GOP Nominee
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There has been quite a bit of debate here regarding whether Michigan’s new Jan 15th primary will be open or closed. So I contacted the Republican Party of Michigan yesterday, and an official confirmed that their Jan 15th, 2008 primary will be open.
I think I know where some the confusion stems from. According to my source, by the DNC definition Michigan’s primary is technically closed because you are forced to choose one party ballot at the polls. So reports that used DNC party officials as sources for their story may have reported the technical truth from the DNC’s perspective.
But by most everyone else’s definition, Michigan will be an open primary. Any person may walk into the polls on Jan. 15th 2008, choose a Republican or Democrat ballot, and vote for that party’s presidential nominee.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Illinois has an open primary for everyone but election judges. I think open primaries are fine. Hopefully, dems will be encouraged to vote Republican if they get inspired by a candidate.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:24 am
I wonder how many Democrats will vote for Paul?
September 6th, 2007 at 11:28 am
That is correct. One of these days I would like someone to explain how it is that you close a state-run primary in a state that doesn’t have party registration.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Geez. I don’t know how this will play out. Maybe it means that future polling will have to include even a small number of Democrats. What do you all think? I know if the Republican nomination was definitely in the bag and my vote would have more effect in a Democrat primary and I could vote in it, I would…for Kucinich
September 6th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Ron Paul is a 3rd party candidate… He’d be better off in that role.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
This is correct. The controversy was over the requirement that the voters have to choose either a democratic or republican ballot. This could be considered an unofficial declaration of party affiliation, and the lists of who took what ballot would be made availible to the state parties. Lots of people here in MI like the fact that they don’t have to declare party preference so their kind of upset.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
This is correct. The controversy was over the requirement that the voters have to choose either a democratic or republican ballot. This could be considered an unofficial declaration of party affiliation, and the lists of who took what ballot would be made availible to the state parties. Lots of people here in MI like the fact that they don’t have to declare party preference so they’re kind of upset.
September 6th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
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