Have you ever switched political parties? If so, why?

Well I think I may have switched. I was always a little torn between the two parties. My family were die-hard Democrats when the parties were real strong in the 60's. When I reached voting age I did not even register because I was not 100% affiliated with either party. When I finally registered it was for local elections and I really wanted to put a certain person in office who happened to be Repulican, this really upset my family. So, for that election I was Republican and at that time you had to vote the same party for President as you did on the local ticket. This is when I made a switch. I went independent. I agree with both parties on most issues, but I also disagree with them on some issues. I now only vote for the person and not the party.

I have never switched parties since I first registed when I was 18. However, I am considering changing now. I am so disappointed in all parties. I think the parties have changed in the last 10 or so years. The values are not the same.

I consider my self to be an independent, I don't vote for the party, I vote for the person. It really doesn't matter wha party they belong too. I think alot of folks are tired of the Rebublican party. I believe our next President will be a Democrat.

I havent but have been thinking about becoming an independent..I dont know any political party that demonstrates everything they should..Course you know what happens, Ken, when people start talking politics..

yes, I started out as a hard core Republican in the late 60s/early 70s. Then in late 70s I switched to Independent party and strongly supported John Anderson for president. I've played around a little with the Democratic party particularly on local and statewide races. For a long time I have really voted as an independent....really based on the candidate. The state I currently live in require that you are 'registered' with the party for which you last took a primary ballot. Then, some how those parties get the names....it really messes them up because I'm constantly taking different ballots depending on specific candidates in a particular primary.

I don't see anything wrong with switching parties if that is what you want to do. I am a Republican and I don't agree with everything the Republicans do, but there is a lot more that I disagree with in the Democratic platform, such as abortion, gay marriage, and so much reliance on welfare. The republicans are against abortion, which is murder, and gay marriage, which is immoral, in their platform, even though there are individual Republicans that do not follow the planks of their platform. At least they are attempting, in their platform, to stand for what is moral and right. That is why I suppose I will remain a Republican until I die.

You are entitled to your choice that's why we are a free country. I don't think it;s bad to switch parties if you feel the party you belong to has gone to far and is opposite of your beliefs. People are being judge not because they belong to a party but to the service to the people he serves.

I ave never switched parties. Our family are long time Democrats. I never switched because I have never liked any of the Republicans that were running for office. There is nothing wrong with changing parties. If they no are doing what you believe in, then change. The sad thing about our system is, it is either republicans or democrats that will get elected. Going independent or green just throws a wrench into things. Sad, but true. I would like to see someone get elected that really cared about the environment, going green. I don't see that happening any time soon.

I do not really lean strongly towards any specific party. I tend to think I am more Democrat than Republican though. All of my family members that I know of, claim to be Democrats. That is why I choose to lean towards them more. I do agree with their values also. I also agree with some of the Republican values also. I guess I switch back and forth between them because I am favorable in some issues on both side of the fence. I do not see a thing wrong with changing parties. You just have to go for what you believe in at the time.

Yes I have changed parties and maybe I will be listened to now. Who knows, I am just disappointd in the way things have been, I do vote all the time. Worth a shot.

When I turned 18, I registered as an independent, because I had the option of choosing which primary I could vote in, whether it be Republican or Democrat. Some people say that his is like sitting on the fence, and not really making a stand. But, I think that I wouldn't be able to choose a political party. On some issues, I agree strongly with the Republican stance. On other issues, I aggree strongly with the Democratic stance. So, why be either if I'm already half-and-half? I figure this way, I could vote based on what I believe are the most pressing current issues that needs to be addressed. I don't think there is anything wrong with switching parties. If one party is in deference with your views, then switch. Or become independent, like me.

republic or democratic.they make sense in thier own way.but i'm a democratic and i never felt the need to change to republic.and i'm sure my choice is right .every person born has the right ot speak and right to live the way he wants and right to chose what he wants.being democrats we feel free to express ourselves and others giving equal oppurtunity to each and everyone this makes it possible for everyone to lead and understand each others needs. and i dont think there is anything wrong in changing parties its individuals choice which he feels will suit him and his life style he will choose it..

I grew im a very strict republican household..so like a good little pup i followed along....once in college and out on my own i took the time to research the parties and what they stood for...i call my self independent but i definetly vote more along demcratic policy lines...I dont see anything wrong with switching parties or just voting for whoever you think will do the best job...without declaring a party affiliation

I feel there is nothing wrong with switching parties. I was a hardcore liberal in college. In 2001, my friend was running for Mayor on the Libertarian ticket. The more I heard him speak, the more it made sense to me. On an unrelated note, a lot of disaffected neo-conservatives are switching to the Libertarian, or "classic Conservative" stance these days.

I've never voted by party. I never saw the point. When I was asked which party I wanted to register under, I said Republican because I tended to vote that way more often. Years later I reached a point where I knew the chances were virtually non-existant that I would ever vote for a Republican again. I guess I briefly considered myself somewhat of a Democrat until I realized that parties don't matter and I don't belong to any of them. I am capable of thinking for myself at a more complicated level than "us" and "them" so I won't be a part of a party mentality. I will still take note that virtually every Republican is a criminal, but I won't become a Democrat. I'll just keep my eyes open to note when their corruption is as bad as the Republicans' which will certainly happen.

My dad was a Democrat, and so, of course, when I was old enough to vote, I voted Democrat. I've voted a lot since I got married at 20...I'm 57 now. At first, both of us voted Democratic, but then we changed to voting for the person, not necessarily straight Democratic party. And then it got so we were voting more for the Republican candidates than the Democratic candidates, that we ended up changing parties. I feel the Democratic party has changed its ideals in the last 30 years and most of the time I lean closer to the Republican platform, but we still vote on the candidate...not just because he is a Republican. I vote on the issues. I tend to be pretty conservative and am pro-life and so the Democratic party is no longer a good fit for me.

there is nothing wrong with doing so and May i commend you for being a thinking person !

Changing parties when voting is a democratic right. I have voted several parties in elections. First time I voted in finnish parlament elections I chose a Liberal Party woman. In the finnish presidential elections I have voted the Centre party man Urho Kekkonen, Social democrats (socalists) Martti Ahtisaari. In Sweden I have voted socialdemocrats (socialist party) in elections to the parlament. In local elections I have voted socialists, and sometimes Vänster (kommunists).

I started out as a Republican but I have changed over to the Democratic Party because I felt the Democrats were more sympathetic to the average person and the Republicans were more sympathetic to the rich. Even if I were rich, I would want a party that was going to look after people who couldn't look out after themselves. It is one thing to sit there with a fortune and say everybody should take care of themselves and another to see the need and try to help.

i dont personaly see anything wrong with it. Is that not what democracy is about? Iwas a democrat up unti before the 92 election. I got a little older at that point and realy started thinking about what my party stood for and what i stood for. I found that the 2 didnt match up at all anymore so i started following the republican candidates and some independants. I then settled with the rebublican because i didnt feel there were any vable independants at the time.