] JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Dario Cruz has lived in the United ] States for 16 years, but just became a citizen last week ] as he and about 200 other immigrants were naturalized. ] ] One of the things he had always wanted to was register to ] vote, but when he was offered the chance to do that right ] outside the ceremony, he knew something wasn't right -- ] the place on the form where you're asked to choose ] Democrat, Republican or independent was already filled ] out. ] ] ] "It's like one side," Cruz said. "You don't get to ] choose." ] ] ] According to Cruz and his family, every form was checked ] off Republican. ] ] ] It was something his wife, Linda Cross, first noticed. ] She said she asked what was going on, and was told the ] woman registering voters said they were with a Republican ] organization. ] ] ] "I am Republican," she told Channel 4's Jim Piggott. "I ] was very angry with that if they want to register ] whatever party, you shouldn't try to dictate to people ] what party they are going to register; who they are going ] to vote for, because then you don't have any freedom." Later it mentions that "For the record, any registered voter can vote for any candidate of any party in a general election, but in most primaries in Florida, people can only vote for candidates of their own party." While this is true, it's still a slap in the face to new immigrants to have their party choice made for them. News4Jax.com - Election 2004 - New Citizens Say GOP Took Away Their Right To Choose |