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Should states allow people to vote across party lines in primary elections?

Fef December 03, 2007 23:18:55

Instead of traditional partisan primaries for statewide offices, voters would have been allowed to vote for any candidate in a primary election regardless of the political affiliation of the voter or candidates. The two candidates with the most votes (regardless of party or lack thereof) would later appear on the general election ballot.
 Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party
Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party
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  • +6
     Fef December 07, 2007 18:57:46
    Fef

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    People belong to a political party for a reason - not just to get junk mail and contribution requests. They want to participate in the nomination of that party's candidate to the general election.
    >> See Replies
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  •
    fred February 20, 2009 07:01:50 (edited)
    fred

    Undecided

    Forget primaries -- big waste of money and effort. Just hold one general election. If no one wins a majority, then let the candidates donate 2/3s of their certified votes to other candidates of their choice. The winner is the person with the most votes one week after the votes are certified and redistributed.

    This allows everyone's vote to count, with an emphasis on picking the best candidate. If you vote for an fringe candidate, they can donate your discounted vote to mainstream candidates of their choice to avoid fiascos like what is going on in Franken/Coleman. Obviously, the votes wouldn't be donated without some 'concessions' from the recipient to the donor, which is politics as normal.
  •
    SnaekySnap November 19, 2008 23:35:09
    SnaekySnap

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    The 2008 Texas presidential race is prime example of why open primaries should not be allowed. If you recall the campaign to get Republicans to vote for Hillary which many did. I can't say what effect it had as I've not seen any statistics on it and Obama ended up with the nomination anyway. However, what effect did it have on the local races and imagine it on a national level. In a close race party-x could flood party-y with enough votes to get candidate-y3 nominated instead of candidate-y1. Candidate-y3 has no chance of beating candidate-x1 in the general election. Get the point?
  •
    Nanapie November 19, 2008 22:37:20
    Nanapie

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    Not everyone is 'member' of a particular political party. There are many who vote solely on their idea of the best candidate and not necessarily what party they represent.
  •
    Rusty Shackelford November 19, 2008 19:40:07
    Rusty Shackelford

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    What would stop people from voting for the worst candidate from the opposing party? This would be an easy way to make it so your own candidate has better chances.
  •
    Cassie August 06, 2008 08:42:17
    Cassie

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    That way, both have an equal chance of winning.
  •
    tarkeg July 21, 2008 14:07:48
    tarkeg

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    views change over time http://tkfiles.storage.live.c...
  •
    Fef tarkeg August 06, 2008 19:48:28
    Fef
    then people should re-register, no? Or do they change that quickly.
  • +1
    Informed Voter June 26, 2008 15:16:00
    Informed Voter

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    Absolutely not! The idea of a "primary" is to choose the best candidate for your party and to weed out those candidates who fail to justly represent a particular party's platform (be it Democrat or Republican)!

    (Yes, I know. The word "platform" hasn't been used in this entire political cycle since personal attacks seem to be the sport de jure of the candidates and the media.)

    I don't want the choice to lead my party decided by those who are not part of, nor believe in the same ideals as my fellow conservatives. Unfortunately for us, we're stuck with McCain.
  • +1
    mk, Smartass Oracle June 25, 2008 20:08:40
    mk, Smartass Oracle

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    Yes its time for that to happen.
  • +1
    Good-bye-Bush June 25, 2008 02:27:15
    Good-bye-Bush

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    A person should be able to vote for a person not a party.
  • +1
    Icedragon1969 June 24, 2008 17:41:47
    Icedragon1969

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the primaries about each party choosing the candidate to represent them? If that's true, then why should members of another party be allowed to vote a different party's primary and sabotage the other party?
  • +1
    Fef Icedrag... August 06, 2008 19:49:59
    Fef
    I agree with you. Candidates and members who belong to parties should respect the party's primary system.
  • +2
    TxAggie93 June 21, 2008 13:39:11
    TxAggie93

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    Many of us are not party affiliated and vote the candidate we think is best, given the choices. In a general election, our choices may be different than who was on the ballot in the primary. We should be given the option to choose an individual.....not just a party.
  • +1
    Deb. I believe. June 12, 2008 12:31:07
    Deb. I believe.

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    Best answer!
  • +1
    Mtnman May 01, 2008 08:53:59
    Mtnman

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    I read the comments before answering this. It looks like a lot of you didn't really get the question. Nobody said you can't vote for who you want. In the actual election you don't have to vote for the party you are registered in. Democrats can vote for republican if they want and Republicans can vote for democrats if they want. If there is a third party either can vote for that. There is even a place on the ballott where you can write in any name you want. But in the party primaries only party members should vote. Do you actually think that the republicans who switched parties so they could vote for Obama to get the nomination will actually vote for him in the election. I doubt it. Maybe some will, but I believe that whole cross party thing is so they can help Obama win the primary and lose to McCain.
  •
    Nanapie Mtnman November 19, 2008 22:40:04
    Nanapie
    Maybe some will, but I believe that whole cross party thing is so they can help Obama win the primary and lose to McCain.

    Your theory didn't hold water, did it?
  • +3
    Habit April 21, 2008 02:07:57
    Habit

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    Party lines mean nothing; voting for the person you feel is best to head our country is the way to go...
  • +1
    Fef Habit April 28, 2008 16:44:09
    Fef
    I agree in the general election, but I specifically meant in the primaries. Should the Democrats let the Republicans vote for Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton in the primary as Rush Limbaugh has endorsed with his Operation Chaos?
  • +2
    tanzy April 01, 2008 03:13:25
    tanzy

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    I hate all this party business! I want to vote for whomever I feel is the best! I am a Rep. but this election I very strongly back Hillary! I really feel she is the best person to run this country! If she doesn't win the nomination I will vote for McCain. Obama is a danger to our country. The only reason he's getting backed so much is because they know he will be a puppet in their hands. He can't think for himself at all. He must copy everyone elses ideas. He can't commit to anything. Other countries are laughing at us for even letting such an anti-American, racist, run. Please wise up USA! Anyone but Obama. Don't be an Obama zombie! Oh and don't drink the kool-aid!
  •
    Fef tanzy April 01, 2008 06:47:53
    Fef
    Who do you think backs Sen. Obama that he will act like their puppet?

    Thanks for the comments. I think many people feel the same way you do.
  •
    Good-by... tanzy June 25, 2008 02:33:30
    Good-bye-Bush
    I think people are laughing at the idiot in office now. He can't make a complete sentence.
  • +2
    Boris Badinov March 31, 2008 00:52:27
    Boris Badinov

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    Republicans/Democrats should be restriced to selecting candidates within their own party's interests only. Libertarians/Independents could be listed on both Democrat and Republican partisan Primary ballots or, less likely, they could form a 3rd Primary ballot option.
  • +1
    Karma March 26, 2008 04:03:53
    Karma

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    If Barack OBama is not nominanted I probably will not vote at all. I am just tired of politics as usual with the good old boys and girls in charge.
  •
    Fef Karma April 01, 2008 06:49:11
    Fef
    I find it ironic that we can understand your perspective of saying "good old girl" in charge. The country has made a lot of progress that electing a woman doesn't seem like a change.
  • +1
    JDC~Saved by grace~ March 09, 2008 17:33:24
    JDC~Saved by grace~

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    Some seem to think if they vote out their party affiliaton they increase the chances for their candidates, what and if their candidate would loose because of their cross party lines.
  • +2
    Janet March 09, 2008 14:00:49
    Janet

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    Independents are not allowed to vote in our primary. I do not know any one personally who would have wasted their vote for a conservative and voted for one of the Democrats. I think talk is cheap and we believe everything we hear.
  • +1
    mary March 09, 2008 13:42:48
    mary

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    Why cant everyone just be a republican?
  •
    asnoj mary March 23, 2008 19:20:03
    asnoj
    well im not a republican-- mostly democrate but i do believe in some republican ideas- see republican politicans i find a real idiots like bush psh thats all im gonna say-- bush
  •
    Good-by... mary June 25, 2008 02:37:19
    Good-bye-Bush
    Have you been watching what has happened since Bush took office?
    Gee Wiz ..... who wants more of that?
  • +3
    Jwalden --- Constitution Party March 09, 2008 13:08:07
    Jwalden --- Constitution Party

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    The people have to choose the best person to run the country, So the people should have the freedom to vote as they will for whom they will.
  • +2
    chainsaw March 07, 2008 18:07:24
    chainsaw

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    Roughly two thirds of this country belong to one of the two big parties. What about the other third called "Independents"? McCain's nomination can be attributed to a lot of Independents voting for him. Certainly the Republican base didn't support the most liberal candidate on the ballot.
  • +2
    Fef chainsaw March 09, 2008 06:17:44
    Fef
    If someone registers as an independent, should they get to select the nominee from a party they refused to join?
  •
    chainsaw Fef March 09, 2008 10:06:58
    chainsaw
    Good question Fef. Someone that registers or claims to be an Independent does not belong to any particular party, hence independent. There is no Independent primary. Are you suggesting that Independents should not be independents and should join a certain party during primary season if they want to exercise their right to vote during the primaries? It's a two way street where the same rules apply to both Republicans and Democrats. If we're all using the same rules, how can that be considered disserting?
  • +1
    mary Fef March 09, 2008 13:37:23
    mary
    I agree, I dont know any republican who voted for Mccain. I know the independents voted him in, so therefore I dont think they should be allowed to vote not unless there is an independent on the ticket.
  •
    JDC~Sav... Fef March 09, 2008 17:28:23
    JDC~Saved by grace~
    Good well said and thought out response!
  •
    Good-by... Fef June 25, 2008 02:40:44
    Good-bye-Bush
    Yes
  •
    copjoe March 07, 2008 17:13:03
    copjoe

    Partisan Primary: voters should chose candidates only from their party

    thats the only reason the demorcrats have a mess. The sad thing is that people just don't see that if hussein wins, all those independant voters that are voting for hussein will go back to vote for McCain and he will ose. Thats the plan by the republicans. They know she will beat him why let her win and then the republicans lose the general election. Hussein will not win the general dispite what the polls say. He is too green and to much of a preacher not enough substance.
  • +1
    Fef copjoe March 09, 2008 06:19:06
    Fef
    Your point gets muddled while trying to ignore your reference to Sen. Obama with his middle name.
  •
    VotedRight - CENTRIST March 07, 2008 09:51:34
    VotedRight - CENTRIST

    Open Primary: allow people to pick the best candidate regardless of party

    In many states you go to the polls choose the party you want to vote for then receive that particular parties ballot & cast your vote. They do not make you declare a party and stick with it.

    I know a lot of people in my state that decided to vote for their opposing parties "weakest link" believing that the were giving their own party a better chance at winning in the General Election.
  • +2
    Fef VotedRi... March 09, 2008 06:20:53
    Fef
    If you know lots of people doing this, why do you favor an "open" primary that allows that behavior? That doesn't seem healthy for a democracy (Constitutional Republic).
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