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this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2023
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Many years ago, I was chatting with a friend from California and she told me her family votes Republican. As in, by default. No matter the policies or political needs of the country.
Aside from the US parties being very similar back then (pre-Trump), I've also learned since then that this may have to do with party affiliation programs.
In the US, you need to register to vote and the parties basically offer to do the registration for you, if you promise to vote for them. So, you end up being 'affiliated' with them, even without being actively a member.
I'm not sure voting by default to one party is a consequence of registering with that party. Maybe some psychological effect.
I'd say the main cause is the fact there are only two parties to choose from, so unless you are a moderate (or these days right-moderate) it is just a waste of time looking at candidates and their policies beyond party affiliation.
The related issue is this: in some places in america, the primaries are run by the parties. So you can only vote for canidates (within a party) in the primaries IF you register with that party. In some races the primaries are the important part, because everyone knows which party will win the main election, so who gets the party nomination is basically the undecided part.
I thought there are multiple small parties too?
There are, but first-past-the-post all but guarantees none of them ever win a seat.
I do get asked when I vote, which part I belong to. I just flip flop every time to keep them on their toes