presidential primary

[redbird]

The Massachusetts presidential primary was today, as part of "Super Tuesday." Because Massachusetts has open primaries, I am registered as an "unenrolled" voter, meaning I can vote in whichever party's primary I like, and can decide that at the last minute.

I was dithering between asking for a Democratic primary ballot and voting for "uncommitted," as a message to Biden that I don't like his support of Netanyahu and think the US should be pushing (harder) for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, or a Republican ballot to vote against Trump, which at this point means for Nikki Haley. I made my decision at the last minute, when the poll worker asked me which ballot I wanted. I asked for a Republican ballot, meaning I voted in the Republican primary for the first time in my life.

Voting in the Republican primary feels weird; voting for a candidate I dislike and expect to lose also feels weird. I've often voted for candidates who I expected to lose, because I hoped they would win. Haley would be a horrible president, but not I think as bad as Trump. If the Massachusetts primary had been earlier, I would probably have gritted my teeth and voted for Chris Christie, who was running an anti-Trump campaign. Teeth gritted in part because I lived in New York City when Christie was governor of New Jersey.

The regular state primary will be in September, and I will happily take a Democratic ballot and vote for my incumbent congresswoman, Ayanna Pressley.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

I thought about registering Republican to vote for Haley but I couldn't do it. In addition to all her political positions ever, I bear her a grudge for how she treats her immigrant heritage. You are (unsurprisingly) more sensible than I.

[redbird]

I'm not sure if I'm more sensible, or more cynical, or cynical in a slightly different way.

[adrian_turtle]

I would have felt a great deal more uncomfortable *registering* as a Republican, rather than just voting in the Republican primary with the ability to casually vote in the Democratic primary in a few months. The first pollworker asked if I was a Republican or a Democrat (rather than which ballot I wanted), and it was extraordinarily uncomfortable to say "Republican." Not as uncomfortable as wearing a Nazi uniform to infiltrate one of their meetings, but in that direction. I bitterly resent what my country has become.

[minoanmiss]

Oh, I thought I'd have to register as a Republican to vote in their primary. I am greatly relieved I wouldn't actually have to do that. But yeah even calling myself a Republican for the duration of a primary would inflict what the kids call "psychic damage". I hear you.

[adrian_turtle]

When you register to vote, you can choose a party, or NOT choose a party. In MA, registering without choosing a party means you are registered as "unenrolled" and you are eligible to vote in any primary. (Only one. You go in and they give you one ballot.) This year the choices were Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian.
Some other states do it differently. Some have "closed primaries," where you need to register in advance with a party in order to vote in its primary, though this is becoming less common. Some with "open primaries" use other names for voters who register without naming a political party...unaffiliated or independent, rather than unenrolled.

[minoanmiss]

makes notes Thank you for explaining this to me -- I had it muddled.