The Minnesota Primary will be a Semi-Open Primary.

[MineralMan]

What does that mean? Well, it means that when you go to the polling place or an early voting site, you can request a Democratic or Republican ballot, or the ballot of a third party. Since Minnesota doesn't register voters by party, that means that anyone can vote in any party's primary election.

So, why is Minnesota's primary a "Semi-Open" one? Because you have to state verbally that you "generally agree" with the party's principles. You also have to sign your name to that effect before being give the party's ballot you requested.

Oddly enough, there is a lot of blowback about that pledge. Since the Republican primary ballot will only have Donald J. Trump's name on it, a lot of Minnesota Republicans were thinking they'd prank the Democratic primary and try to get the least likely candidate to defeat Trump chosen.

That verbal and signed pledge thing, though, is worrisome it seems. Even more so because it's a public document, accessible to political parties and others. So if you're trying to prank the Democrats, you're on record as voting as a Democrat. The Horror! Republicans are pissed off about that pledge and especially about it being public. See, they're allergic to being called Democrats or the word getting out that they voted as a Democrat.

So, a lot of them who might have cross-voted just won't do it. So, the primary is only "Semi-Open." Some will still, no doubt, hold their noses and say the party agreement pledge and sign their name, but not as many who would have had there not been that public statement required.

Poor Republicans. Someone always seems to be putting out a stumbling block to prevent their lying shenanigans. The same system was in place back in the old caucus days, too. You had to sign a form saying you agreed with Democratic party principals before participating. That did a great job of keeping GOOPers away from our caucuses. They can't say that. They just can't...

[question everything]

1. And, I suppose, one can always switch registration back and forth

[MineralMan]

2. We still won't be registered by party.

The pledge is only for this primary election.

[frazzled]

3. Oh, they'll do it, and not just in Minnesota

Since the Republican primary is virtually uncontested, I expect there to be a lot of hanky panky from conservatives crossing over to meddle in Democratic primaries in the states that have open or semi-open contests.

This is why I fear we will lose the election in 2020.

[brooklynite]

4. I dispute the notion that "a lot of Republicans" would engage in mischief voting...

Will some Party activists or Rush Limbaugh listeners do so? Perhaps, but that require really caring about the Democratic outcome. The average voter doesn't get that worked up about political outcomes for other Parties. I'd hazard a guess that this would amount to less than 1% of the vote tally.

[MineralMan]

5. Yup. There won't be enough cross-party voting to screw things up.

Republicans are paranoid about public exposure, it seems. Besides, Democrats smell bad and stuff. They can't stand to be around us.

[judeling]

6. A couple of things

The Presidential Primary is now a separate thing. Before people wanting to mess in an election had to choose to do that while other races were being decided within their own party. There were Senate and congressional races that may have been contested.
Before the sign ins were property of the party, so if you did cross party your party wouldn't know.
But because this is now a public record everybody can know.
But last because Amy is on the ballot Republicans can be forgiven.

[R B Garr]

7. Thanks for the reminder about GOP shenanigans in interfering with our primaries.

It's a very old and well-known tactic and you described it perfectly.