After several conversations, research and studying, I have found more to the crossover voting issue in Wyoming than I initially thought. One of the issues I found was the timing of my previous Op-Ed on the matter, “Thoughts on crossover voting.”

When I wrote my previous Op-Ed, I didn’t consider the Op-Ed’s timing concerning the Primary Election. Many local Democrats had already changed their party affiliation to Republican to vote in the Republican Primary. After researching the fluctuations of registered Democrats and Republicans, I found there were some Democrats who switched over to the Republican Party for the Primary, but not as many as I thought there would be. Regardless, it happened.

As I see it, the problem is that crossover voting completely denounces the purpose of the Primary Election. The Primary Election was established for each party to vet their candidates for the General Election in November. While I previously stated that crossover voting would likely not be affected by the change in party affiliation, crossover voting should be outlawed.

Crossover voting completely negates the purpose of the Primary Election. If Democrats switch their party affiliation to Republican so they can vote in the Republican Primary, they are not vetting their candidate; instead, they are electing to choose the Republican Primary Candidate which most aligns with their values and platforms; those of the Democratic Party. 

As we saw in the 2022 Primary Election, crossover voting took place, but it had a minimal impact on the outcome. For example, 113,079 Republicans voted for Harriet Hageman, with only 49,339 Republicans voting for Liz Cheney. 

Regardless, the purpose, again, is for a candidate to be vetted for the General Election by members of their party. These people have similar ideas, beliefs, and values and believe in their respective parties’ platforms. Suppose the Republicans put forth the candidate who most represents Republican beliefs and the Democrats put forth the candidate who most represents Democratic beliefs. In that case, we will end up with a race of two contenders who align with their party’s platforms, and the people will decide who will best run that office.

Though the numbers indicate that crossover voting does not significantly impact the Primary Election as was initially feared by many Republicans, it is possible it could become an issue in the future. Suppose more people take part in crossover voting in the Primary Election. In that case, they are apt to elect a candidate who does not stand for the platforms as firmly as other party members to run in the General Election. The purpose of the General Election is to vote the officeholder, not the Primary.

In an article I wrote headlined, ‘Stand for what you believe in,’ Hugh Hageman made a resonating point about crossover voting. 

“It is very dishonest to put an ‘R’ by your name to get elected when you do not align with the Republican platforms and values,” added Hageman. “It is also very dishonest for a Democrat to register as a Republican, simply to vote in the Primary Election to ensure the most progressive candidate gets elected.”

Crossover voting could be viewed as perjury. When engaging in crossover voting, one is declaring their ideas, philosophies and beliefs align with a particular party. Suppose a person votes under a different party affiliation. In that case, they are signing an official document under oath, which attests “that the voter registration information contained herein is true and accurate to my best knowledge and belief.”

Black’s Law Dictionary defines perjury as “The act or instance of a person’s deliberately making false or misleading statements while under oath.”

Further, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-5-301 provides, “A person commits perjury if, while under a lawfully administered oath or affirmation, he knowingly testifies falsely or makes a false affidavit, certificate, declaration, deposition or statement, in a judicial, legislative or administrative proceeding in which an oath or affirmation may be required by law, touching a matter material to a point in question.”

I’m not saying one can’t change their mind and change their political party affiliation. I am saying that party affiliations should not be allowed to change the day of the election or even months before the election, as in the instance of last-ditch efforts by Rep. Liz Cheney calling on Democrats to crossover vote to try to hold her office. 

Foundationally, we are all Americans. Whether Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent or whichever party one belongs to, we are all Americans and seek to find the best solutions for our nation’s problems. We must first be honest about ourselves to best solve our nation’s issues.

‘Stand for what you believe in.’