Reply #4: Texas has an open primary... [View All]

You declare the party on whose ballot you want to vote. Independents can declare to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary--indeed, Democrats and Republicans can vote in each other's primary. There is no swing voting on a candidate-by-candidate basis in primaries, though. The parties are holding the primaries. You chose which party ballot you want to vote on.


It is indeed because it is primary season--this is when PARTIES chose nominees. In the general election (and in midterms, etc--which are still general elections), you can vote however you like--crossing party lines on a candidate by candidate basis, etc., but in primaries, you are voting to help a party chose it's nominee(s).

On edit: In open primaries, Republicans will be voting in the Democratic primary because there is no doubt that Bush will be their nominee. They will vote in the Democratic primary to influence the outcome--their votes won't influence the Repub outcome because Bush is assured the nomination.