Who can vote in the primaries, and how is that done? I know it's early,

[babylonsister]

but I'm curious and ignorant about the process. Thanks.

[NMDemDist2]

1. every state is different

some have "open primaries" some are only by a registered voter of that party, some are (like Iowa) caucus

so it depends which state you are looking at....

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks. I'll have to check out what this state does. But every

state gives you an opportunity to vote one way or the other w/o going to Iowa. That's what I was wondering about really. Iowa isn't really in my travel plans. :crazy: No offense to Iowans either!

[Debi]

6. No offense taken

We don't vote here in Iowa. At least not in the primary

Also remember that Iowa is only the first step - if the voting public would all educate themselves on the candidates (as I KNOW you do) and quit watching MSM for who the 'leader' is, and not go pull the lever for who MSNBC tells them to than Iowa/Nevada/New Hampshire/South Carolina would not have so much 'power'.

Register to vote as a Democrat and vote for the candidate of your choice.

Iowa schmIowa - we're only one state.

[babylonsister]

8. I had to register Dem to vote in the primary this past year, and did

so happily, so I imagine you have to be registered to a party here in TX to vote.
What do you mean, you don't vote in Iowa? Is that because you have a caucus there? And couldn't you be a part of that?

[hedda_foil]

2. Who can vote in the primaries is determined by the individual states

In some states, any registered voter can choose which primary in which to vote without being a registered member of a party. In others, you have to be registered as a member of the party in whose primary you wish to vote. There are a lot of variations. You need to check the laws for your state.

[EST]

3. Depends on the state.

Here, in Illinois, the primaries for both parties occur on the same day (unfortunately, too late to be much more than a "me too" vote) and when you come into the polling place, you are asked whether you want a democratic or republican ballot. You can vote in one primary or the other but not both.

You then vote for whoever you want on that ballot, they run it through the scanner and that's that.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Every state is different, call your town office.

In my state of NH you can only vote in your registered party's primary, but you can switch out and back in to 'independent' status at the poll. Some states have open primaries, others have registration requirements with varying rules on how and when you have to declare your party affiliation.

[deepthought42]

7. As an Unaffiliated voter in MD...

I cannot vote in the primaries...it sucks, but I'm trying to hang in there til Nov. '08.

[Igel]

9. Primaries in Texas are closed.

You register dem, and when you go to vote in the primary elections you only see the dem candidates.