Some of my Utah friends will not register as a Republican so that they can vote Mike Lee out in the GOP primaries. (You have to be registered GOP in Utah to vote in the primaries.)
They say it has to do with their identity. To me this smacks of the worst features of identity politics.
Electoral politics, which includes voting, isn’t about identity . . . it’s about strategy. And guess what: the Utah GOP is hoping you’ll feel all identity-politicky about this and that you won’t change your affiliation. They want to keep anyone who’s not a TRUE Republican (whatever that means these days) from having any power in the Beehive State.
Here’s the deal: The Utah GOP has made it harder than ever to change your party affiliation for this express purpose. Now you can’t change your affiliation to Republican AFTER March 31. . . . which is coming right up.
Don’t fall to the disempowering tactics of the supermajority in Utah. You can always change your affiliation back after the election. And here’s the other thing. Being registered anonymously (which is an option) as a Republican does not keep you from voting for ANYONE YOU WANT in the general election–whether that candidate be a Democrat, an independent or the party of the Blues Brothers. (I’m dating myself.). Go to https://vote.utah.gov/
