Lots of voters were "unaffiliated" (i.e., Independent). They insisted on voting without choosing a party. They accused us of denying them the right to vote. We carefully explained a primary election versus a general election. They still argued with us over the most mundane points. Like "If I choose a party, then everyone will know how I voted." Again, we carefully explained how some slots had multiple candidates and we wouldn't know who they voted for.

My guess is that they haven't voted much and have prepared assumptions how voting works.

Washington County sheriff was on the primary this spring. There were no Democratic candidates running for sheriff, and I heard that over 1000 Democrats changed parties just to vote for the r candidate they wanted on the ballot this fall. Maybe whoever explained what happened last spring oversimplified it and maybe the Dems who voted for the r candidates didn't have to switch their affiliation to vote.

Anyway, this is good to know. We have to know as much as possible and share it.

But you can only vote for one . If you cross vote your ballot is void. That's Michigan.

When you choose a ballot during the primary, election officials then mark you as an R or D. But the next time there's a primary, you come in without a party label.

BTW, when I was the Democratic club chair in my town 15 years or so ago, one of the Dems in my group had a vendetta against a conservative D state rep. She got a lot of people to vote against him in the primary. His primary opponent won but lost the general. And we've never been able to elect another Dem for state rep. For a long time no Dems would even run, because the stats they got said this area had too few Dems for them to win.

We were purple, but our "representative" is Tea Party, Trumpist red. We have never recovered from that misguided idea. I can see crossing over in a red county where no Dem runs, but it was a blow to us as a purple county.