"It's not public. Just a form you fill out. "

Wow. I think that is unheard of here in Austria and Europe. Not that it would really matter much. You can still vote anyway you want, but I think it's strange that the government would like to know your political peferences.

Does it matter to you guys in the US? Does anybody get strange looks if he/she checks the wrong box in a specific state? Is it a leftover of times past?

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Strange looks from who? Its a mail in form. Who's going to see it? A data entry person at the Register's office? Whom, most likely will never see you? 

Though an old girl friend of mine did accidentally check the box for the "American Independent Party", a far right party. She was mortified when she discovered the error. She had meant to chose independent. Myself and others only knew about it, because she told us. 

I've lived in Republican majority areas for 20 years. Never got any strange looks when voting in person as a Democrat. 

"Strange looks from who? Its a mail in form. Who's going to see it? A data entry person at the Register's office? Whom, most likely will never see you?"

I didn't know that it's a mail thing. Here in Austria if you change adress you have to show up in person with some ID.