OPINION:
Why are party primaries so important? In our two-party system, the primary elections narrow each specific party’s field of candidates to one each for each position. These people then compete in the general election.
To ensure that each voter in each respective party gets the maximum effect of their primary vote, each party’s primary election must be open only to members of that party.
Does that exclude independents? No. When a voter decides to be an independent, that voter is excluding him- or herself from either and both party primaries. That is their choice. Every decision in life has consequences.
Some people may not like either candidate in a general election, but one is going to win! Which one is better for the city, county, state and/or country? That is the purpose of our elections. They are not popularity contests; rather, they are a decision on who and how our country will be guided in the next two, four or six years. Your future is held in your vote.
So when independents or even some party-registered voters argue for open primaries, they are asking to give others the opportunity to rig elections. When a primary election is open, voters from either persuasion can decide the primary election.
This could end up with candidates in the general election representing only the views of half of the voters.
Our votes are precious. The cumulative result directs our future. To vote may seem like a drag. But to have our views totally disregarded, assisted by our not voting, will be impossible to repair.
Bowie, Maryland
Please read our comment policy before commenting.