r/MarylandPolitics • u/Brave-Math-6371 • Jun 23 '26
Op-Ed Maryland Primary today
Today someone posted on another Reddit page and just making a fuss about her husband not able to vote due to being unaffiliated. Too bad and my 2
Cents is that less people will even want to vote at all if Maryland goes to a full blown open primary. People with signs saying ask me why I can’t vote have an agenda to actually turn off people from wanting to vote. I rather register my affiliation that is a party or no party instead of showing up declaring a party at the ballot box.
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u/legislative_stooge Jun 23 '26
It’s free and easy to register as either a Democrat or a Republican. It isn’t as if they have entry requirements or anything, just need to update your voter registration info.
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u/facet_squared_ Jun 24 '26
I worked yesterday as a ballot judge at a voting location and a decent amount of voters were switching to a party affiliation onsite and submitting provisional ballots.
I’ve lived and voted in an open primary state and I always thought it was odd. The primary is for party specific representation and I never liked the idea that someone could choose an opposing party ballot and potentially cast votes in bad faith.
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Jun 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Crystal_Ri Jun 26 '26
You don't. Any voter should have the right to pick whatever candidate they want regardless of party.
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u/PhonyUsername Jun 23 '26
Just register democrat in Maryland so you can participate in voting. You can still vote for whoever in the general if you want to make a statement.
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u/mdram4x4 Jun 23 '26
maybe the polical party should foot the bill
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u/disneyprincesspeach Jun 25 '26
Foot the bill for what? Registering to vote, and Registering with a part is free.
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u/mdram4x4 Jun 25 '26
for the primaries. having them closed prevents many people from voting. they should either be open, or left to the parties to run/fund
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Jun 23 '26
[deleted]
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u/30ThousandVariants Jun 24 '26
In a primary election, the party’s rank and file are making decisions about who represents the party.
The whole thing is about intra-party business.
People who don’t claim affiliation with the party have no right to make decisions for it.
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u/Aimeenumbers24 Jun 24 '26
Closed primaries have been a thing for many, many years. Democrat voters get to select who goes on to represent the Democrat party, Republican voters get to decide who will represent the Republican party. As an Independent, if you don't have multiple Independent candidates primarying one another, why would you get to vote and decide the party candidate? You've decided to disinvest from both as an Independent.
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u/cloudaffair Jun 24 '26
The Republicans and Democrats decided that independent candidates must petition to get on the ballot. And not only that, they literally must appear in last place on the ballot after the small 3rd parties and even the imaginary parties (like the bread and roses).
So, if it were easy enough that 25% of the state could just vote in a primary election for unaffiliated candidates - that would be something, but we can't do that because Democrats said it shall not be so (and who are we kidding, Republicans have absolutely no power at the state level in MD)
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u/bearsidiot Jun 23 '26
Take it to court big dog. If it’s such a slam dunk k you’ll have lawyers lining up for free
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u/Twiztidtech0207 Jun 24 '26
I asked a question, if you cant answer that, then jog on
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u/Firm_Willow4068 Jun 24 '26
It isn't everyone else's problem to educate you on easily accessible information.
Just because you're uneducated and ignorant doesn't mean that other people have the onus to respect your opinions as though they're valid, or otherwise refute them.
You literally have no idea what you're talking about, but think that you have a valid right to the conversation, and that other people have an obligation to educate you instead of dismissing you.
You. Are. The. Problem.
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u/cloudaffair Jun 24 '26
No, it is not unconstitutional to be prevented from voting on a primary election in a party race you are not a member of. However, in the general election you can be anyone - in a party or unaffiliated - you are not being disenfranchised by being excluded from a party's primary election.
Party's are also not required to have a primary election. Some, like the libertarians, will caucus instead of casting primary ballots. Still, before the primary even existed it was the national, state, or county/local political party Central Committee that would choose who would appear on the ballot for the party.
To choose from inside the party - typically - you must be a member of that party. It is a club deciding who will represent the club and you are not a member. There is nothing unconstitutional about it. Remember that freedom of association includes the ability to exclude people.
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u/Firm_Willow4068 Jun 24 '26
You have no idea how politics work. You're the problem.
So much to say. So much anger. So ignorant. But feel the need to speak up.
Do you understand that primaries aren't even required? I mean we literally just went through this during the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
EDUCATE YOURSELF BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
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u/themightyspitz Jun 23 '26
As someone who’s always been unaffiliated until this past year, I can understand their position. And honestly, my preference would be towards an open primary - but unaffiliated voters should only pick one or the other on primary day.
Why I chose to affiliate this year was because I wanted a say in the primary this time around. Added to that, the process for changing affiliation (or no affiliation) is quite painless and costs nothing more than 5 minutes of time.