Three Republican parties and three Democratic parties?

[just_me]

Where I live, there are 3 Republican parties and 3 Democratic parties.

1. County party
2. State party
3. National party

We have a closed primary for the Republican party, so you can't vote in the primary unless you register with a party but a citizen can't join just one Republican party. If you join one party, you have to join them all.

Although I don't believe that this is unlawful or unconstitutional, it is counter to the philosophy of our country.

Our country is a good country because of "separation of powers"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_Powers

Perhaps this is one reason why the political parties are so strong and the regular People are not.

I want to vote for the person, not the party.

I want one candidate for US president in one party and another candidate for the state house from another party.

Why is it that I can't affiliate with the Democratic National Party and affiliate with the state and county Republican parties?

This is un-American.
[quote]
It's called freedom.
[end of quote]

I agree that it is the freedom of our 29 county parties to affiliate with the state party and the 50 state parties to affiliate with the national party.

But, the problem is this. I don't have the freedom to affiliate with the county Republican party and become a county delegate and support my candidate for the state house....

Well, I can change parties back and forth, so what good is the law that allows the Republican party in my state to have a closed primary.

All this law has done is confused people about who could vote in the presidential primary and caused a lower turnout because there were so many ifs, ands, and buts, that even the election judges didn't know the rules.

[Retired]

It's called freedom.

[Mark D]

Write your state legislators and tell them to open the primary. It's been done in other states. And depending on where you live, popular referendums might also be able to change the law.

[SteveA8]

In the long run, it doesn't prevent you from voting Democrat if you want to vote Democrat. Also, if you feel like switching you can do so any time. I'm an Independent, but I voted for Obama in the MA primary and became a Democrat. I switched right back to inependant the same day. When the general election comes, I will vote for McCain.

[bstuck2000]

in the primary you vote by party in actual elections you vote for whoever you want

[Mr. Bean]

Freedom of choice!