Open vs. Closed Primaries

[yasmina]

What is your opinion on open or closed primaries?

I believe all states primaries should be closed - IOW, you MUST vote for a candidate in your own party - no cross-overs allowed. I would only make an exception for registered Independents, registered as such for a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the primary.

This would prevent the mischief encouraged by Rush Limbaugh, and would give a more accurate vote count for the candidates.

While republicans are rejoicing at the apparent success of Rush's shenanigans, how would you feel if the Dems had done the same thing, for example voting en masse for Huckabee, because he would be easier to defeat in the GE? I can guarantee that Rush would be screaming to high heaven about "Democrat" voter fraud, and how it's just another example of the Clinton's evil plan to get back in the WH,.

 

[marybet]

Alabama does not have party registration, you register to vote and the primary is open.

When I first registered to vote I was a Republican but in our county in Ohio it was all Democrats. Most times there was not even a Republican running for office so the real vote would be in the primaries. My mother told me that if I wanted to be able to vote I should register as a Democrate and that's what I did.

I stopped being a Republican a long time ago.

 

[yasmina]

Alabama does not have party registration, you register to vote and the primary is open.

When I first registered to vote I was a Republican but in our county in Ohio it was all Democrats. Most times there was not even a Republican running for office so the real vote would be in the primaries. My mother told me that if I wanted to be able to vote I should register as a Democrate and that's what I did.

I stopped being a Republican a long time ago.

That's interesting about Alabama. Regarding your situation in Ohio, that's also very common here in PA.

So what do you think is better- open or closed primaries?

 

[Chuck S]

We have open primaries here in TX, as far as voting, there are very often local races that are decided by the Republican primary, because no Dem is running in the general election.

However, I also grew up in Calif., a closed primary state. Overall, I much prefer the closed primary system.

 

[marybet]

That's interesting about Alabama. Regarding your situation in Ohio, that's also very common here in PA.

So what do you think is better- open or closed primaries?

For the most part I think the closed primaries are better. There were very few times in Ohio when I wanted to vote in the other parties primary. I think there are people who would vote for the easier candidate to defeat. Hopefully there are not a lot that would do that.

I did end up voting for the Republican in the general election, I thought he was the better candidate.