Does this mean that Republican's will be voting in the Wisconsin primary?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.weac.org/Election/2001-02/pollingcolumn.htm

<snip>These kinds of polls are rarely done in primaries because they are complicated and expensive. Wisconsin residents are not required to register as members of a political party, and the state does not have a centralized, electronic, voter registration list. That means each pollster has to carefully screen poll respondents from the rest of the adult population to know which ones will really count on Primary Election Day. Unfortunately, polls that do this kind of screening are the only polls that have any real meaning in the primary.

[dtseiler]

1. Entirely possible

WI resident here.

Yeah nowhere do I have to specify any kind of party affiliation. I could have voted in the Republican side of the state primary in 2002 if I had felt like it.

What really troubles me is that you can register at the polls. This is a good idea, but the only proof you need to have is a piece of mail with your name and current address. Mail has to be something somewhat reliable like a phone or utility bill. However they didn't check photo ID last time I watched them register someone in 2002. I could have gone to various voting spots with different pieces of mail and registered 8 times and voted right then and there at each spot.

[eyesroll]

2. WI's open primary hasn't really caused problems

Feb. 17 is also the Milwaukee mayoral non-partisan primary date, so there should be decent turnout in the (very Dem) city. (There could also be other local races elsewhere in the state).

Basically, when you get to the poll, everyone gets the same ballot. You pick which part of it you want to fill out -- Democratic, Republican or Libertarian. (A Libertarian got more than 10% in the last gubernatorial election, so they're considered a major party and get primary space on the ballot.) Everyone votes in the non-partisan stuff on the same ballot (referenda, mayoral primary, etc.).

I haven't really heard much about the impact of crossover voting. I don't think there's been a concentrated effort here to mess up a partisan primary. (Caveat: Four years ago, WI's primary was much later, and Bush and Gore were already selected. But there haven't been too many problems with other primaries, either.)

[Lab Owner]

6. Open primaries

In 2000 here in Michigan the Detroit NAACP had their members vote for McCain in the Republican primary. Governor Engler had promised to deliver the state for Bush, but the crossover votes gave the state to McCain. Result: Engler didn't get a cabinet position. Crossover votes can have an impact, but both parties do it.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi Lab Owner!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Cuban_Liberal]

3. IL has the same rules.

No party registration here, and the only 'affiliation' clues you get are from the regitration cards which do indicate primary voting history, if any.

[Beaker]

4. this year in IL there's an open senate seat-

fitzgerald(R) is retiring, and both parties have candidates in the primary, so there may not be much crossover voting this time around.

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. Yes.

That's a good asessment, although the Republican's cjhances of retaining that seat may be fairly characterized as 'slim' and 'none', thanks to former Gov. Ryan. :evilgrin: