I came up with this strategy a few years ago, and I think it might help others feel like they're doing more.

I tend to vote democrat more often than not for the general elections. But I'm registered as a republican. This allows me to vote in the republican primaries.

The strategy is simple. Usually the dems have a few decent options that I don't really care who wins. Sure, I like one better than another, but if the other wins, I'd still be happy. So, I put my vote where it matters more.

On the republican side it's usually a dumpater fire of bad choices. So, I dig through their bios and their plans for office, and am usually able to find at least one that I don't mind too much.

Why do I do this? Because I want two good candidates to choose from in the general elections.

Side benefits: it fucks with election numbers. Republicans counting on registered republicans to vote republican don't get what they want. I just read an article about the current administrstion tracking people based on their political affiliation. Poision that data up too.

Bonus, it's perfectly legal. Feels like it isn't, but it sure it.

Another potential pro if you’re in a shitty state: if I had to guess, there’s less of a chance of “accidentally” being removed from voter rolls if you’re registered R.

The big con, tho, is that it will be impossible to move the Overton window left if everyone did this, because establishment Democrats would always win.

You're absolutely right on both points. You're welcome to push the upper bounds of the overton window while I work on bringing the floor higher.

I think there are exceptions - for instance, as a masshole, I feel that it’s really important for anyone even slightly left of center to do the DNC primary, because in MA, it’s important for us to fight against the DNC establishment. They’re demonstrably captive opposition.

I do the exact same thing. The other advantage is that although im in a blue state, im in a red area and so my primary vote may have a tiny influence on which Republicans get elected in my local government.

Unfortunately I live in a shitty state.

Been doing this for years. It's the only way I can get my vote to count.

This is a good strategy, if you support the establishment democrats. Also, there is literally not a single Republican, in today’s world, that would be preferable to a Democrat. If you vote for the least MAGA in a primary, good for you. But by doing so, you allow establishment dems to continue their controlled opposition. So are you really doing anything useful?

How can one call themselves an independent, unless they are saying that they don’t subscribe to any one particular left-leaning belief/party? I used to call myself that, when I was politically ignorant. Then I realized the active harm one does when they even consider a right wing point of view.

This strategy can be significantly more impactful than just voting D in primaries especially in areas like mine where there's usually only one D candidate (or zero) and multiple R.

There are, however, 2 downsides:

1. once you primary as the opposite party, you can't to be mindful not to run afoul of "crossover voting" laws by then participating in runoffs for any other party.

2. If you decide to get involved in politics yourself, there can be bylaws style rules that say you must have voted in the "proper" primary (or did not vote at all) for the last 3 or 5 years to show you are not a DINO-type candidate.

What state do you live in?

Sorry no. The primary options for dems can vary wildly in quality. Sure even the worst is not a nutball like post maga republicans have been but still its nice to try and get as best as possible.

Nice try, Republican operative contract killer.

Another advantage is youre less likely to be purged from voting rolls because you're one of them.

Really this is a good idea. Only the craziest redhats and most senile elderly show up for the republican primary. A few people can make a difference.

In my state for governer there is a normal human being running as a democrat. The republican primary was between three weird fuckers, one of which was at least a weird fucker who managed to follow the law, while one of them cant shut up about how he wants to do whatever trimp wants, and the other had TV ads showing him cutting up a banana and saying "This is going to happen to your son if you don't vote for me".

Its another "both sides" argument. One side has more or less competent human beings running for office. The other side has conspiracy nutters and people who are obsessed with everyone's genitals.

Especially important in states that "accidentally" remove people from the voting registers based on their party affiliation.

I used to do this when Dem candidates were similar and it ultimately wouldn’t matter, but now, I want to primary the hell out of any non-progressive democratic candidate since they’re way too much like republicans.

I used to do this but have since moved to a open primary state