If you view any candidate in party A as better than every candidate in party B, you need to vote in party B's primary so the best candidate for you will make it to the general election. Then even if party A loses the general election you still get the candidate you like most from party B.

This was a key strategy for black people in the south to get the least racist Democrats into office. It's basically ad hoc ranked choice voting and it reduces the power of extremists.

[–] shalafi 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Depending on the state, one may not have that option.

[–] halcyoncmdr 10 points 2 months ago

Arizona has a ballot initiative this year to force open primaries if the party wants any state election funding assistance.

Of course all the parties are against it. Bipartisan disapproval for a citizen ballot initiative usually means it's in the citizen's interest.