Two of Donald Trump’s most fervent supporters won’t be checking the ballot box for the New York Republican in the Empire State's April primary because of what they call the state's "onerous" rules.
Trump’s children Ivanka and Eric failed to register as Republicans in time to participate in the primary slated for April 19, Trump said on Fox News.
"They were unaware of the rules and they didn't register in time," Trump said on Fox News Monday morning. "So they feel very, very guilty. They feel very guilty but it's fine."
"Eric and Ivanka, I guess, won't be voting," Trump said.
Both Trumps were registered to vote but not enrolled in a political party, according to New York State's public Voter Registration Database. Ivanka and Eric Trump's voter statuses were listed as "active."
While new voters had until March 25 to register to vote, the deadline to change party was back in October 2015.
Ivanka, 34, and Eric Trump, 32, said in a statement released by the campaign that New York is "one of the most onerous states in terms of timeframe to change party affiliation for a closed primary."
"Our experience in New York, and inability to change our party affiliation so that we could vote for our father in the NY primary, was the reason that we proactively began making videos last year to educate voters on a state-by-state basis on what is required in order for them to vote in their own state primaries," they said. "Each state differs greatly in terms of the rules and requirements--most allowing you to change your status on or close to the date of voting, if even required. Eric and I are fully supportive of our father and look forward to casting our vote for him in November."
Trump's other son, Donald Trump Jr., 38, is a registered Republican, The Associated Press reported, citing state records. Trump's youngest daughter Tiffany, 22, is registered as a Republican in Pennsylvania, where she is attending college.
New York’s deadlines could also affect the Democratic side and hurt Bernie Sanders in particular, according to NBC News.
Sanders’ campaign added their first paid staffers in New York just days before the March deadline for new voters to register.
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"We get tons of emails from people who are just discovering that they can't vote for Bernie because they realize it's a closed primary," Tascha Van Auken, who co-founded the volunteer group Team Bernie NY, told NBC News.
Another problem is that Sanders has shown strength among independents and in New York about 20 percent of voters aren’t affiliated with a party.
NBC 4 New York has also reached out to the New York City and state Board of Elections.
