Open Primary
A primary election in which any registered voter may participate regardless of their party affiliation.
An open primary is a state-level election rule that allows any registered voter to participate in a party's presidential primary, regardless of whether that voter is registered as a member of that party.
For example, in a state with an open primary, a registered independent - or even a registered Republican - could choose to vote in the Democratic primary, and vice versa.
Open primaries are generally favored by candidates who perform better with moderate or cross-party voters. Critics within parties argue that open primaries allow opposition voters to strategically influence which candidate gets nominated.
States set their own primary rules, and the major parties can also impose their own requirements. Whether a state uses an open or closed primary is determined by state law and party regulations.
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A primary election in which only voters registered with that party may participate.
A state-run election in which voters choose their party's nominee for president by selecting among competing candidates.
A party representative selected during primaries or caucuses who votes for a presidential nominee at the national convention.