Elections & terms
open primary
A primary any registered voter may vote in, regardless of party registration. A closed primary is limited to that party's registered members.
In full
States choose among open, closed, and semi-closed systems, sometimes differing by party and by office. The choice shapes who candidates must appeal to: closed primaries reward candidates who please the party base, while open ones broaden the electorate. Because parties are private associations, states cannot always force a party to open its primary.
Also written as: closed primary, semi-closed primary
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.