Semi-closed primary
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A semi-closed primary, also known as a hybrid primary, is a type of primary election where voters that are not affiliated with a political party may participate in the partisan primary election of their choice. Voters who are affiliated with a political party are only allowed to vote in that party's primary.[1][2]
Usage
Congressional and state-level elections
In 15 states, at least one political party conducts semi-closed primaries for congressional and state-level offices. The map below identifies states in which at least one political party uses semi-closed primaries for congressional and state-level elections. Hover over a state for additional details.[1][2]
States where at least one political party uses semi-closed primaries for congressional and state-level elections | ||
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State | Semi-closed primaries | Notes |
Arizona | Yes | |
Colorado | Yes | |
Idaho | Yes | State law stipulates that political parties can determine for themselves who may participate in their primary elections. Unaffiliated voters can affiliate with a party on the day of the election and participate in its primary. Voters who are already affiliated with a political party must disaffiliate no later than the 10th Friday preceding the primary election in order to affiliate with another party and vote in its primary.[3] |
Kansas | Yes | Section 25-3301 of the Kansas Statutes stipulates that a voter who is already affiliated with a political party can participate only in that party's primary. An unaffiliated voter can declare his or her affiliation with a political party on the day of the election and vote in that party's primary. Previously affiliated voters cannot change their affiliation on the day of the election.[4] |
Maine | Yes | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, Section 341 stipulates that an unaffiliated voter may vote in a partisan primary of their choice without enrolling in the party.[5] |
Massachusetts | Yes | |
New Hampshire | Yes | |
New Jersey | Yes | A previously unaffiliated voter can participate in the primary of his or her choice by affiliating with a party on the day of the election. Otherwise, a voter must indicate his or her party preference (e.g., via an updated voter registration) no later than the 55th day preceding the primary in order to vote in that party's primary. |
New York | Yes (Reform Party) | In 2018, the Reform Party opened its primary to independent voters.[6] |
North Carolina | Yes | |
Oklahoma | Yes (Democratic Party) | Section 26-1-104 of the Oklahoma Statutes stipulates that only a registered member of a political party can vote in that party's primary. The law does grant parties the authority to determine for themselves whether unaffiliated voters may vote in their primaries.[7] |
Rhode Island | Yes | |
South Dakota | Yes (Democratic Party) | Section 12-6-26 of the South Dakota Codified Laws stipulates that a voter who has registered with a political party can only vote in that party's primary. The statute does grant parties the authority to determine for themselves whether unaffiliated voters may participate in their primaries.[8] |
Utah | Yes (Democratic Party) | |
West Virginia | Yes | State law permits political parties to determine for themselves whether unaffiliated voters may participate in their primary elections.[9] |
Presidential primaries and caucuses
2024 presidential primaries and caucuses
The maps below detail voter participation rules for the Democratic and Republican parties in the 2024 presidential nominating process.
For information from previous presidential election cycles, click "[Show more]" below.
2020 presidential primaries and caucuses
The maps below detail voter participation rules for the Democratic and Republican parties in the 2020 presidential nominating process. Hover over a state to see additional information.
2016 presidential primaries and caucuses
The map below identifies states in which at least one political party utilized semi-closed primaries or caucuses as part of the presidential nominating process in 2016. Hover over a state for additional details.
States in which at least one political party utilized semi-closed primaries or caucuses for presidential nominating process, 2016 | ||
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State | Semi-closed primaries or caucuses | |
Massachusetts | Yes | |
New Hampshire | Yes | |
North Carolina | Yes | |
Oklahoma | Yes (Democrats) | |
Rhode Island | Yes | |
South Dakota | Yes (Democrats) | |
West Virginia | Yes |
The table below includes state legislation related to primaries introduced in or carried over to the current year's legislative session.
Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
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The Ballot Bulletin
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See also
- Primary election
- Primary election types by state
- State primary election types
- Open primary
- Closed primary
- Top-two primary
- Top-four primary
- Blanket primary
- Jungle primary
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," May 26, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 FairVote, "Who Can Vote in Congressional Primaries," accessed June 13, 2023
- ↑ Idaho Statutes, "Section 34-904A," accessed June 13, 2023
- ↑ Kansas Statutes, 'Section 25-3301," accessed June 13, 2023
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "§341. Unenrolled voter participation in primary elections allowed," accessed June 12, 2024
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "New York Reform Party Will Hold First Statewide Primary in Which New York Independent Voters May Vote," May 21, 2018
- ↑ Oklahoma Statutes, "Section 26-1-104," accessed June 13, 2023
- ↑ South Dakota Codified Laws, "Section 12-6-26," accessed June 13, 2023
- ↑ West Virginia Code, 'Section 3-2-5," accessed June 13, 2023
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