Mar 1 Local News Higdon Says He’ll Try Again With Open Primary Bill Under current law, Democrats vote for Democrats on primary day and Republicans vote for Republicans. Crossing party lines is not permitted until the general election. A bill sponsored by Senator Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon would let registered independents cast primary votes for Democrats or Republicans, but the measure fell one vote short of passage. By Tony McVeigh Mar 1 Local News Higdon Says He’ll Try Again With Open Primary Bill Tony McVeigh