You DON'T register as a party member in Texas. You vote in the primary. That's how you declare what party you are registered with - by voting. If you vote in the Republican primary, you're a Republican. If you vote in the Democrat primary, you're a Democrat. If you don't vote in either, you're an independent and the only reason the state cares is if they don't want you to vote in the run-off if you didn't vote in the first primary.
So either a) you're not a Texan, b) you're lying or c) you're ignorant about how party affiliation works in Texas. You may choose which is the correct description.
Voted Perot in 92. Why does my voter registration say R ?
Exactly the way it is in Illinois. You walk in to the polling place on primary day and they ask you which ballot you want - there's no registration by political party whatsoever.
I have heard my Pastor comment more than once that he's "a registered democrat, yet always votes republican". I'm going to call him on it some day. That kind of willful ignorance is inexcusable.
By the way in more than 40 years of voting here, I've never been asked for any identification.
1. Recently, Texans registered to vote, got a voter card.
2. Those who vote in the Republican primary will become
Republicans and their voter card will be stamped “Republican”. Those who vote in the Democrat primary will have their cards stamped “Democrat”.
3. For the run-off election, the voter must vote in the run-off of the party primary in which he;she voted.
There is no Independent designation for voters. If you don't vote in either primary, you may call yourself an Independent but it is not noted anywhere.
I have a Texas ballot for this primary - there is no write-in line and hasn't been for a number of years when write-ins for anyone were stopped for primary elections. The only way now to become a write-in candidate now is to declare as a write-in candidate by a certain date before the general election (not the primary). If there are declared write-ins for the general election, a list of these declared write-ins will be posted in every voting booth.
This Texas ballot for the Republican primary lists all of the Republicans who were candidates for president. They are all there - you may vote for Perry or Newt or Bachman or Santorum or Romney or Huntsman or John Davis, or Charles Roemer or Ron Paul or vote “Uncommitted”.
Voting for a candidate who has dropped out does you no good except for your conscience and I plan to vote for Newt.