Why do most states require voters to register by party?

[Gothic Sponge]

Why do they need to know party affiliation?

[Pepperbelly]

1. primaries. nt

[erpowers]

2. The Primaries

Most states do not hold open primaries in which any person can vote for any candidate. Therefore, people have to register by party so that Republicans will not vote in Democratic primaries and Democrats will not vote in Republican primaries.

[benito]

5. Where do indys fit into this? n/t

[erpowers]

8. Not Sure But

I think indys can vote in the party primaries. I think in some states they may have to declare themselves as a member of either party for that particular primary. I know some states allow indys to vote in the primaries. I am not sure and do not believe they are allowed to vote in both primaries.

[DebJ]

3. frankly I would not have wanted Republicans to vote in my state

Democratic primary.

[RoyGBiv]

4. Entrenchment ...

It's a part of the system as it has developed over time. In previous eras, those not formally affiliated with a party were not a part of that party's internal candidate selection process. Democratic reforms demanded this process be opened to the public in the form of primaries. In order to maintain a degree of control over this process, however, the parties worked legislatively to require people to register with their party in order to be able to so participate, locking them out of participating in any other party.

In short, it's a part of the way the two-party system has been hard-coded into our election laws.

[phantom power]

7. I agree. If a political party wants to hold primaries, they should have

to manage their own in-party election. It was a big mistake to allow the Dems and GOP to piggy-back on the public's election systems.

[troubleinwinter]

6. NOOO, not in California

I am registered as "Decline to state (political affiliation)".

I just figure it's nobody's damned business.

One disadvantage is that one cannot vote for political party candidates in the primaries. California is so late in primaries, it's a done deal here, anyway.

[comradebillyboy]

9. you mean one can't register as an independent?

i think not