It’s a common misconception, but if you registered “Independent Party” you aren’t “independent” you are a member of your state’s Independent party, who has a platform and agenda you may or may not agree with. What you actually want is called an “unaffiliated” voter status. The good news is, all you have to do is…nothing!

LA Times had a good summary a few years back: https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-american-independent-party-california-registration-card-20180405-story.html

You don’t need to register with any party to show you don’t like R or D, do nothing or choose "unaffiliated if you want to be “little i independent”.

Examples:

#USA #politics----

  • fadedmaster@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    Right after the section you quoted: "If a voter has not yet affiliated with a party, they are able to vote in either party’s primary election. "

    So to your original point. You do not need to be affiliated to vote in the primary, but if you are affiliated you must vote in your affiliated party’s primary.

    • ramble81@lemm.ee
      31·
      5 months ago

      And the only way you can vote in a primary is to register with them you can do it on the spot if you want, but once you do it, that’s it. You can’t immediately turn around and go vote in another primary. For that year you’re noted as being with that party (I’ve gotten more than enough magat spam to prove that). You realize everything you’ve posted and said supports what I’m saying.

      • fadedmaster@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        4·
        5 months ago

        Do I have to register or affiliate with a party before I vote in the primary?

        No. A registered voter is not required to pre-register or take any steps towards affiliating themselves with a party before voting in a party’s primary election. (§162.003)  Additionally, when a person registers to vote in Texas, they do not register with any kind of party affiliation.

        This is all on that same source that you accused the other user of not reading…

      • Baron Von J@lemmy.world
        2·
        5 months ago

        Here’s the whole section you’re selectively quoting

        How does party affiliation work in Texas? In Texas, there are several main ways for a voter to affiliate with a party: by being accepted to vote in a party’s primary election, by taking the required oath at a party precinct convention, or by taking a party oath of affiliation generally (§§162.003, 162.006, 162.007). A voter’s affiliation with a party automatically expires at the end of each calendar year, which is December 31. (§162.010). A voter who has affiliated themselves with a party is ineligible to participate in the party affairs of another party during the same calendar year. (§§162.012, 162.013)

        Emphasis added to show that there is no persistent, year-over-year affiliation (I emphasize this word because there is no party registration in Texas)

        And the only way you can vote in a primary is to register with them

        I have never registered with a party. There is no field for party affiliation in the online voter registration form

        https://vrapp.sos.state.tx.us/index.asp

        And the registration certificate doesn’t include a party affiliation

        https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/voter-registration-certificate.html

        And a Non-potato quality picture

        https://disabilityrightstx.org/en/handout/understanding-your-texas-voter-registration-certificate/

        you can do it on the spot if you want, but once you do it, that’s it

        Every primary election I’ve participated in the official who checks you in just asked which primary you want to vote in. And since voter registration in Texas does not track party affiliation you’re going to have a rough time convincing me this counts as registering with the party.

        The spam you’re getting is simply because it’s public record whether you voted in any election, including which primary you voted in. But it’s not the same as other states recording your party affiliation as part of your voter registration, which Texas flat out does not do.