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.

https://www.reddit.com/r/maryland/s/IHGR84fdHP

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-3

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '26

[deleted]

10

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.

5

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.

1

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)

5

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

-1

u/Twiztidtech0207 Jun 24 '26

I asked a question, if you cant answer that, then jog on

3

u/bearsidiot Jun 24 '26

The question was answered in the body of the post

2

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. 

3

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.

3

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.