Early this year, Michigan and Florida decided to depart from rules which dictate that presidential primaries may not be held before February 5th - rules which both states had previously agreed to. While the GOP decided to cut each state’s delegates in half rather than denying them any delegates, the DNC warned that they would strip both Michigan and Florida of all of their delegates Both states held their primaries knowing that their votes would not be counted, and as a result many voters simply skipped it.

Now, however, Michigan and Florida Democrats are crying foul. Charlie Crist, governor of Florida, claims that Washington is trying to silence the voters’ voices. DNC Chairman Howard Dean reminded Crist that the states had previously voted on the primary dates, and more or less told party leaders in both states that they would have to live with the mess they made.

Since the Democratic candidates did not campaign in either state and many voters simply did not vote, counting the votes at this point would present an extremely skewed outcome. A make-up primary was suggested as the only fair way to be sure that the voters get a say in the DNC nomination - but no one wants to pay for it. Howard Dean is adamant that he will not let the states bend the rules to get back in the game, and the taxpayers paid for the uncounted primaries already.

While the two renegade states have some options for getting their delegates seated, a resolution to this dispute may or may not involve the votes being counted. State leaders are currently in negotiations with the DNC to find a way to have their delegates included in this summer’s convention.

With the two Democratic front-runners in such a close race, would the outcome of these states’ primary votes make a discernible difference in the nomination?