I have a basic civics question

[BradT]

I know that your party doesn't matter in the general election, but in the primaries, it is different. As an independent, can I vote for anyone from any party, and nominate them for their party? If I voted for Obama, then I would be voting for him as the Democratic candidate, and vice versa for republicans, correct? Now what if I was a Democrat. If I voted for a Republican, I would be tossing my vote away because I would be nominating the republican as the democratic candidate, correct?

Thanks!

 

[mrkun]

This depends on what state you live in and what party you're voting for. Some state parties have open primaries and some have closed primaries. In open primaries, anyone can vote in that party's primary, while in closed ones only that party's members can vote. I know in California that the Republicans have a closed primary and the Democrats have an open one. If you vote for a Republican candidate in the primary in a state where they have open primaries and you're registered as a Democrat, then you're nominating that Republican candidate for the Republican party nomination.

Does that answer your question?

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: BradT
I know that your party doesn't matter in the general election, but in the primaries, it is different. As an independent, can I vote for anyone from any party, and nominate them for their party? If I voted for Obama, then I would be voting for him as the Democratic candidate, and vice versa for republicans, correct? Now what if I was a Democrat. If I voted for a Republican, I would be tossing my vote away because I would be nominating the republican as the democratic candidate, correct?

Thanks!

The answers vary from state to state.

 

[BradT]

NH

EDIT: And wiki says its closed. So will I be affected as in independent?

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: mrkun
This depends on what state you live in and what party you're voting for. Some state parties have open primaries and some have closed primaries. In open primaries, anyone can vote in that party's primary, while in closed ones only that party's members can vote. I know in California that the Republicans have a closed primary and the Democrats have an open one. If you vote for a Republican candidate in the primary in a state where they have open primaries and you're registered as a Democrat, then you're nominating that Republican candidate for the Republican party nomination.

Does that answer your question?

:thumbsup:

 

[BradT]

Originally posted by: BradT
NH

EDIT: And wiki says its closed. So will I be affected as in independent?

Wow, and as an independent, I cannot participate in my NH primary? This partisan bullsh!t really pisses me off.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: BradT

Originally posted by: BradT
NH

EDIT: And wiki says its closed. So will I be affected as in independent?

Wow, and as an independent, I cannot participate in my NH primary? This partisan bullsh!t really pisses me off.

You can vote for the 3rd parties' primaries if that's any consolation.

 

[Noobtastic]

Independents cannot vote in the primaries. XD

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic
Independents cannot vote in the primaries. XD

Even the 3rd parties in NH don't have open primaries?

 

[FoBoT]

if you are independent, then why would you care or want to vote for the Dems or Repubs

 

[FrustratedUser]

As a non US citizen I have a question, maybe it sounds ignorant but anyway.....

I don't understand voter registration. To vote you have to register, I get that part but when someone says "I'm a registered Democrat" (or Republican) does that mean they filled in a form and told the government who they are going to vote for and you can't vote for anyone else? I really hope my ignorance is big because that would be utterly retarded.

 

[FoBoT]

no, registering as a Dem or Repub is just for purposes of the primaries. in closed primary state, you can only vote in the primary of the party you are registered in

this prevents member of one party from torpedoing the other party by voting for morans in the other primary

in the general elections, you can vote for anyone

 

[FrustratedUser]

Ahh yes, I see.

 

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: BradT

Originally posted by: BradT
NH
EDIT: And wiki says its closed. So will I be affected as in independent?

Wow, and as an independent, I cannot participate in my NH primary? This partisan bullsh!t really pisses me off.

It has a very important purpose. Closing the primaries prevents the opposing party from getting all their members to vote for the weakest candidate.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
no, registering as a Dem or Repub is just for purposes of the primaries. in closed primary state, you can only vote in the primary of the party you are registered in

this prevents member of one party from torpedoing the other party by voting for morans in the other primary

in the general elections, you can vote for anyone

Bingo. Say the Democrats have two candidates, A and B; and the Repubs have just one strong candidate: C. If you're a republican, you want C to win. Therefore, in the Democratic primary, you'd have an incentive to vote for the worst of the two, so that C would have an easier time being elected. I can't understand the rationale for some states to have open primaries.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I can't understand the rationale for some states to have open primaries.

In theory you'd get a more desirable candidate for the general election since a much greater portion of the population [has the potential to] pick the candidate. For example, it allows members of the opposition party that are disenchanted with that party to vote in your primary which contributes to the goal of nominating the candidate with the broadest appeal.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Bingo. Say the Democrats have two candidates, A and B; and the Repubs have just one strong candidate: C. If you're a republican, you want C to win. Therefore, in the Democratic primary, you'd have an incentive to vote for the worst of the two, so that C would have an easier time being elected. I can't understand the rationale for some states to have open primaries.

So that people who don't consistently vote Democrat or Republican (and thus are not registered with either party) can have some say over which candidates make it to the top in each party. In theory this better allows for candidates in the Republican (or D) party who aren't hard-line Republicans (or Ds) to make it to the top, thus causing both parties to better reflect the entire state rather than just their party-affiliated constituency.

Yeah, it seems a tad idealistic, maybe even naive.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: jagec
So that people who don't consistently vote Democrat or Republican (and thus are not registered with either party) can have some say over which candidates make it to the top in each party. In theory this better allows for candidates in the Republican (or D) party who aren't hard-line Republicans (or Ds) to make it to the top, thus causing both parties to better reflect the entire state rather than just their party-affiliated constituency.

Yeah, it seems a tad idealistic, maybe even naive.

It may be significant for this coming election with no incumbent President and no single leader in either party.