plans to announce the results Friday. If any candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes cast, the group will endorse the winner's candidacy. If no one wins a majority, MoveOn said it will consider holding another primary vote.
Although MoveOn is not forecasting a winner, many observers believe the primary will produce a strong showing for activist-oriented candidates. Those who opposed war in Iraq also should be favored, given MoveOn's role in organizing anti-war protests.
An early favorite from that camp is former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
Dean, a relative no-name when he entered the primary race, has gained a particularly loyal following among online political activists. In addition to publishing a broad collection of weblogs about his candidacy, supporters make extensive use of Meetup, an online meeting service, to organize local gatherings and generate interest in the Dean campaign.
In a straw poll held by MoveOn before it announced the online primary, Dean was one of three top candidates, along with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. Dean also emerged victorious in a straw poll at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention.
A weekly poll sponsored by the Democratic activist site Democrats.com also has Dean leading the pack of declared candidates. A poll of "fantasy candidates," which includes people who haven't officially entered the race, ranks Al Gore on top.
Dean's successes have bred conflict. This week, campaign leaders protested that they were accused wrongfully by the rival campaign of Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Missouri) of trying to manipulate voting in the upcoming online primary.
Kathy Lash, Dean's deputy press secretary, said the dispute stemmed from an article published by the Associated Press, in which Erik Smith, a Gephardt spokesman, said he was concerned that the election process "seems to be rigged." Smith said he was troubled by the fact that winners of the MoveOn straw poll had been permitted to send e-mails to members soliciting their votes.
Representatives of the Gephardt campaign did not return calls seeking comment. The Dean campaign issued a statement labeling the accusations "baseless."
"To question the integrity of MoveOn and its 1.4 million members is outrageous and only serves to further erode the American people's belief that their voices matter," the statement said.
Although it's unclear how well the presidential preferences of MoveOn members reflect those of the broader Democratic Party, the online primary is significant because it will be one of the few political contests that will not rely on fund raising, said Bob Fertik, co-founder of Democrats.com.
"What's revolutionary is that it absolutely negates the role of money," said Fertik, who is working as a consultant for the Kucinich campaign.
"What that means is this is pure democracy at work. This is people choosing the candidate with the best message and the best ideas," he said.
That said, candidates who do well in the online primary are likely to see some influx of cash, as MoveOn is encouraging its members to make contributions to the campaign of whoever gets the organization's vote. If a majority winner emerges, the organization might throw some of its money at the candidate.
To woo voters, the primary website provides campaign messages and answers to questions posed by voters. All candidates except Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) provided responses to questions seeking candidates' views on the Patriot Act, budget priorities and the Bush administration's environmental record.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,59323,00.html
An online primary sponsored by a grass-roots political group is creating a stir among Democratic presidential contenders and pundits. Observers say the early vote tally is likely to favor candidates -- like former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean -- who aren't at the top of the class in campaign fund raising.
The vote, sponsored by the left-leaning activist group MoveOn.org, http://www.moveon.org/, will begin Tuesday at midnight and last for 24 hours. Voters, pooled from MoveOn's estimated 1.4 million members, will choose from among nine Democrats who have officially put their hats in the presidential ring.
Although critics complained that the vote comes too early in the campaign season, with the closely watched Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary still months away, organizers dismissed their concerns. The greater risk, they said, would be to hold a primary too late in the campaign season to have an impact.
"In most presidential primary processes, pundits, pollsters and wealthy donors determine the outcome long before the actual primaries. By the time the rest of us cast our ballots, the nomination is typically a done deal," said Zack Exley, MoveOn's organizing director, in a written statement. The group hopes a successful showing in the online primary will add oomph to the campaigns of candidates with grass-roots appeal.
MoveOn plans to announce the results Friday. If any candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes cast, the group will endorse the winner's candidacy. If no one wins a majority, MoveOn said it will consider holding another primary vote.
Although MoveOn is not forecasting a winner, many observers believe the primary will produce a strong showing for activist-oriented candidates. Those who opposed war in Iraq also should be favored, given MoveOn's role in organizing anti-war protests.
An early favorite from that camp is former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
Dean, a relative no-name when he entered the primary race, has gained a particularly loyal following among online political activists. In addition to publishing a broad collection of weblogs about his candidacy, supporters make extensive use of Meetup, an online meeting service, to organize local gatherings and generate interest in the Dean campaign.
In a straw poll held by MoveOn before it announced the online primary, Dean was one of three top candidates, along with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. Dean also emerged victorious in a straw poll at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention.
A weekly poll sponsored by the Democratic activist site Democrats.com also has Dean leading the pack of declared candidates. A poll of "fantasy candidates," which includes people who haven't officially entered the race, ranks Al Gore on top.
Dean's successes have bred conflict. This week, campaign leaders protested that they were accused wrongfully by the rival campaign of Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Missouri) of trying to manipulate voting in the upcoming online primary.
Kathy Lash, Dean's deputy press secretary, said the dispute stemmed from an article published by the Associated Press, in which Erik Smith, a Gephardt spokesman, said he was concerned that the election process "seems to be rigged." Smith said he was troubled by the fact that winners of the MoveOn straw poll had been permitted to send e-mails to members soliciting their votes.
Representatives of the Gephardt campaign did not return calls seeking comment. The Dean campaign issued a statement labeling the accusations "baseless."
"To question the integrity of MoveOn and its 1.4 million members is outrageous and only serves to further erode the American people's belief that their voices matter," the statement said.
Although it's unclear how well the presidential preferences of MoveOn members reflect those of the broader Democratic Party, the online primary is significant because it will be one of the few political contests that will not rely on fund raising, said Bob Fertik, co-founder of Democrats.com.
"What's revolutionary is that it absolutely negates the role of money," said Fertik, who is working as a consultant for the Kucinich campaign.
"What that means is this is pure democracy at work. This is people choosing the candidate with the best message and the best ideas," he said.
That said, candidates who do well in the online primary are likely to see some influx of cash, as MoveOn is encouraging its members to make contributions to the campaign of whoever gets the organization's vote. If a majority winner emerges, the organization might throw some of its money at the candidate.
To woo voters, the primary website provides campaign messages and answers to questions posed by voters. All candidates except Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) provided responses to questions seeking candidates' views on the Patriot Act, budget priorities and the Bush administration's environmental record.
