Mass Live: Mass. coalition urges Dem. voters to choose ‘no preference’ in primary

https://www.masslive.com/politics/2024/03/mass-coalition-urges-dem-voters-to-choose-no-preference-in-primary.html

While many Massachusetts voters have already chosen their candidates, a growing nationwide effort could play a role in the Bay State’s Super Tuesday primary — and potentially send a message to President Joe Biden about American involvement in Israel’s war against Hamas.

The “Vote No Preference Massachusetts” coalition is urging voters to select “no preference” on Tuesday, March 5, the group announced in a statement on Monday.

Run by volunteers “with [Get Out the Vote] experience from the Cape to the Berkshires,” organizers said they addressed rally-goers in Cambridge protesting the war in Gaza who pledged to vote “no preference.”

Comprised of multiple groups, including Massachusetts Peace Action, the Massachusetts Muslims for Justice, Healthcare Workers for Palestine MA, and two Democratic Socialists of America chapters, the coalition said it is made up of 1,000 members.

These members have conducted phone-banking campaigns urging U.S. House lawmakers and Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to end the war, and move funding toward Israel back toward policies to support Americans, the group said.

During a Monday press conference, Monday, Harvard clinical instructor Lara Jirmanus said the group was inspired by the “uncommitted” voter turnout in Michigan’s Democratic primary, where over 100,000 chose it over Biden. The president still won over 618,000 votes, according to the Associated Press.

“So today, we join a national movement which has been galvanized by what has come out of Michigan and we’re asking people to use their ballot to tell Biden ‘we say no to genocide,’” Jirmanus said. “You’ll see on your balance that ‘no preference’ is an option. It’s listed under the registered candidates’ names. We ask people to please fill in that bubble.”

Jirmanus asked voters to tag them in posts or videos on social media and share why they chose “no preference.” Jirmanus added that voters disapprove of Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza, that “many people, including the International Court of Justice, have titled a genocide” and that more Americans want a full cease-fire.

“Voters also support another one of our core demands which is conditioning military aid to Israel,” she said. “We’re trying to send a message to Biden that this unconditional military aid has to stop and we don’t want our tax dollars to be used to commit these violent acts in our name.”