I came up with this strategy a few years ago, and I think it might help others feel like they're doing more.
I tend to vote democrat more often than not for the general elections. But I'm registered as a republican. This allows me to vote in the republican primaries.
The strategy is simple. Usually the dems have a few decent options that I don't really care who wins. Sure, I like one better than another, but if the other wins, I'd still be happy. So, I put my vote where it matters more.
On the republican side it's usually a dumpater fire of bad choices. So, I dig through their bios and their plans for office, and am usually able to find at least one that I don't mind too much.
Why do I do this? Because I want two good candidates to choose from in the general elections.
Side benefits: it fucks with election numbers. Republicans counting on registered republicans to vote republican don't get what they want. I just read an article about the current administrstion tracking people based on their political affiliation. Poision that data up too.
Bonus, it's perfectly legal. Feels like it isn't, but it sure it.
This strategy can be significantly more impactful than just voting D in primaries especially in areas like mine where there's usually only one D candidate (or zero) and multiple R.
There are, however, 2 downsides:
once you primary as the opposite party, you can't to be mindful not to run afoul of "crossover voting" laws by then participating in runoffs for any other party.
If you decide to get involved in politics yourself, there can be bylaws style rules that say you must have voted in the "proper" primary (or did not vote at all) for the last 3 or 5 years to show you are not a DINO-type candidate.