Reply #138: I repeat - a primary is not an election. You have no right to participate [View All]

unless you follow the rules for participating.

Second, votes don't select candidates, they establish the number of delegates who do.

Primaries are only governed by state and federal election law simply because they are conducted by ballot on days that involve other state primary selections or elections (partisan and non-partisan in the case of my state). The political parties agree to those standards because the primaries are conducted under the auspices of the government election agencies. Who would argue that it isn't as important in a primary as it is in a general election that the integrity of the ballot be protected?

Thirdly, as has been pointed out ad infinitem, the Supreme Court has said repeatedly that political parties - who used to choose their candidates in smoke filled rooms mind you, have the right to choose their candidates for office any flipping way they choose. Fortunately for us, the days of back room deals are over. Fortunately for us political parties have seen the benefits of opening up the process. We participate because our party establishes a way to do so. But we still must adhere to their rules.