r/MontanaPolitics • u/MontanaBear2022 • 21d ago

Election 2026 We need a true open primary

Montana likes to advertise itself as having an open primary but we do NOT. You are still forced to vote a party line ticket, youre mailed 3 separate ballots. Put everyone on one ballot, let people vote for the CANDIDATE (not party) of their choice and save money by only printing and sending one ballot.

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u/ProfessorChaos406 21d ago

Hard disagree -- look at California's jungle primary where they're may not be a Democrat on the general election ballot at all, just by sheer numbers spitting the vote. In my area (Flathead) we'd end up never having Dems to vote for at all.

Open primary means you choose the party's ballot you will vote each time. I have voted on GOP ballots when I wanted to give the moderate Republican (when they exist at all) a boost. It's sometimes the only voice I end up having because there may be no one opposing for a given office, so the primary decides the election.

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u/MontanaBear2022 21d ago

What if I like 2 different candidates from two different parties for two different offices? A moderate republican senator and a democratic congressman, the current way one is not gonna get my vote

9

u/ProfessorChaos406 21d ago

There are always trade offs in any election. I'm facing a chiice now between voting for a US House Demcandidate I like to go into the general, vs. the GOP ballot with a sheriff race between an unqualified out of state, likely right right winger, and our incumbent who is a decent, moderate, law enforcement professional.