Why are independents and republicans allowed to vote for our nominee?

[Reciprocity]

I don't get this. I think only registered democrats should be able to vote. I don't want some flip flopping independent choosing who the democrat nominee is. There is nothing that says they will vote for a democrat for president after choosing our nominee.

[College Liberal]

1. Good point

I don't understand why "we" always have to be inclusive. You see where it got "us" before. And don't forget disruptor's.

[book_worm]

13. you know it's not just "we" it's the Republicans too. In many states independents and Dems can vote

in GOP primaries. They are called open primaries and NH is one of those states. Why not? Indpendents may vote democratic in November and maybe some republicans too. We can't just win with Democratic votes.

[College Liberal]

35. There is too great a potential of foul play

As a Liberal Democrat, if i could vote in a Republican primary, i would vote for the weakest candidate. You assume that these "indies and Reps" have good intentions....

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. There is nothing that says the Democrats will vote for the nominee.

Just sayin'.

[Reciprocity]

4. True,

but all I'm saying is they should vote for whomever they want once we democrats decide who we are backing. They shouldn't have the power to choose who that is.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. We don't register by party in my state.

So, we are de-facto independents. Which is fine by me, though I've considered myself a Democrat since 1965 when I registered as one in California.

[The Magistrate]

3. State Parties Decide Those Rules, Ma'am

[DURHAM D]

6. State law/state government decide the rules in direct primary

states. In caucus states the parties sometimes make additional rules.

[CTyankee]

5. I think it's called crossover primaries wherein you can vote for either party regardless

of your party affiliation in the party's primaries. That's a state's decision. I once thought I might just re-register as a Republican in the primary where Pat Buchanan was a candidate and vote for him, just to be a disruptor, but it seemed like too much trouble to have to do that and then become a Dem again and for what?.

In CT we cannot crossover. There are arguments on both side of the issue. WI I believe allow crossover voting and it has a very strong progressive history...

[Reciprocity]

7. I think it dilutes my vote. n/t

[CTyankee]

27. Well, except that you could dilute the other guy (repub) vote.

So it's a wash, so to speak.

I guess the whole idea is to get to more of a parliamentary style government or to enlarge democracy.

I think the danger is not so much the dilution of your vote, but the distortion of your vote...

[Reciprocity]

34. Thanks CTyankee you said that better than I could. n/t

[CTyankee]

40. Oh, I don't know. At this point, I don't think it matters that much.

I think what happens is that most people in our state at least just stay in their party unless they are moved to change their party affiliation by a candidate and then change their affiliation for the primary and vote for him/her. But why do that? if you feel for one over the other, most times I think it is in the general election where you can vote for any of them!

[butterfly77]

9. Because some dems are stupid...

and they won't realize until its too late that this is why they continue to lose...

[CTyankee]

30. Have there been any studies on distortion of primary voting by crossover voters?

I mean, as it results in a General Election? I'd like to see it if you have a source. In my state it is possible to re-register in a different party just to vote in the primary, but then you have to re-register again, kind of a pain in butt, esp. in New Haven where I live (go downtown, find parking and have quarters for the meter, then hassle with City Hall). Of course, you wouldn't HAVE to re-register for the General, but then you'd feel a little strange, IMO.

Somehow, I get the feeling this is not a big problem in the states that have open primaries, but I could be wrong!

[Dawgs]

10. Because people can change their minds.

And I want to see more Democrats joining the party, not less.

[SoCalDem]

11. Because these elections are all run by individual states, and they all have different rules

Some states allow immediate registration on the day of the election, and MOST allow changing one's registration to whatever party one chooses.
You still only get to vote in only one primary, no matter which ballot you choose..

This is precisely why I favor standardized rules for NATIONALLY-held offices. The local stuff can have any rules they like, but the nationally held offices should all be subject to the same rules.. they should even have a standardized SEPARATE ballot PAPER!!! ..for those offices..

a 5x7 index card would do it.. There would only ever be a max of THREE races and only every 4 years..most years there would be only ONE..congress..

Those could be easily tallied, stored and recounted..all you need is a sharpie pen and a check-box next to each name.. and at the bottom.."NO VOTE" with a box next to it.. Any ballot with no selection checked should be handed back to the voter so they can "correct" it.

[book_worm]

12. you have to remember too that dems and indies can also vote in GOP primary, too

There have always been some states with open primaries so live with it. I have no problem with independents voting in a democratic primary and some enlightened republicans, it shows we can win n November.

[DaLittle Kitty]

14. They ARE GAMING THIS SHI*!

Fooling the Obama People and SCREWING AMERICA! Just wait the Establishment is in Control.! :puke:

[chascarrillo]

17. I admit it. I want to SCREW AMERICA.

I thought that I could keep that item on my personal agenda hidden from y'all, but you called me out on it. It's a fair cop.

[Blue-Jay]

21. Nonsense.

[liberalnurse]

15. In Ohio

Democrats vote for Democrats in the Democratic Primary. :)

[Blue-Jay]

20. Wrong.

Anyone can report to their local precinct on the day of the primary, and request a Democratic or a Republican ballot. You don't have to bring any identification/proof that you belong to a particular political party.

[gratuitous]

16. Because in various states . . .

Because in various states, the Democratic party apparatus has given in to the whiners who want to choose the Democratic nominee without going to the bother of registering as a Democrat.

[Blue-Jay]

18. I don't see any reason why people should not vote in the primaries.

Like it or not, general elections are usually decided by people who hold no particular political affiliation. Are you suggesting that they should have no say in the primaries?

Most states only require that you show up and request a (D) or an (R) primary ballot. I'm OK with that.

[HughMoran]

19. Live Free or Die

It is a very big part of what NH is all about. 43% of all voters choose to be "undeclared" here - the largest voting block here. In 2000 when there was no contest on the Democratic side, we got to choose the lesser evil on the Republican side - which was McCain, NOT Bush BTW!

[Reciprocity]

22. What got me thinking about this today was a caller on CSPAN.

She said she is voting for Hilary but if she doesn't win the nomination she will vote for McCain. She didn't say what she would do if he doesn't win the nomination.

[CTyankee]

43. Well, even in an open primary she ( or anyone) can only vote in ONE primary.

So I don't know what she is talking about. I don't think any state allows you to vote in more than one primary. She could, of course, vote for McCain in the General Election if he is the candidate of the Repbublican Party...Hello???

[davidwparker]

23. Not strange to me. The Commonwealth of Va has open primaries. I intend to

vote in both.

[HughMoran]

24. You can vote in both?

Really?

[davidwparker]

29. yes sir. open primaries. in va, you don't declare your party.

[HughMoran]

41. ....on the same day?

I can vote in either, but not both...

[davidwparker]

48. that's true. I just called the registar's office. my bad. I had never voted in

a republican primary and believed all this time it was on a different day.

[ColesCountyDem]

25. Some states don't have party registration, like my own.

Illinois has registerd voters, period. No one is required to align him- or herself with any particular party.

[stray cat]

26. Independents should vote for their own independent party ie Bloomberg

and let them run straight up the middle between the 2 extremes of each party

[HughMoran]

28. This is precisely why NH uses the term "undeclared"

So that there is no confusion with the term "independent".

[alarimer]

31. You've got a point but it works both ways

What's to stop Democrats from sabotaging (or attempting to) the Republican nominee? I've considered temporarily registering as a Republican for the primary here and picking the absolute worst one. Because certainly our nominee (and I guess theirs too, now that I think about it) will already pretty be chosen by then. But I guess it would take a concerted effort by a LOT of Democrats and independents to make a difference. So probably the fact that some can and do crossover probably isn't a huge factors. I guess primaries are really about getting the base out.

[Reciprocity]

32. I'm not talking about sabotaging but of distorting or diluting the vote.

You can get the base out all you can, but if enough independents want a certain nominee it may be their choice and not ours, as to who will win.

[MasonJar]

33. If I could vote for a GOPer, I would choose the weakest candidate;

why would alleged Independents and especially Pugs not do the same? Democrats should choose their nominee.

[opihimoimoi]

42. In Hawaii. crossover voting is called PLUNKING....vote for the weak in the prime

and for your choice in the Gen....The Downside result is sporaic but when it does...devastating for the Stronger Candidate becoming the real NOM.

Strat Poli 206.01 Basics and Implementation Techniques

[helderheid]

36. In Utah the Dems can only vote in their own primaries, the Rs can vote in both. Drives me batty.

[Reciprocity]

37. WTF why!!!! n/t

[Rosemary2205]

38. Is there party registration in Georgia?

If so, no one has ever asked me to decide. I have never voted for a Republican but since I'm not a REGISTERED Democrat then TECHNICALLY I'm Indy -- though I consider myself indy anyways because I choose by individual not by party.

[CTyankee]

44. If you feel you are a Democrat, you should register as such! It is important if your state limits

primary voting to each party. That way, you can vote for your candidate. If you lean Democratic, you should register as a Democrat so you can vote in your primary.

[Rosemary2205]

45. I do vote in primaries.

When I get the polls they simply ask me what ballot I want. No one I know in Georgia has ever been asked to pre-register in either party in order to vote primaries.

[CTyankee]

46. Then you have open primaries in your state. What I said applied only to states where

you can only vote in the primary within your party affiliation.

[nancyharris]

39. You may not know this

but you do not (strictly speaking) belong to the "Democratic Party". You might belong to the New York Democratic Party or the Wisconsin Democratic Party or the Democratic Party from whatever state in which you reside, but not the "Democratic Party". Go to their website and you will see no means of joining the Democratic Party. You can attend your state's Democratic Party convention and vote for your state Party leaders (or become one yourself!) as well as vote on the rules regarding your state's primary.

Most states only allow voters to "join" the state Democratic Party by requesting a Democratic Party ballot during a primary. More than likely, if a person has never voted in a primary, they are "Independent" because there is no other way to "join" the Party.

[MiniMe]

47. I think those are Iowa rules, not a general rule

I know in Maryland if you are an independent you don't vote in the primaries for a candidate.