I'm a precinct inspector in San Diego County, and during our training, we were all told that Non-Partisan voters have a choice among three ballots - the NP ballot, the AIP ballot or the Democratic Party ballot. Should you come to any polling station in San Diego County, you should not need to "be firm" with us. We will gladly and with no resistence, offer you your three ballot choices.

....we won't offer any resistance, either! (Argh!)

You can rescind your mailed-in ballot in favour of a new one at the polling station, unless things have changed recently.

Ours is march 4 (IIRC?) and you can vote in any of the caucuses/primaries if you are a registered voter. The only limitation is that you can't vote for another party primary for a year. (or petition for an independent candidate)

Once the general election comes along you can of course vote as you see fit - primary (or petitioning)votes do not limit you in any way in general elections.

I'm torn between the opportunities for voting in the democrat or republican primaries too - not sure what would be more useful. Using the opportunity to help keeping Romney from the nomination (the least likable choice IMHO) or to help decide between Clinton & Obama.

Either way - everyone should use the opportunities they can, the parties let us non-aligned have a say we should take them up on it!

Actually, the folks at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters office, where I voted last Saturday, asked me which ballot I wanted before I could even tell them my choice. So it wasn't a problem at all. And, FYI, Decline-to-State voters can also select the American Independent ballot. Curious that the other parties won't allow DTSs to vote in their primaries.

....Because they are experts themselves at voting in open primaries to get the opposition candidates they want.

Seems like a waste of time unless you are really into sexism or racism. Either way you get war.

The inability of 3rd party candidates to get on ballots is the message. The fascist republicans, in particular, are good at keeping exclusivity as a prerequisite for voting for their candidates. I just hope California independents will vote in the democratic primary and will select Obama as the candidate with the best chance to move the republicans out of our white house. Then we can all begin the repair of our broken government.