2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Poll: Are open presidential primaries more democratic? [View all]Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)A typical closed primary allows only registered members of the party to vote, but one can change one's party affiliation up to 30 days before the primary. (If you can change on the day of the primary it's not effectively closed.)
AFAIK New York is the only state that has its absurd requirement: A change in party affiliation (including a change from independent) doesn't take effect until 30 days PLUS a general election have gone by. For someone registered as independent, for example, the deadline to change was in early October 2015 to be able to vote in the April 2016 presidential primary. Even worse, October 2015 was also the deadline for being able to vote in the September 2016 primary for state legislative seats.
Consider these people:
* White male millennial, registered independent out of disgust with both parties. He watches the first Democratic debate, on October 13, 2015, and for the first time finds a candidate who resonates with him. He wants to vote for Sanders.
* Older woman, usually votes Democratic but is registered independent because she values the ideal of independence and judging candidates on their merits. She's excited at the prospect of breaking the biggest glass ceiling, but in November 2015, Sanders's rising poll numbers lead her to believe that Clinton isn't the lock for the nomination that she'd assumed. She wants to vote for Clinton.
* Sensible person of any age or sex who is registered Republican and has been for years. In December 2015, after watching debates of both parties, s/he finally realizes that the Republicans have gone completely nuts. S/he decides to emulate Lincoln Chafee and so many others by switching her registration to Democratic.
None of these people can vote in the New York presidential primary!
I understand the arguments made upthread that the party's nominee should be selected by those who are loyal to the party, or at least loyal enough to register that way -- but there's no reason for the party to be so exclusionary in turning away new recruits.