Many people don’t really understand what a primary election is, or why they should care. I hope that this article helps you realize the importance of the primary election, and motivates you to go and make your voice heard!
What is a primary?
The primary election is where the two major parties – Democrat and Republican – select their candidate for each race that will compete in the general election.
Why is the primary election important?
In many counties in Texas, the electorate strongly leans Republican, and the Republican candidate that wins the primary is a strong favorite to also win the general election in November. So that means that the primary is where the people actually have a choice between moderate and extreme candidates. By the time the general election comes around, it’s too late.
But what if I don’t identify as a Republican?
Texas is an “open primary” state, which means that voters do not have to declare a party affiliation when registering to vote and can choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary election (but not both). You can still lean independent or Democrat and vote in the Republican primary, or vice versa.
If I’m a Democrat, why would I vote in the Republican primary?
The best reason for this is to express your preference for moderate instead of extreme candidates, given that the Republican candidate is likely to win the general election. And chances are good you’ll be OK with whoever wins the Democratic nomination anyway, even if you don’t vote in that primary.
If I vote Republican in the primary, do I have to vote Republican in the general election?
Absolutely not! You can vote in the Republican primary, and vote Democrat in the general election. Or vice versa. It’s entirely up to you.
Is it unethical to cross party lines to vote in the other party’s primary?
In a state like Texas with open primaries, it is perfectly acceptable to vote in the Republican primary even if you aren’t a Republican. As I mentioned before, you can consider the Republican primary the de facto general election because the candidate who wins the primary will usually win in November.
Obviously, supporters of the more extreme candidates in the Republican Party will attempt to dissuade you from voting in the Republican primary if you disagree with their political position, but it is absolutely your right to vote if you choose.
What about races where the candidate is unopposed? Or I don’t like any of them?
You can choose to vote, or not to vote, in whatever races on the ballot you choose to do so. If you don’t like any of the candidates, you can just leave it blank. If there’s an “Undecided” option, you can check that too.
What are “Propositions”?
In the primary election, propositions are just to allow voters to express their opinions on policy issues or proposed changes to the state constitution. You’re not actually voting on a change in the law at this point, but the issue may show up again on the general election. Voters in the primary can express their agreement or disagreement with the propositions, and this can help influence the direction of future legislation.
Should I vote early, or wait until Tuesday?
It’s your choice, but early voting is generally less stressful and you likely won’t have to stand in line. But you have to do it by this Friday (March 1st), because early voting closes then. The early voting places are open from 7 am to 7 pm each day this week. Note that early voting locations are different than the general election polling places, so look it up on the elections.mctx.org site (if you’re in Montgomery County).
What do I need to do to vote in the primary?
- Figure out where your polling place is. If you live in Montgomery County, you can find this at http://elections.mctx.org/vrlookup.asp. Put your name and birthdate in, and it will show you the polling place and sample ballots.
- Download the sample ballot and decide how you’re going to vote. If you’re relatively new to this process, you may want to discuss your ballot with someone whose judgment you trust and you know is aligned with your values. But at the end of the day, it’s your choice.
- Take a PRINTED COPY of the sample ballot with you to the polling place. They won’t let you use your cellphone, and there are too many races to be able to keep them all straight in your mind.
- When you go in, have your photo ID ready (Texas Driver’s License is best) and hand it to the election worker at the table. Tell them you want to vote in the Republican primary. Again, this doesn’t mean that you’re signing up to be a Republican, or that you have to vote for Republican candidates in the general election. They’ll sign you in and give you a slip with a number on it.
- Go to an open voting booth, put your paper ballot in the slot, and enter the ID number they gave you into the machine. Then vote. When you’re done it will print your ballot, and you take that to the ballot reading machine to have your vote counted.
I hope this helps you understand why the primary election in Texas is so important, and gives you the information you need to effectively participate in the political process. Make your vote count!