Why Republicans Should Vote in Democratic Presidential Primaries This Year

I usually (although not always) vote Republican. Unhappily, I voted for Donald Trump after working against him in the primary. Don’t want to vote for him again; but might have to. My vote in the general election won’t matter in solidly-blue Vermont. But my vote in the Democratic primary here on Super Tuesday, March 3, does matter.

You shouldn’t be discouraged from voting in your state’s primary because you think a candidate you don’t like is going to get a majority of the votes in your state. According to Democratic Party rules, delegates will be apportioned by the percentage of vote each candidate gets in the state primary (with a minimum of 15%). Even if Sanders wins Vermont, which is likely, other candidates still might get delegates.

If Vermont did not have an open primary which allows voters to select either party’s ballot on primary day, I would register as a Democrat in order to cast this important vote. Reregistration is necessary to vote in critically important California, which is a Super-Tuesday state and whose results will influence much of the rest of the primary season.

Three reason why Republicans and Independents should vote in the Democratic primary:

1. The Democratic nominee may well become president;
2. There should be a palatable alternative to Trump;
3. Recognition that the Democratic nomination will not be determined solely by the extreme left may help arrest the leftward lurch by all of the Democratic aspirants.

Haven’t made up my mind whom to vote for and won’t early-vote because I need as much information as possible before deciding.

I’m not going to do what cross-voters are often accused of: vote for the worst possible candidate in order to help “my side” (that would be Warren IMO). I don’t have a side except what I think is best for the country and neither party is representing that very well right now.

Won’t vote for the candidate with the best chance of beating Trump (Sanders IMO).

I will vote for the person I think will be the best president. In contention now for my vote are Bloomberg, Klobuchar, and Biden. Even if one of these or one of the other D candidates wins the nomination, not sure yet whom I’ll vote for in the general. That’ll depend on the campaign itself.

These are the states with open Democratic primaries (list from Wikipedia).

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Massachusetts (Primaries open for "unenrolled"/unaffiliated voters only)
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina (Primaries open for unaffiliated voters only)
• North Dakota
• Ohio (Affiliate with a party by voting in its primary)
• Oklahoma (Only Democratic primary is open to Independent voters)
• South Carolina
• South Dakota (Only Democratic primary is open to Independent voters)
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah (For the Democratic Presidential Primary)
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington (State)
• Wisconsin

See also: I Voted for Donald Trump