# In the U.S.A., Why Do People (Need to?) Register as Republican or Democratic (or Independent?)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-u-s-a-why-do-people-need-to-register-as-republican-or-democratic-or-independent/921470 "2020-09-25T03:50:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 64
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-u-s-a-why-do-people-need-to-register-as-republican-or-democratic-or-independent/921470/64 "2020-10-12T15:23:01Z")
Previous thread on that topic: > [@Could the Democratic Party have kept Bernie off the primaries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-democratic-party-have-kept-bernie-off-the-primaries/851867): > > This point has come up in various permutations over the past few months, and as a furriner, I’m confused. Over in the “Bernie Withdraws” thread, Left Hand of Dorkness says this: But I thought, from previous threads on primaries, that access to the ballot for primary elections is determined by state laws? And if you as a candidate meet the state’s requirements to enter a primary, the party can’t keep you from entering? And, since those state laws are set by the 50 states, there are 50 differ… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-u-s-a-why-do-people-need-to-register-as-republican-or-democratic-or-independent/921470)._