Why is it legal in washington state to tell us that we have to choose a party before we vote?

Question

I don't understand why we have to choose a party )democrat/republican party) before we vote. doesn't that take our right to VOTE for the person that we feel that will do the job as right as these idiots can!!!!

Answer 1

Nevada has a closed-primary system. Sounds like Washington does, too. You can still vote for anyone in the general election. I don't agree with the 2-party system, either. I, myself, would like to see a multi-party parliamentary system in the US.

Answer 2

In my own opinion it could be that Washington State's primaries are what is known as a "Closed" primary. That Means only people that are registered with the Dem, Rep or Libertarian parties can vote in those primaries.

My home state of California used to have that until 1998 when they had all the candidates on one ballot. The candidate from each party with the most votes in the primary would then be on the November General election ballot.

I live in Texas, so the only time you declare a party is when you go to the polls. But I do wish they'd have a sample ballot mailed to the voters beforehand so you know what it is you are voting on!

Answer 3

You don't have to choose. The ballot you just recieved is for the primaries. In a primary you can only vote for the people running to represent one party. You were free to vote for any independents on the balot regardless of which party you choose. They just don't want someone voting for the top Republicans and the worst Democrats, or vice-versa. In the regular election, you will not have to choose. You can vote for people from both parties, but they will have been chosen to represent that party by people who decided that they supported that party more than the other.

Answer 4

Because this week, or this month - is the PRIMARY election, in which you are eliminating candidates by narrowing the field. In the GENERAL election, you can vote for any candidate regardless of the party. Primaries are limited to one party because they want voters to choose just one party and help narrow the field of candidates in that party to just one candidate. You can choose whatever party you want, but only one. It is not disenfranchising you at all - it is how the system works, and how it has worked, and worked well for a long, long time.

You need to educate yourself on the process before tearing it apart. In November, you can go to the polls and vote for any idiot that you want. Right now, in the primaries, is the time that we are limited to choosing one party, and then picking the candidates that we think will best represent that party in November.

Answer 5

The person who answered you have a constitutional right to vote for whoeever you want is only semi-right. In some states, you DO have to choose a party before you vote. If you think you want to vote against the party you registered for, then you have to disaffliate. This has to be done some time before the election. There is a deadline. Then after the election, you re affiliate with the party you want. NOT fair in my opinion. Not at ALL.

If you don't think it's fair, start a petition. Do something about it.

Answer 6

What's interesting is that there are only two parties - you can't choose Independent. And I learned last year that you can't write in candidates that aren't from the party you choose.

I don't understand why it matters. Or who thought this was a good idea. I just think it's a way to pigeon hole all of us into a group. I thought I'd end up on a ton of Republic mailing lists, but nothing has arrived yet.

Answer 7

Can't you choose Independent?

Answer 8

no it is not right and you do not have to do it. You have a constitutional right to vote for WHOEVER you want.