Primary elections offer voters the opportunity to choose which candidates will compete in the general election. These elections can be either nonpartisan or partisan. In partisan primaries, voters select candidates they prefer for their political party to nominate in the general election.
The rules for primary elections differ across states and can even vary within states depending on locality and political party. For instance, only registered party members can vote in closed primaries, while both registered party members and unaffiliated voters can vote in semi-closed primaries. Open primaries allow all eligible voters to participate regardless of party affiliation.
Primary election outcomes are determined using various methods. Majority systems require a candidate to secure at least fifty percent of the votes to win, while plurality systems do not. In top-two, top-four, and blanket primaries, all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of their party affiliation.
