My sister and I voted today in Texas.

[ananda]

We both voted for Talarico.

In Dallas, where she voted, they separated Democrats
and Republicans into separate voting lines. That
worries both of us, in case Trump agents show up for
the general.

Here in Austin, they didn't do that. We just selected our
party ballot on the entry screen, then got the ballot. Nobody
watching would know our party affiliation I hope it stays
that way.

[LearnedHand]

1. Doesn't that betray the right to a secret vote?

It opens up women to intimidation, especially from partners, exposes people to potential violence in general, and likely is illegal as hell. I’d report it to the state’s voting organization and make a big damn deal out of it on social media.

[Ms. Toad]

6. Party affiliation is public information.

It is specifically part of voter information which anyone can request in Texas (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/pi.pdf).

Who you vote for is private, but your party affiliation (or primary party ballot) - among other things - is public information.

It always surprises me when people who are active in politics aren't aware that voting records are public (not who you voted for - but a whole lot of other information, generally including which party primary you voted in, every election you voted in, your address, when you registered, and your date of birth (in some states)).

[LearnedHand]

9. I know voting records are public

And the information can be discovered IF you are registered with a party. Basically as many people are unaffiliated as are affiliated with a party.

[Ms. Toad]

11. That's not really correct.

When you vote in a primary, unless you vote issues only, your voting record affiliates you with the party whose ballot you voted. It is simply part of your voting record - not a separate party registration. So, if by discoverable, you mean someone can request access to the voter records, look up your name, and learn which party primaries you voted in, it is correct that it is discoverable. But it doesn't require a separate party registration - simply the act of voting in a primary.

I downloaded the voting records in my county in Ohio. I am not registered with a party (there is no such thing in Ohio). That database - free to anyone who can click on a link - includes full name, date of birth, address, date of registration, primary ballot voted for something like 10 years back, and elections I voted in for the same period. (Link here - just so you understand how easy it is to get that information). The same information is available in Texas (although I think you have to purchase it there - and I don't think it includes date of birth)

Here are the l links for all of the states, in case you want to check it out. https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/access-to-and-use-of-voter-registration-lists

[Quiet Em]

2. That Dallas thing is weird.

I was searching around for information about that, apparently The Dallas/GOP wants the Dallas Republican primary to be closed so they are using their own ballots and their own machines.

[ananda]

3. That's interesting.

Do you know what their reasoning for that is?

[Quiet Em]

8. I have no idea.

It's strange.

[hamsterjill]

4. We voted yesterday.

I’m in a rural area, very red, outside San Antonio.

There was literally a red sticker that said “Republican” and a blue sticker that said “Democratic” and you were asked to point to the ballot you wanted. That way no one heard your choice. I thought that was pretty creative.

Three votes for Talarico, also!

[Ms. Toad]

5. As a general rule - primaries are the "property" of the party -

Since they are the mechanism by which parties choose their candidates. The general election is a state function, not a party function, so there won't be separate lines for the general election.

I've been involved in elections in probably half of the states, one way or another. Laws vary somewhat from state to state - but they vary far less than you might expect. Your voter registration information, your voting record, and which party primary you voted in is public information.

Here's the request form for Texas - which anyone can use to request voting records. You may be surprised what information any person can obtain from a voting record request: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/pi.pdf

If you don't want your party affiliation known, you need to ask for an issue only ballot (and skip voting in a party primary).

[ananda]

7. Thank you.

That was helpful.

[blogslug]

10. Here's a link

Sorry for the FOX link but it is a local affiliate station, so there's that.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-county-separate-elections-republicans-democrats

When voters go to one of the 74 early voting locations to cast their ballot, they will first be asked to declare a party. Election workers will either direct them to a line for the Republican machines or a line for the Democrats.

~snip~

On election day, Dallas County residents will be required to vote in their home precinct at locations designated by their preferred political party.

There will be 280 locations for the Democrats and 243 locations for the Republicans.

Married voters who have different party affiliations may be required to vote at separate locations, even though they live in the same household.

I swear to god I read this same article ten minutes ago and there was a bit about Dallas Republicans specifically asking for separate elections for this primary. Now it's gone.