Introduction
The US electoral system uses three different types of primary elections: open, closed, and semi-closed primaries. Open primaries are those in which any registered voter can vote for the candidates of any political party in the state. In a closed primary, however, only registered members of the political party whose primary is being held can participate in voting. Lastly, semi-closed primaries are those in which independent or unaffiliated voters may vote only for non-partisan races or nonpartisan candidates but not for partisan candidates or parties. These primary elections are important to determine who will eventually be on the ballot during the general election. Each type of primary has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the state’s laws. For instance, open primaries might give more power to those who favor one particular party over another, while closed primaries could create a sense of disenfranchisement among some groups due to having to register with a particular party before being able to participate in voting.
| State | Primary Election Type | Red or Blue State |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Closed Primaries | Democrat |
| Florida | Closed Primaries | Swing State |
| Kentucky | Closed Primaries | Republican |
| Maryland | Closed Primaries | Democrat |
| Nebraska | Closed Primaries | Republican |
| Nevada | Closed Primaries | Swing State |
| New Mexico | Closed Primaries | Democrat |
| New York | Closed Primaries | Democrat |
| Oregon | Closed Primaries | Democrat |
| Pennsylvania | Closed Primaries | Swing State |
| Louisiana | No Primaries | Republican |
| Alabama | Open Primaries | Republican |
| Arkansas | Open Primaries | Republican |
| Georgia | Open Primaries | Swing State |
| Hawaii | Open Primaries | Democrat |
| Michigan | Open Primaries | Swing State |
| Minnesota | Open Primaries | Swing State |
| Mississippi | Open Primaries | Republican |
| Missouri | Open Primaries | Republican |
| Montana | Open Primaries | Republican |
| North Dakota | Open Primaries | Republican |
| South Carolina | Open Primaries | Republican |
| Texas | Open Primaries | Republican |
| Vermont | Open Primaries | Democrat |
| Virginia | Open Primaries | Democrat |
| Wisconsin | Open Primaries | Swing State |
| Arizona | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Swing State |
| Colorado | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Democrat |
| Kansas | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Republican |
| Maine | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Democrat |
| Massachusetts | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Democrat |
| New Hampshire | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Democrat |
| New Jersey | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Democrat |
| Rhode Island | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Democrat |
| West Virginia | Open to Unaffiliated Voters | Republican |
| Connecticut | Partially Closed | Democrat |
| Idaho | Partially Closed | Republican |
| North Carolina | Partially Closed | Swing State |
| Oklahoma | Partially Closed | Republican |
| South Dakota | Partially Closed | Republican |
| Utah | Partially Closed | Republican |
| Illinois | Partially Open | Democrat |
| Indiana | Partially Open | Republican |
| Iowa | Partially Open | Republican |
| Ohio | Partially Open | Swing State |
| Tennessee | Partially Open | Republican |
| Wyoming | Partially Open | Republican |
| Alaska | Top-Four | Republican |
| California | Top-Two | Democrat |
| Washington | Top-Two | Democrat |
Primary Election Type by State
Alabama
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
Alaska
Primary Election Type
Top-Four
Republican
Arizona
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Swing State
Arkansas
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
California
Primary Election Type
Top-Two
Democrat
Colorado
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Democrat
Connecticut
Primary Election Type
Partially Closed
Democrat
Delaware
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Democrat
Florida
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Swing State
Georgia
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Swing State
Hawaii
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Democrat
Idaho
Primary Election Type
Partially Closed
Republican
Illinois
Primary Election Type
Partially Open
Democrat
Indiana
Primary Election Type
Partially Open
Republican
Iowa
Primary Election Type
Partially Open
Republican
Kansas
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Republican
Kentucky
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Republican
Louisiana
Primary Election Type
No Primaries
Republican
Maine
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Democrat
Maryland
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Democrat
Massachusetts
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Democrat
Michigan
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Swing State
Minnesota
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Swing State
Mississippi
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
Missouri
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
Montana
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
Nebraska
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Republican
Nevada
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Swing State
New Hampshire
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Democrat
New Jersey
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Democrat
New Mexico
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Democrat
New York
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Democrat
North Carolina
Primary Election Type
Partially Closed
Swing State
North Dakota
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
Ohio
Primary Election Type
Partially Open
Swing State
Oklahoma
Primary Election Type
Partially Closed
Republican
Oregon
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Democrat
Pennsylvania
Primary Election Type
Closed Primaries
Swing State
Rhode Island
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Democrat
South Carolina
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
South Dakota
Primary Election Type
Partially Closed
Republican
Tennessee
Primary Election Type
Partially Open
Republican
Texas
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Republican
Utah
Primary Election Type
Partially Closed
Republican
Vermont
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Democrat
Virginia
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Democrat
Washington
Primary Election Type
Top-Two
Democrat
West Virginia
Primary Election Type
Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Republican
Wisconsin
Primary Election Type
Open Primaries
Swing State
Wyoming
Primary Election Type
Partially Open
Republican
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