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"Uncommitted" Line On Primary Ballot Sparks Questions

Maryland GovPics
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Credit Maryland GovPics / Flickr
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Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill’s office says members of the public have been asking about the “uncommitted” line on Tuesday's presidential primary ballot.

Merrill says the ballot line allows eligible voters to ask Connecticut delegates to decide for them at the Democratic and Republican Party conventions.

“It’s interesting because that ‘Uncommitted’ line has always been there, but it has never attracted any interest from anyone except this year. 

If you vote on that line, you are allowing the delegates from Connecticut to do whatever they want, go to the convention uncommitted to any one candidate.”

It’s almost like voting for none of the above, but you want to vote. And you want the delegates to follow their best judgment as to what’s going on at the convention.

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has been leading in the polls nationally, but his competitors, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich have agreed to work together. They want to make sure Trump doesn’t win enough delegates to avoid a contested convention. If the race is a narrow one, delegates’ decisions may play a key role in the race.

Copyright 2016 WSHU

A master's graduate from Columbia University's journalism program, Toth started her journalism career in Nova Scotia as an undergrad, when she worked as the Dalhousie Gazette's Opinions Editor. After successfully staking out the university president outside his office for a story, Toth realized that nearly no other industry would not only tolerate such behavior, but actually applaud it. She decided to become a journalist professionally and has yet to look back.

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