Which states have open primaries (or caucus)?

[SimpleMan]

Many states allow independents or republicans to cross over and vote in the democratic primaries...and vice versa. Because most of the polls that I have seen only account for "democratic voters," I think that the number could be way off . If repubs or independents get into the fray, it could change the whole dynamic. And being that there is no real viable challenger to Chimpy, I bet that many repubs and independents grab a dem ballot. While Kerry looks good in the polls for democratic voters, Dean, Clark or Edwards might be the choice of some independents or repubs that decide to cross over.

I know that MO has an open primary. What are the other states that have an open primary (or caucus)?

[arewethereyet]

1. VA does

don't know about the others

[SharonAnn]

2. Tennessee does. We don't register by party affiliation.

When there's a primary, we just go in and tell them which primary we want to vote in.

I voted in a Republican primary a few years ago because there were no Democrats running for local offices and I wanted to have a decent Republican (if there is such a thing any more) in office.

Our primary is on February 10th.

[Maddy McCall]

3. Mississippi has an open primary

[Corgigal]

4. SC

anyone can vote because we don't have parties on our voters card. We do have race though. I guess SC thought that would be a sneaky way to track republicans and dems..lol

[Nazgul35]

5. Michigan as well....

remember McCain's win in 2000?

[AntiCoup2K4]

6. Washington used to have an open primary but the state parties killed it.

So it's back to the caucus system for us. Never been to one before, so next Saturday will be the first.

The open primaries had their plus side. When I didn't have a preference one way or the other among the Dems running, I would vote for the least evil Republican just to help get the most vile out of the running. For example, voting for McCain in 2000 as a vote against Junior.

As far as independents or even Republicans crossing over for Dean or Clark, I don't know how anybody could consider that a bad thing. Sure there could be those trying to fix the other side's ticket, as I just admitted doing myself. But there could also be those who would legitimately vote for Dean or Clark in November who would absolutely NOT vote for Kerry.

[SimpleMan]

7. I never said it would be a bad thing...

I never said it would be a bad thing. Personally, Kerry is my second to last choice, with Lieberman being last. I hope there are crossover votes to dilute the expected Kerry vote. It's too early to crown anybody.

[Maddy McCall]

9. Washington uses the modified open caucus system, from what I read

Modified open:

"MODIFIED OPEN PRIMARY OR CAUCUS
In a Modified open Primary or Caucus, persons registered with one of the major parties usually may only vote in that party's primary: generally, Democrats may only vote in the Democratic primary, while Republicans may only vote in the Republican primary. However, unlike in a Closed Primary or Caucus, Independents may choose to vote in either party's primary - though there are usually provisions which automatically make an Independent a registered member of whichever party the primary of which he or she has chosen to vote in: this tends to keep the number of Independents who take advantage of their privilege to vote in a Modified open primary or caucus relatively low (making what is called a Modified open primary or caucus, in fact, more of a "modified closed primary or caucus" in its actual operation!)

However, in some Modified Open states, a Democrat voting in the Republican primary or a Republican voting as a Democrat automatically changes one's party affiliation as well; this has tended to reduce such "crossover voting" between the two major parties in those Modified Open states which practice this automatic change in party registration- for many registered party members might very well think twice before casting a primary vote which would have such an impact on their party affiliation."

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/Definitions.html#Modi

[Maddy McCall]

8. Other states with open primaries/caucuses

North Dakota (open caucus)
South Carolina (modified open primary)
Washington (modified open)
Michigan (modified open)
Virginia (open)
Wisconsin (open)
Idaho (open)
Utah (modified open)
California (modified open)
Georgia (open)
Massachusetts (modified open)
Minnesota (modified open)
Ohio (modified open)
Rhode Island (modified open)
Vermont (open)
Kansas (modified open)
Illinois (open)
North Carolina (modified open)
Indiana (modified open)
North Carolina (modified open)
Nebraska (mod. open)
West Virginia (mod. open)
Arkansas (open)
Alabama (open)
Montana (open)

This list is from a cursory check.

Here is the definition of "modified open:"

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/Definitions.html#Modi

MODIFIED OPEN PRIMARY OR CAUCUS
In a Modified open Primary or Caucus, persons registered with one of the major parties usually may only vote in that party's primary: generally, Democrats may only vote in the Democratic primary, while Republicans may only vote in the Republican primary. However, unlike in a Closed Primary or Caucus, Independents may choose to vote in either party's primary - though there are usually provisions which automatically make an Independent a registered member of whichever party the primary of which he or she has chosen to vote in: this tends to keep the number of Independents who take advantage of their privilege to vote in a Modified open primary or caucus relatively low (making what is called a Modified open primary or caucus, in fact, more of a "modified closed primary or caucus" in its actual operation!)

However, in some Modified Open states, a Democrat voting in the Republican primary or a Republican voting as a Democrat automatically changes one's party affiliation as well; this has tended to reduce such "crossover voting" between the two major parties in those Modified Open states which practice this automatic change in party registration- for many registered party members might very well think twice before casting a primary vote which would have such an impact on their party affiliation.