how to find out what political party someone belongs to

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Joining a political party tin can be a large decision. In the The states at that place are 2 major parties, the Republican and Democratic, as well as a number of smaller parties that field candidates for national, state, and local elections. Before you decide, familiarize yourself with the parties' beliefs and candidates so you can join a grouping that reflects y'all and your values. Once you accept joined, you'll be able to participate in all kinds of party activities to elect candidates and promote your ideas.

1. ane

   Find a list of parties in your state. Most state boards of ballot will provide y'all with a listing of parties registered in your state. This will probably include some bones information near the parties' beliefs, contact data, and membership numbers.^{[one] [ii]}

   • There are many more political parties in the United states beyond those that appear on ballots. States take laws most how much support a party needs to really announced on the land election. This ways there are potentially fifty-fifty more parties out in that location for you to join. You lot'll take to expect through other sources similar social media or internet searches to detect these parties. Because of their very small numbers, they are unlikely to have much (if any) affect on elections.

2. 2

   Attend political events. These include rallies and speeches given past a candidate, or debates between candidates. These can exist great opportunities to heed to people discuss problems, and explain their possible solutions. Sometimes having party options side-by-side will make your options clearer.

   • Debates and rallies for major races like president are unremarkably televised. Y'all can also watch policy debates, panels, or even legislative proceedings on open up-admission channels like C-Span.

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3. 3

   Talk to other party members. Find other people who are members of parties. Talk to them virtually why they joined the party, and what kinds of activities they do as members. These can be elected officials, or just people you lot know who have registered as party members. Observe people you trust who are able to defend their party membership.^[three]

   • You'll probably also get some reasons for not joining other parties. This can be good information to have equally well.

4. 4

   Visit the party's website. Each major political party has a website, which will have all kinds of information. You'll be able to find national and state officials, a schedule of party events, and the party'south positions on issues.

   • One thing you should look for is the party'due south platform. This is a document that explains what the party believes and what its officials intend to practise if elected. You may not concur with everything the platform says, but your party should represent your views and principles.

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   Figure out your personal values. Political parties are vehicles for pushing political objectives. These objectives are based on personal values. Some means to think about clarifying your values include:^[4]

   • Thinking near people you lot really respect. Consider what you adore about them, and retrieve about how those values tin be reflected in your political opinions.
   • Thinking about the issues that get you lot most excited. Politics is about helping to modify the world, and if you aren't interested in what yous are doing, you won't pursue information technology as much. Look for parties that support your stance on the consequence and are willing to get in an important role of their program.
   • Since you lot are talking about a political party, your personal values can too include the ability to win elections. Your personal values may marshal more closely with a smaller "third" party, but yous are far more likely to win elections with the Republican or Autonomous parties. Role of your decision-making will need to consider how of import it is to win elections in the curt term.

   EXPERT TIP

   

   Bridget Connolly

   Political Activist

   Bridget Connolly has volunteered on political campaigns at the local and federal level for over 10 years, near notably for the 2008 Obama campaign in Nevada and Josh Harder'south Congressional race in 2018. She has gone door-to-door to help register voters and get out the vote in both California and Nevada.

   

   Bridget Connolly
   Political Activist

   Our Proficient Agrees: Choose a political party based on your values; don't choose your values based on the party. In that location are lots of different parties in the U.S., and lots of different groups within parties. Reflect deeply on what drives yous and what you believe, so make a decision.

2. 2

   Inquire why you are making this decision. This doesn't mean only incessantly request "Why?" to each determination you brand. Keep the focus in on yourself, and trying to make sure you sympathise your reasons for wanting to join a political political party. Think about how this volition reflect your personal values, and help you to make a difference in the world.^[five]

   • You lot practice non demand to be a member of the political party to vote in the full general election, then if you are not comfortable joining a political party, you practice not demand to. In 2015, 42% of Americans identified as political independents, so you would hardly exist lonely.^[half-dozen]

3. three

   Ignore parties you definitely won't join. While you may not know exactly which political party you want to join, you volition probably be able to identify several parties that you lot won't join. Having that many extra options to consider will only brand information technology more hard to really narrow down your choices.^[7]

   • If you know that you are a stiff supporter of authorities-sponsored programs similar Social Security, for example, you lot won't fit well in the Libertarian Political party, which wants to phase out the programme.^[8] You tin brand your decision easier by merely hit that one off your potential list.

4. 4

   Follow your instincts. People that tend to brand decisions quickly, "going with their gut," tend to be happier with their choices. While y'all may do a lot of research, chances are you volition come back to the same few options that well-nigh closely reflect your values. Don't be afraid to get with your showtime option, specially equally adding more information tends to complicate rather than clarify your determination-making.^[ix]

5. 5

   Sign up for your new party. Once you have decided on your party, it's fourth dimension to join. The mode you bring together a party in the United States in some states is to register as a fellow member with your state's lath of elections. You lot will usually accept this stride when you register to vote. In other states y'all declare by voting in the master of your new party. Check with your state's Secretarial assistant of State or a local office of your elections bureau to encounter how that happens. Or bank check with your new party--they will be happy to help and then they can have y'all as a new member.

   • In Florida, for example, you can fill out a registration course online, impress and sign it, and deliver it to your canton Supervisor of Elections. This can have place at the Supervisor's role, a commuter'south license office, a certified voter registration agency such as an military recruiting office or public library, or the Division of Elections.^[10]

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1. 1

   Vote in the primary. As a member of the political party, you go the opportunity to help choose your party's nominees for political offices. The is the nigh probable way you lot will get involved in political party activities.

   • 11 states (Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming) take closed primaries. You lot must be a registered fellow member of the party to vote in a main. Each of those states will have separate rules about how long earlier the primary yous demand to have registered.^[xi]
   • You do not demand to be a member of a party to vote in the general election. Anyone who has registered to vote is allowed to do so on Election Solar day.

2. 2

   Volunteer. Parties run heavily on the actions of volunteers and other supporters. They will probably want you to assistance with turnout (knocking on doors and making phone calls), raising coin, or helping to organize party events. If yous are unsure of what to practise, visit the party's headquarters and make yourself available. Chances are they will accept something you tin do for a few hours.

   • Parties and their various committees volition likewise want to continue your contact information bachelor equally volunteering opportunities ascend. Once you take joined, sign up through the parties and then they can contact you every bit needed.

3. iii

   Give coin. Campaigns and political party activities price money, and once you join a political party, it volition probably enquire you for money. This tin be a good way to assistance the party if y'all don't have fourth dimension to volunteer or exercise other kinds of campaigning.

   • At that place are limits to the amount of money you can give to political parties and candidates. There is a limit of $xxx,800 per-person per-year for donations to national political party committees, and $x,000 limit on per-person donations to state, district, or local party committees. There are fewer limits when it comes to supporting exterior non-party groups called Political Action Committees (PACs), which may coordinate with parties depending on the issue.^[12]
   • Political donations, unlike other kinds of donated money, are non tax-deductible.^[13]

4. 4

   Run for role. One time you are a member of a political party, yous can apply that relationship to campaign for and hold elected office. Joining the party is a good fashion to learn what positions are available, and would accommodate your skills. You may demand to compete in a primary or convention to earn the political party'southward endorsement, merely being a member is a great way to start.

   • Parties are always looking for candidates to fill a variety of offices, specially at a local level. If y'all want to run for office, just aren't sure what to practice, call the local role and inquire what offices are available and if they need candidates.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  How practise I change my political party registration?

  

  Yous can change your registration in the same fashion you registered the first time around. Check with your land's Board of Elections for the details. If you are changing to vote in a primary, be aware that some airtight primary states accept deadlines for changing your registration before the ballot.

• Question

  When registering to vote, tin can I enroll with no party?

  

  Yes. You can register as an independent or at that place should be an option not to enroll.

• Question

  Tin can I vote for either party if I'thousand a registered Democrat?

  

  Yous can vote for whoever you wish for in the general elections regardless of your party. You will simply be able to vote in your political party's chief, though.

• Question

  How practice I join the Republican Political party?

  

• Question

  Tin can I vest to more than 1 political party at the same time?

  

  No, you cannot register for two political parties in the United States.

• Question

  How can a person be on the ballot for, say, New York State Assembly District 74?

  

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• Just considering you have joined a party does non hateful you have to vote for its candidates. If you don't like your party's candidate, or like other one ameliorate, you are complimentary to vote for whomever you cull.

• Choosing your political party is a large decision, but non necessarily a permanent one. Keep in mind that opinions tin modify, both for you and your new party. If you find you don't like your selection, go ahead and switch, or even go independent (not a member of any party).

• In improver to reading what the parties say about the bug, at that place are many online quizzes available that permit you fill in your opinions to find out where you fall on the political spectrum. You lot can utilise these answers to inform your conclusion, but they shouldn't brand it for you.

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• People have politics very seriously, and while you may exist willing to take that people can disagree, joining a political party may occasionally cost you friends. Don't let this drive your decision-making. Be confident in your choices every bit the best for you, not whether or not people will still like you.

• If yous determine to volunteer, make certain yous have time to spare. Political campaigns are no laughing thing, and you'll need to take a large commitment. Only commit the corporeality of time that y'all can truly give.

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