A question from an outsider to the election

[MissHoneychurch]

I just told my mom about the debate and the registration. She asked why you have to register as Democrat, Republican or Independent when you register to vote. She thinks that way the vote isn't secret anymore. Could you please explain it to us?

Thanks in advance

[taterguy]

1. It just determines which primaries you get to vote in

Otherwise, there would be the temptation to vote for the least electable candidate in the other party's primary

[MissHoneychurch]

2. Thank you taterguy

that we understand.

[taterguy]

5. Once in a while I can be helpful instead of being a pain in the ass

Please don't tell anyone though

[MissHoneychurch]

8. I won't tell anybody

I promise :)

[Guava Jelly]

3. In the Missouri primary

You walked in showed a person your voters registration card and was asked if you wanted a democratic ballot or a republican one.
It kind of bothered me a little actually.

[endthewar]

6. Actually, that did happen some in the Dem primary

especially if you look at some of the exit polls. For example in Indiana, 7% of the Hillary voters said in the exit polls that if the general election was between Hillary and McCain, they would vote for McCain. Keep in mind that this was after McCain had sealed away the Republican nomination months before.

[DFW]

4. Although some states allow anyone to vote in any primary, many do not

In those states, your party affiliation allows you to vote in that party's
primary election, and in the primary of no other party. I remember when I
first registered to vote, and the guy in front of me thought he'd be real
cool, and declared "no way I'm registering under any party. Put me down as an
independent." The woman duly followed his instructions, and when he left,
muttered, "you're so smart, you just denied yourself the right to vote in
any primary election in this state (Pennsylvania, where I was in college,
at the time)." I was next in line, and my Democratic party registration has
stood ever since.

[demmiblue]

7. Our voter registration form does not have an area where you choose

Democrat, Republican or Independent.

However, you did have to ask for a Democratic or Republican ballot in order to vote in the primaries. This was the first time they used separate ballots. I felt that it was an invasion of privacy.


Edited to add a link so you can see what the form looks like:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf