To the editor:

A note to Terry Tolar regarding your Aug. 11 letter.

When you went to vote on Aug. 3, the “U” beside your name in the poll roster did not stand for “undecided.” It stands for “unaffiliated.” This means that you have chosen not to align yourself with one particular party (which, from the rest of your letter, sounds like exactly what you intended to do).

The county clerk did not give you this designation. She cannot (and, I assure you, has no desire to) force you to be Republican or Democrat, Libertarian, a member of the Reform Party or, as in your case, unaffiliated. You chose this when you registered to vote. Like many others in Douglas County, you X-ed that little box on the form.

Some political science teachers encourage students to register as unaffiliated. I know one of mine did. That’s fine to encourage independent and clear thinking. However, they don’t see the headaches it causes years down the road, when some voters don’t understand why they’re unaffiliated, and some believe it is their right, then, to vote both ballots in a primary.

Isn’t there some warning about never signing anything until you read the fine print? I’d like to offer this advice: Never X any box unless you know what it means.

Sarah Ashley Posch,

Lawrence