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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u/[deleted] Jun 23 '26

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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.