Question from the frozen tundra to the north: Are primaries in Texas open to all or only for registered party members?
They are open, but you have to state whether you are voting in the Republican primary or the Democrat primary.
When I was asked that question at the voting precinct, I stated “Well, until there is an official Tea Party, I’ll have to go with the Republican primary, I guess.”
Texas does not have registered party members. You declare your party when you go to vote. The only limitation is that you cannot vote in one party’s runoff election if you voted in the other party’s original election.