It is VERY IMPORTANT people know what their State Primary rules are.
If you are a Democrat right now in some states you will need to have switched parties weeks in advance to be able to vote in the Republican primary.
I am providing a link so you can see what your state primary rules are but the exact information is below.
Those who are registered Democrats right now may need to switch parties immediately to be able to vote for Ron Paul in the republican primary.
I believe millions of people who were fooled by Obama and all his lies from the last election are going to be voting Ron Paul for his truths!
But they need to know what they have to do ahead of time.
Please get the information out to everyone, especially those in states that need to register weeks ahead of time for one party or another.
This is our country and our freedoms we are standing up for! This is for our children and this is for our forefathers who formed the country.
I AM DEFENDING AND STANDING UP FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON
I AM DEFENDING AND STANDING UP FOR GEORGE WASHINGTON
I AM DEFENDING AND STANDING UP FOR BEN FRANKLIN
I AM DEFENDING AND STANDING UP FOR ALL WHO SIGNED THEIR NAMES ON OUR BILL OF RIGHTS
I AM DEFENDING AND STANDING UP FOR ALL WHO SIGNED THEIR NAMES ON OUR BILL OF RIGHTS
I AM DEFENDING AND STANDING UP FOR THE CONSTITUTION
I AM DEFENDING AND STANDING UP FOR FREEDOMS
I AM DEFENDING THE ABOVE AND ALL OTHERS WHO SIGNED THEIR NAMES ON THE CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS! IT IS OUR TIME TO DEFEND THEM AND TO BE WHO THEY WERE! THEY STOOD UP TO TYRANNY AT THE RISK OF THEIR LIVES, WE NOW NEED TO DO THE SAME THING AT THE RISK OF OUR FREEDOM!
I put this information in another post of when our forefathers were signing the Declaration of Independence and how they feared for their lives... but were encouraged. This information is from The Secret Teachings of All Ages - it is sacred texts information. The link goes to what are the mysteries of life and what ancient history really was compared to what we are taught. Here is the part about the U.S.
It was during the evening of July 4, 1776, that the second of these mysterious episodes occurred. In the old State House in Philadelphia a group of men were gathered for the momentous task of severing the last tie between the old country and the new. It was a grave moment and not a few of those present feared that their lives would be the forfeit for their audacity. In the midst of the debate a fierce voice rang out. The debaters stopped and turned to look upon the stranger. Who was this man who had suddenly appeared in their midst and transfixed them with his oratory? They had never seen him before, none knew when he had entered, but his tall form and pale face filled them with awe. His voice ringing with a holy zeal, the stranger stirred them to their very souls. His closing words rang through the building: "God has given America to be free!" As the stranger sank into a chair exhausted, a wild enthusiasm burst forth. Name after name was placed upon the parchment: the Declaration of Independence was signed. But where was the man who had precipitated the accomplishment of this immortal task--who had lifted for a moment the veil from the eyes of the assemblage and revealed to them a part at least of the great purpose for which the new nation was conceived? He had disappeared, nor was he ever seen again or his identity established. This episode parallels others of a similar kind recorded by ancient historians attendant upon the founding of every new nation. Are they coincidences, or do they demonstrate that the divine wisdom of the ancient Mysteries still is present in the world, serving mankind as it did of old?
Here are the types of Primaries in the states
Open primary:
Voters of any affiliation may vote for the candidate of whatever party they choose. Some of these open primary states may not have party registration at all; however open primary states do prohibit voters in X primary from going on to participate in Y's primary or runoff. Yet, this prohibition can be difficult to enforce.The crucial issue in open primary states is "crossover" voting, which can contribute to the victory of a nominee closer to the center or radically further away. It most often involves members of Party Y (either in an area dominated by Party X or when Party Y's nominee is a foregone conclusion) voting for the Party X candidate whose views are the most reconciliable with their own. Though this brings the race closer to the center, Democratic and Republican party establishments generally dislike open primaries.
Occasionally, there are concerns about sabotage, or "party crashing," which involves voting for the most polarizing candidate in the other party's primary to bolster the chances that it will nominate someone "unelectable" to general election voters in November. An example is Republicans voting for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential primary.
Closed primary:
Only voters registered with a given party can vote in the primary. Parties may have the option to invite unaffiliated voters to participate. Typically, however, independent voters are left out of the process entirely unless they choose to sacrifice their freedom of association for the opportunity to have their say in who represents them. Closed primaries may also exacerbate the radicalization that often occurs at the primary stage, when candidates must cater to the "base," yet the "fringe" of the party are typically more motivated to turn out.In a few states, independent voters may register with a party on Election Day. However, they must remain registered with that party until they change their affiliation again. A couple of states even allow voters registered with one party to switch their registration at the polls to vote in another party's primary. In these rare instances, a closed primary can more closely resemble open or semi-closed primaries than the closed primaries of other states.
Semi-closed primary:
Independents may choose which party primary to vote in, but voters registered with a party may only vote in that party's primary. The middle ground between the exclusion of independents in a closed primary and the free-for-all of open primaries, the semi-closed, primary mostly eliminates the concern about members registered to other parties "raiding" another's election.Of course people who align with Party X may theoretically still vote in Party Y's primary if they just register as independent, but it appears most voters do not think that way. Moreover, the potential for sabotage through tactical party registration is also present in the strictest of closed primaries.
Top Two/ non-partisan primary:
This method puts all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters then face off in the general election. This type of system is used in California, Louisiana, and Washington, as well as in Nebraska for non-partisan election such as for the state's legislature.Note on terminology: “Top Two” primaries are often referred to as “open primaries,” but that terminology has long been used in reference to the type of party primaries in which all voters may choose in which party’s primary to participate. By contrast, the "Top Two" system eliminates party primaries altogether. It is more accurately described as “nonpartisan primaries.” It would be more precise and less confusing to at least call them “nonpartisan open primaries.”
The following is a running list of states by types of party primary, updated December 2011:
Here are the individual state rules
State | Closed | Open | Semi-Closed | Source | Remarks | Presidential Primary or Caucus |
Alabama | x | Ala. Code § 17-13- 7 | Open | |||
Alaska | R | D | Alaska Stat. §§ 15.25.014, 15.25.060 | Parties select who may vote in their primaries. To vote in the GOP primary, a voter must be registered as a Republican 30 days before Election Day. | Open | |
Arizona | x | Ariz. Att'y Gen. Op. No. I99-025 (R99-049) | Arizona uses a "Presidential Preference" system instead of a traditional primary system. Voters must be registered for a party in order to receive a ballot. | Closed | ||
Arkansas | x | Ark. Code Ann. § § 7-7-306- 308 | Open | |||
California | N/A | N/A | N/A | Proposition 14; CA S.B. 28 | California uses the "Top Two" Plan. On June 8, 2010 voters passed Prop. 14 to create a nonpartisan blanket primary system in which all candidates are listed on the same primary ballot and the top two vote recipients face off in the general election. | R: Closed; D: Semi-Closed |
Colorado | x | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1-7-201 | Closed, but unaffiliated voters may, however, change their party registration up until Election Day. Affiliated voters must change affiliation 29 days prior to the election. | Closed | ||
Connecticut | x | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 9-431, 9-59 | Parties may choose to allow for semi-closed elections if they make a change to their party rules; however, as of now, the primaries remain closed. | Closed | ||
District of Columbia | x | D.C. Code Ann. § 1-1001.09(g)(1); 1-1001.05(b)(1) | Closed primary for D.C. elected officials such as Delegate, Mayor, Chairman, members of Council, and Board of Education. | Closed | ||
Delaware | x | Del. Code Ann. § 3110 | Closed | |||
Florida | x | Fla. Stat. Ann. § 101.021 | Closed | |||
Georgia | x | R: Semi-Closed; D: Open | ||||
Hawaii | x | Haw. Rev. Stat § 12-31 | No party affiliation at registration. | Open | ||
Idaho | R | D | Idaho Code Ann. § 34-904A | Until 2011, all Idaho primaries were open. After the GOP obtained a declaratory judgment that mandating open primaries violated freedom of association and was thus unconstitutional in Idaho Republican Party v. Ysura, the legislature passed a bill allowing parties to choose which type of primary they use. Democrats have chosen a semi-closed primary; unaffiliated voters may register a party at the polls on election day, but they are bound to that party affiliation at the next election. | R: Closed; D: Semi-Closed | |
Illinois | x | 10 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/7-43, -45 | Voters declare their party affiliation at the polling place to a judge who must then announce it "in a distinct tone of voice, sufficiently loud to be heard by all persons in the polling place." If there is no "challenge," the voter is given the primary ballot for his or her declared party. | Semi-Closed | ||
Indiana | x | Ind. Code §§ 3-10- 1-6, 1-9 | Classified as a "modified open" primary." A voter must have voted in the last general election for a majority of the nominees of the party holding the primary, or if that voter did not vote in the last general election, that voter must vote for a majority of the nominees of that party who is holding the primary. However, there is really no way to enforce this, and cross-over occurs often. The same modified open primary is used for the presidential primary. | Open | ||
Iowa | x | Voters may change party on the day of the primary election. | Closed | |||
Kansas | R | D | Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 25-3301 | Federal courts declared KS law unconstitutional and now the parties decide who will vote in their primaries. In 2012, Republicans will hold closed primaries; however, they will allow unaffiliated voters to register Republican on election day. Democrats will allow both affiliated and unaffiliated voters to vote. | Closed | |
Kentucky | x | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 116.055 | Closed | |||
Louisiana | x | Act 570 | The congressional primaries changed from a closed system to an open system with the passage of Act 570, effective January 1, 2011 | Closed | ||
Maine | x | Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, §§ 111, 340 | Closed | |||
Maryland | x | Md. Code Ann., Elec. Law §§ 3- 303, 8-202 | Parties may choose to hold open primaries, but must notify the State Board of Elections 6 months prior. | Closed | ||
Massachusetts | x | Mass. Gen. Laws ch.53 §37 | Semi-Closed | |||
Michigan | x | Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.575; Public Act 163 | Voters do not have to declare a political party to vote; but must vote for all one party once they enter the voting booth. | Closed | ||
Minnesota | x | Minn. Stat. § 204D.08 | Open | |||
Mississippi | x | Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-575 | No registration by party affiliation. However, in order to participate in the primary, a voter must support the nominations made in that primary. | Open | ||
Missouri | x | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.397 | R: Semi-Closed; D: Open | |||
Montana | x | Mont. Code Ann. § 13-10-301 | No party registration in MT. Each voter has the choice which ballot to use on Election Day. | Open | ||
Nebraska | x | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-702 | Partisan primaires are closed, meaning congressional primaries are closed; however unaffiliated voters may vote for a candidate of a particular party. | Semi-Closed | ||
Nevada | x | Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 293.287, 293.518 | Closed | |||
New Hampshire | x | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann § 659:14 | Closed primaries in effect; but the statute allows for semi-closed primary if that party's rules allow for it. | Semi-Closed | ||
New Jersey | x | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 19:31-13.2 | Closed | |||
New Mexico | x | N.M. Stat. §1-12-7.2 | Parties may choose to allow for semi-closed elections if they make a change to their party rules; however, as of now, the primaries remain closed. | Closed | ||
New York | x | N.Y. Elec. Law § 5-304 | Closed | |||
North Carolina | x | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 163-59, -119 | State law provides for closed primaries, but both parties have opened them up to unaffiliated voters, who may choose on Election Day. | Semi-Closed | ||
North Dakota | x | N.D. Cent. Code, § 40-21-06 | No party registration. | R: Closed; D: Open | ||
Ohio | x | Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.19 | Voters' right to vote in the primary may be challenged on the basis that they are not affiliated with the party for whom they are voting in the primary. | Closed | ||
Oklahoma | x | Okla. Stat. §26-1-104 | Closed | |||
Oregon | x | Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 247.203, 254.365 | Closed | |||
Pennsylvania | x | 25 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 2812 | Closed | |||
Rhode Island | x | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 17-9.1-23 | An unaffiliated voter for the past 90 days may designate his or her party affiliation on election day by voting for that party in the primary. | Semi-Closed | ||
South Carolina | x | S.C.Code Ann. §§ 7-11-10 | A U.S. District Court judge ruled inGreenville County Republican Party Executive Committee v. South Carolina, that South Carolina's open primary is constitutional. | Open | ||
South Dakota | R | D | S.D. Codified Laws § 12-6-26 | Parties may choose to allow for semi-closed elections. Democrats have opened up their primaries to allow unaffiliated voters to vote. | R: Closed; D: Open | |
Tennessee | x | Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-115 | Voters must affiliate with a party, but may choose to affiliate with that party on the election day. In Tennessee, voters are not registered with party affiliations. | Closed | ||
Texas | x | Tex Elec. Code Ann. § 172.086 | No registration by party; voters are not held to affilation of past election. Each year, voters have a clean slate and must choose on primary day whether to vote by a party affilation or as unaffiliated; voters are held to that affiliation in the runoff. For the presidential primary, it is the same system as of December 19, 2011. | Open | ||
Utah | R | D | Utah Code Ann. §§ 20A-2-107.5 | Parties may choose to open up the primary. Currently, Republicans have a closed primary while Democrats have opened up the primary. | R: Closed; D: Open | |
Vermont | x | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 2363 | No registration by party. For presidential primary, voters must declare which ballots they want. | Open | ||
Virginia | x | Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-530 | If a primary is called, it will be open. | Open | ||
Washington | N/A | N/A | N/A | Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.112, 29A.36.171 | Similar to California's Top Two system. | R: Closed; D: Semi-Closed |
West Virginia | x | W. Va. Code § 3-5- 4 | Technically a closed system, but all parties allow any voter who is not registered with an official party to request their ballot for the Primary Election. | Semi-Closed | ||
Wisconsin | x | Wis. Stat. § 6.80 | Voters may vote for only one party, but do not have to be affiliated with any party before coming into vote on Election Day. | Open | ||
Wyoming | x | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 22-5-212 | A voter can change his or her party affiliation on election day. |