We don't register by party in my state - could someone explain the ramifications? Do Independents not get a say in Primaries?
If nothing else, it's a shift away from the hard left and towards the conservative point of view. Dims leaving the party of the Jackass doesn't make them conservatives, but it should give the Dims pause for thought...what am I saying; it will only make the true Dims irate.
Do Independents not get a say in Primaries?
Varies by state. I've lived in five states as an Independent, and have been limited in my voting options during most primaries to nonpartisan races. One state let me pick which ballot I wanted, the Democratic or the Republican, during the primary. The other four would have required me to declare, at registration time, to which party I was affiliated.
Part of the reason I'm so down on the political parties is the way my father was treated as an appointed member of a scientific-base Board. He was eased out because the governer of the state convinced him to change his declared political registration...and that change plus other appointments unbalanced the Board enough that someone had to go. That's the thanks he got for serving his State with dedication. "You did a great job for us, now go home."
I'm unhappy with all the political parties. Interestingly, to me the negatives in each party outweigh the positives, in all cases.
Oh, yes, I will never run for office, or accept an appointment to Board, because of that experience. Plus, I could never, ever pass the litmus tests of any party.
It means that Independents can vote in either primary, in effect actually vote “against” someone. Say vote for Hillary vs Barry in the primary and then turn around and vote R in the election.