Voting in the primaries (live, best, registered)

[JustMeEC]

I am not affiliated with any political party but I am interested in voting in the primaries this year. I took a look at the NC BOE site and I was surprised to see it's a semi-closed system. I just wanted a sanity check from you good folks, since I've never lived in a state with a semi-closed primary. According to the site, I am able to vote in the primary without declaring a for a specific party. Am I reading that correctly?

Many thanks!

[carolinadawg2]

Yes, thats correct. if you are registered as unaffiliated, you may choose which party's (R, D, L) primary you wish to vote in.

[toot68]

If you are non-affiliated, you can vote in the primary for any party, but you have to pick the party whose primary you want to vote in and are able to only vote in the primary races for that party.

That is, you can't vote in the republican primary for president and the democratic party for governor and the libertarian party for senator. You have to pick which one is most important to you.

[JustMeEC]

Thanks for clarifying!

[fscottfitz]

So, do we tell the person at the desk "I'd like the ballot for the _____ party?" I don't remember doing this in the past and I thought I've been unaffiliated for several years now.

[boogityboogity]

Originally Posted by fscottfitz

So, do we tell the person at the desk "I'd like the ballot for the _____ party?" I don't remember doing this in the past and I thought I've been unaffiliated for several years now.

Yep. Pretty much this. Actually, once you confirm your name and address, and they see that you're unaffiliated, they ask you which ballot you would like.

[Francois]

Originally Posted by JustMeEC

I am not affiliated with any political party but I am interested in voting in the primaries this year. I took a look at the NC BOE site and I was surprised to see it's a semi-closed system. I just wanted a sanity check from you good folks, since I've never lived in a state with a semi-closed primary. According to the site, I am able to vote in the primary without declaring a for a specific party. Am I reading that correctly?

Yes, in fact, being Unaffiliated gives you the most choice in the Primaries! They will ask you whether you want a Republican, Democratic, or Unaffiliated ballot--I always pick the one for the party that's more important for me, either choosing which of two candidates I like the best in the party I tend to vote for, or voting AGAINST the one I like least in the opposite party.

If you vote in a primary and the other party has a Primary runoff, you won't be able to vote, however (I found this out one year). Runoffs are only available to those who voted the first time around, in that party (they do keep track of which ballot they give you).

PUBLIC SERVICE REMINDER: THE PRIMARY HAS BEEN MOVED UP THIS YEAR FROM MAY TO MARCH! DEADLINE TO REGISTER OR CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS IS FEBRUARY 19.

[carolinadawg2]

Originally Posted by Francois

Yes, in fact, being Unaffiliated gives you the most choice in the Primaries! They will ask you whether you want a Republican, Democratic, or Unaffiliated ballot--I always pick the one for the party that's more important for me, either choosing which of two candidates I like the best in the party I tend to vote for, or voting AGAINST the one I like least in the opposite party.

If you vote in a primary and the other party has a Primary runoff, you won't be able to vote, however (I found this out one year). Runoffs are only available to those who voted the first time around, in that party (they do keep track of which ballot they give you).

PUBLIC SERVICE REMINDER: THE PRIMARY HAS BEEN MOVED UP THIS YEAR FROM MAY TO MARCH! DEADLINE TO REGISTER OR CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS IS FEBRUARY 19.

I believe you can pick from Democratic, Republican or Libertarian ballots in the primary. I don't think there is such a thing as an unaffiliated ballot.

[Francois]

Originally Posted by carolinadawg2

I believe you can pick from Democratic, Republican or Libertarian ballots in the primary. I don't think there is such a thing as an unaffiliated ballot.

Actually there is, for things like Bonds, Constitutional Amendments, etc that are not a "person" running. But you're right; I left off Libertarian.

[carolinadawg2]

Originally Posted by Francois

Actually there is, for things like Bonds, Constitutional Amendments, etc that are not a "person" running. But you're right; I left off Libertarian.

Wouldn't those issues (bonds, amendments) appear on all 3 partisan ballots?