Primary Elections -- Should You Vote?

Starting in the February before the presidential election, state by state, voters select delegates who will nominate a candidate to run for office. Each state conducts the delegate-selecting process in a different manner.

The most common modes of selecting delegates are primary elections, in which voters choose their candidate in secret.

Primaries can be open, semi-open, closed, or semi-closed.

• In open primaries, all eligible voters can cast ballots, regardless of their party affiliation.

• In closed primaries, only members of an affiliated party can cast ballots for said party. For example, in the state of Maryland, only Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary, and only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. Independent voters cannot participate. 

• In semi-closed primaries, political parties can choose whether or not Independent voters or voters from other parties can participate before an election cycle.

In caucuses, the voting may not be done in secret, voters oftentimes asked to raise their hands or assemble with likeminded citizens in groups instead.

Another key difference between primaries and caucuses is that primaries are run by the state government, and caucuses are run by the state parties.

The primary elections are just as much a part of the process of electing a new president as the general election. When you vote in the primary, you are picking an elector who is bound to vote for a certain candidate when they attend your party's nomination convention.

Prior to the election, we suggest you look into what the rules are for your home district. For example, if you're a registered Independent from Florida who currently lives in the state of Maryland, you may want to consider requesting an absentee ballot. Elections in Florida are generally characterized by slim margins, while Maryland historically swings toward Democrats.