Voting in the Republican primary in 2024

[dwayneb]

My plan is to vote in the Republican primary in 2024 to help shut Trump out. Depends on which state you are in but here you have to declare a party to be able to vote in their primary. I know quite a few Democrats here that do the same thing on a regular basis.

[walkingman]

1. I do it when I see a particularly egregious candidate on the ballot. I live

in a rural Central Texas area and all of my neighbors know I am liberal so they are surprised when they see me in the GOP line to cast my ballot. I just laugh and dismiss any comments.

I figure it might not make much difference but why not.

[dwayneb]

9. Same here in Ohio

Very unlikely that primary vote would change the outcome for Trump, but it surely confuses my neighbors - is he or isn't he? LOL.

[taxi]

2. There might be some hold overs from the days of printed news

What's the use today when anyone can pick and choose whatever poll they want to see at any time? The effects it had when it was something in the local paper everyone relied on, and with few other sources, may have had a larger effect beyond a local level than they do now.
Is it better to show support openly, or attempt to dissuade others in opposition from voting?

[iemanja]

3. What if the Dems have a contested primary?

Then you forsake your right to vote in it. You can't vote in both.

[dwayneb]

10. True but that's not a significant concern

I've not seen any Democratic candidate in recent years that is unacceptable. Sure some are stronger/better than others but in general ANY Democratic candidate we've seen over the last few elections can get the job done.

Trump is another story entirely. He is the first candidate in modern American history that is an active threat to destroy our democracy.

[Claustrum]

4. I see these types of posts from both republicans and democrats.

I would say the general effect is minimal as none of the races are really that close that a few "switched" votes are going to alter the result.

2016 was a big fractured primary for the GOP. They had 17 people running and the split votes gives Trump the upper hand because they had a winner take all delegate system. So Trump was able to take all the delegates and build up an lead that no one can catch up later by only getting 30% of the votes in the early primaries. But I doubt any of those states is close enough where a few "switched democrats" can change the primary result.

With Trump remaining popular within the GOP, I doubt anyone will come close to taking the nomination away from Trump (barring any indictment) if Trump were going to run.

[dwayneb]

5. Probably true that Trump is a shoo-in

But it's one of the few things you can actually do that have any chance of affecting the outcome. This is a dire situation. If Trump regains the Presidency either through direct election or via coup, our democracy is at great risk. I'm surprised at the lack of concern by a lot of Democrats and people in general that don't seem to understand what is at stake.

[Claustrum]

6. It's not that I don't understand the impact of another Trump presidency.

It's just that I don't think that's the way to do it because your switched vote is very unlikely to have a real impact.

[dwayneb]

8. What is your plan?

I don't see any sort of organized effort from the Democrats to protect our democracy. Biden seems to be perfectly happy to keep whistling through the graveyard.

[RamblingRose]

7. Georgia has open primaries. Kemp or Perdue?

I hope the republican primary is a blood bath!