Can Someone Please Explain How MIXED Primaries Work?

we were required to tell the poll workers which one we wanted. Dem or Rep.

Anyone can vote in anything, but only one.

Party registration is meaningless, in so far as primaries are concerned.

Thanks though.

You request your ballot when you vote. If you request an R ballot, you become registered R. If you request D, you become registered D. You can also request an issues only ballot.

It appears the way it works is you claim party affiliation not when you register, but by requesting one or the other's ballot in the primary. Anyone registered to vote could request either a Dem or Rep ballot- they would then be listed as a dem or rep on the voter rolls unless they chose the other party's ballot in a future primary

You're choosing to vote in either the Republican or Dem primaries

That sounds like how it is here in MO, but we are listed as "open," not "mixed." What's the difference between the two?

of registration in these 'mixed' states.

In Michigan, we have an open primary. I am registered as an independent and when I choose the Dem ballot I don't become registered as a Dem. I'm still an independent. I think MO is the same way. But it looks like in the 'mixed' states, it isn't quite an open party because you are declaring your affiliation when you choose a ballot.

That's how I read it, anyway. Maybe it's meant to deter people from crossing over for strategic reasons rather than sticking with the party they identify with?

In NC

1. If you are Dem or Rep, you can only vote in that primary
(Me a registered Dem had to vote in Dem primary. My father-in-law a registered Rep had to vote in Rep primary)
2. If you are unaffiliated, you can vote in either primary
(My wife & mother-in-law are unaffiliated. They each requested a Dem ballot to vote for Bernie)
3. Registered Independent - is this such a thing? Someone told me that as a "registered independent" they were prohibited in voting in either primary today. I'm not sure of whether this is true or not, I can only vouch for #1 & #2


From the NC site:

If you are unaffiliated (yes, there is such a thing), you choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot.

In #3 I said " Registered Independent " and asked if there was such a thing since I acknowledged "unaffiliated" in #2

Same thing.

And you'll hopefully understand where you went wrong.

was that you were handed a ballot with Republican on one side and Democratic on the other. You go to the machine and vote one side or the other. If you vote on both sides, the ballot is spoiled and won't count.

So, it allows for crossover voting and independents to vote in party primaries. Good people disagree over this (should independents get to choose candidates for the parties?), but that's the way it's set up in some states.

In Washington state, you need to sign an affidavit confirming that you can be considered a Democrat or Republican for that caucus. It's then considered a felony to vote for the other party in their primary or caucus, but in 2008 the Democrats told me that they did not intend to cross check the lists (they held a "beauty contest" primary a couple of months after the caucus).

I'm not personally a fan of open primaries, but they exist, and can wreak some havoc, as we have seen

The parties decide whether independents can vote in their primary. So, as an independent, you don't know until the party makes a decision.

I was registered as an independent, but changed to Dem, so I could vote for Bernie. Once I vote, or if the primary is "over" before I vote, I will re-register as an independent.

California also has a bunch of other wacky election laws that were put in by ballot questions. They were clearly designed in an attempt to give Republicans a leg up.

When you say "Independent" in California, you are referring to an actual established political party. The CDP has decided you can vote in the Democratic Party primary if you are a registered Democrat or a registered No Party Preference. When you get to your precinct, the precinct worker will ask you which party's ballot you would like. If you want to vote for Bernie, you tell them Democrat.

The Republicans, however, only allow registered Republicans to vote in their primary.

We've been doing massive voter registration here and the fact that the CDP lets NPP to vote in their primary is a good thing because the DNC and the CDP have so soiled the name "Democrat" that, if they had to register as a Democrat to vote for Bernie, many probably wouldn't. We get about half and half.

However, I vote by mail. So how do I get the right ballot?

but all you have to do is call your county election office and they'll have the answer.

North Carolina
https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2016

And, Hybrid Systems
https://ballotpedia.org/Hybrid_primary

and I understand that many in Ohio are crossing over from Democratic to Republican to vote for Kasich. I am wondering if the densely populated areas are open or closed and why it is categorized as 'mixed'. I can't find anything on the interwebs to explain that part of it.

If you're registered Republican, you get the ballot for the Republican candidates.
If you're registered Democrat, you get the ballot for the Democratic candidates.

If you're unaffiliated, you choose your ballot.