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Can Nancy Argenziano still run as a Democrat? New state election's law says no.

Nancy Argenziano
Nancy Argenziano

By Sascha Cordner

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-980501.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – Former Republican state senator Nancy Argenziano can no longer run for Congress as a Democrat in 2012 as she had previously planned. As Sascha Cordner reports, it's all part of the state's new elections law.

Under the law, a candidate has a 365-day window to register if they want to run as a member of another political party. Argenziano changed her voting registration just 5 days before the June 4th deadline, but she registered as a member of the Independent Party...by accident.

"I thought it was independent of a party, not that independent was a party. And, there's three different types of independent parties when you look at the areas you need to check. So, according to them, I am not qualified to switch and run as a Democrat, which of course, makes it harder because people aren't really ready to vote for Independent."

Despite the law, Argenziano says she will still prevail in running as a Democrat because she thinks it's unconstitutional. She plans to challenge Republican Congressman Steve Southerland who represents District 2 in North Florida.