Closed vs. Open Primaries. Hear me out, please

[question everything]

This is not about our individual candidates. I want to post it here because many DUers stay away from the Primaries Forum.

I have always objected to open primaries. I think that only Democrats, or only Republicans, or only Independents, or only members of the pink with green polka dots party should select the party candidates.

In CA now the top two, regardless of party advance to the general elections. And I don't know how good it is.

When I lived in CA, in the 90s, there was one year with open primaries. So I voted in the R one, for the weakest challenger of Barbara Boxer. (He was still the weakest but she won, of course).

But this year, many states will not even have a Republican primaries or if they will, only one candidate will be listed. Worse, in Minnesota, there will not even be a room for a write in candidates.

So what will all the Rs do? Vote in the Democratic primaries, of course, for the ones whom they think, hope, will confuse the results.

Hillary won Minnesota by less than 45,000 votes. So there are many Rs who would love to vote in an open primary. And I am sure that a similar situation exists in other states.

Yes, many complain because the preference (of party, not candidate) will be public knowledge but I don't know how else this can be accomplished. Honestly, I think that disruption of the Democratic primaries is more worrisome than the loss of privacy. And, I suppose, many Rs can register as D and then switch back to vote in the statewide primary..

What do DUers here say?

[Mme. Defarge]

1. Closed, for the reason you have given.

Even though I will have to re-register as a Democrat in my closed primary state after switching to Independent in protest over the party’s treatment of Senator Al Franken.

[still_one]

2. Closed primaries. Lipinski won against Neuman because of open primaries.

[msongs]

3. yes but in a closed primary one of our leading candidates could not vote democratic nt

[BlueSpot]

8. Maybe candidates should be members of the party

Just saying.

My state is open and I would rather it be different.

[hughee99]

4. I think each party should pick their own candidate without interference

From those who may not support the party. I don’t support open primaries now, nor did I support them when some Dems were suggesting people should vote for Trump in the republican primary back in late 2015 when his candidacy was still considered a joke.

If know there’s no way to absolutely guarantee that doesn’t happen, but it shouldn’t be an easy thing to do either (switch parties for primary voting).

[Gothmog]

5. I also object to open primaries

[Maru Kitteh]

6. I have always felt our primaries should be CLOSED.

[question everything]

7. Thanks for all your comments

Especially this year, when, for all practical purpose, there is no Republican primary.

[hedda_foil]

9. I never had a problem with Open primaries before but I sure as shit do now.