States with Open Primaries

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Table

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.

StatePrimary Election Type
DelawareClosed Primaries
FloridaClosed Primaries
KentuckyClosed Primaries
MarylandClosed Primaries
NebraskaClosed Primaries
NevadaClosed Primaries
New MexicoClosed Primaries
New YorkClosed Primaries
OregonClosed Primaries
PennsylvaniaClosed Primaries
LouisianaNo Primaries
AlabamaOpen Primaries
ArkansasOpen Primaries
GeorgiaOpen Primaries
HawaiiOpen Primaries
MichiganOpen Primaries
MinnesotaOpen Primaries
MississippiOpen Primaries
MissouriOpen Primaries
MontanaOpen Primaries
North DakotaOpen Primaries
South CarolinaOpen Primaries
TexasOpen Primaries
VermontOpen Primaries
VirginiaOpen Primaries
WisconsinOpen Primaries
ArizonaOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
ColoradoOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
KansasOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
MaineOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
MassachusettsOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
New HampshireOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
New JerseyOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
Rhode IslandOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
West VirginiaOpen to Unaffiliated Voters
ConnecticutPartially Closed
IdahoPartially Closed
North CarolinaPartially Closed
OklahomaPartially Closed
South DakotaPartially Closed
UtahPartially Closed
IllinoisPartially Open
IndianaPartially Open
IowaPartially Open
OhioPartially Open
TennesseePartially Open
WyomingPartially Open
AlaskaTop-Four
CaliforniaTop-Two
WashingtonTop-Two

Primary Election Type by State

Alabama

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Open Primaries

Alaska

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Top-Four

Arizona

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

Arkansas

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Open Primaries

California

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Top-Two

Colorado

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

Connecticut

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Partially Closed

Delaware

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Closed Primaries

Florida

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Primary Election Type

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Closed Primaries

Georgia

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Open Primaries

Hawaii

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Open Primaries

Idaho

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Primary Election Type

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Partially Closed

Illinois

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Partially Open

Indiana

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Primary Election Type

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Partially Open

Iowa

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Partially Open

Kansas

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

Kentucky

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Closed Primaries

Louisiana

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No Primaries

Maine

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

Maryland

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Closed Primaries

Massachusetts

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

Michigan

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Open Primaries

Minnesota

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Open Primaries

Mississippi

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Open Primaries

Missouri

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Open Primaries

Montana

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Open Primaries

Nebraska

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Closed Primaries

Nevada

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Closed Primaries

New Hampshire

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

New Jersey

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

New Mexico

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Closed Primaries

New York

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Closed Primaries

North Carolina

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Partially Closed

North Dakota

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Open Primaries

Ohio

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Partially Open

Oklahoma

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Partially Closed

Oregon

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Closed Primaries

Pennsylvania

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Closed Primaries

Rhode Island

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

South Carolina

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Open Primaries

South Dakota

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Partially Closed

Tennessee

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Partially Open

Texas

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Open Primaries

Utah

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Partially Closed

Vermont

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Open Primaries

Virginia

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Open Primaries

Washington

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Top-Two

West Virginia

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Open to Unaffiliated Voters

Wisconsin

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Open Primaries

Wyoming

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Partially Open