A primary election is an election in which voters select the candidates who will run for office in the general election. Primaries occur before the general election. There are several different types of primaries that determine how voters can cast their ballots. The type of primary used in a state or local election impacts whether voters can split their ticket, meaning they can vote for candidates from different political parties for different offices in the same election. Understanding the types of primaries and their rules is important for informed voters who want to strategically cast their ballots.
Closed Primaries
In a closed primary, voters may only vote for candidates running in the primary for the political party in which they are registered. For example, a voter registered as a Democrat could only vote for Democratic candidates in a Democratic closed primary. The voter cannot vote for Republican, third party, independent, or write-in candidates in a closed primary.
Closed primaries do not allow voters to split their ticket. A Democrat would have to vote for Democrats down the entire ballot. A Republican would have to vote Republican for every race. Voters cannot cross party lines to choose a candidate from the other major party or a third party in a given race.
Approximately 13 states use closed primaries today. Closed primaries are favored by political parties because they maintain control over their nominations. The parties do not want voters from the opposing party selecting their nominees. However, closed primaries limit voter choice and lock out independents who are not registered with either major party.
Open Primaries
In an open primary, voters can vote for any candidate running in any party’s primary. Democrats can vote in the Republican primary, Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary, and independents can choose either primary to vote in. Voters do not have to be registered with or affiliated with a party to participate.
Open primaries allow voters to split their ticket. A voter could choose a Republican candidate for one office and a Democratic candidate for another office. They can mix-and-match candidates from any party on their ballot.
Around 10 states utilize open primaries today. Open primaries give voters maximum choice and flexibility. However, like closed primaries, each voter still only gets one ballot. The major downside is there is potential for sabotage or mischief voting, where voters from one party intentionally vote for the weakest candidate in the opposing party’s primary.
Semi-Closed (Hybrid) Primaries
In a semi-closed primary, unaffiliated voters can choose which party’s primary they want to vote in, while voters registered with a specific party can only vote in that party’s primary.
For example, independent voters can pick a Democratic or Republican ballot in the primary. However, registered Democrats could only vote in the Democratic primary and registered Republicans could only vote in the Republican primary.
The semi-closed system allows registered Democrats and Republicans to vote only within their own parties, protecting against sabotage from the opposing party. At the same time, it allows flexibility for independents to participate in either primary. This system encourages participation from unaffiliated voters, while still maintaining the integrity of the party nominations.
Over 20 states employ semi-closed primaries today. A semi-closed primary allows voters to cross party lines and split their ticket to a certain degree. Independents can vote for candidates from either party, while partisans can only vote for their own party.
Blanket Primaries
In a blanket primary, voters can vote for one candidate from each party per office. For example, voters could vote for a Democrat for governor, a Republican for senator, and a Libertarian for state representative. Blanket primaries allow total ticket splitting across parties.
Only the state of Washington has a blanket primary system following a citizen initiative. Blanket primaries enable voters to support candidates solely based on their merits, not party affiliation. However, political parties strongly oppose blanket primaries because they essentially eliminate party nominations.
Nonpartisan Primaries
In a nonpartisan primary, all candidates for an office run against each other regardless of party affiliation. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election. If no candidate earns a majority in the primary, the election goes to a runoff between the top two.
Nonpartisan primaries are used mainly for state and local offices. Party affiliation does not play a role. Consequently, voters can split their tickets between candidates of any party. However, because party labels are not on the ballot, voters must research the candidates’ political affiliations independently.
California, Nebraska, and Washington use nonpartisan primaries for certain offices. Nonpartisan systems can make races less polarized along party lines. However, critics argue voters lose important information without party labels on the ballot.
Conclusion
The type of primary election used in a state determines the degree to which voters can split their tickets between parties. Closed primaries prohibit crossover voting entirely. Semi-closed primaries allow independents but not registered partisans to vote across party lines. Open and nonpartisan primaries enable voters to freely mix-and-match candidates from any party. Blanket primaries allow total freedom to vote for any candidate for any office regardless of party. Understanding your state’s primary rules is crucial for strategic ticket splitting.
References
Ballotpedia. “Open primary.” Accessed January 23, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Open_primary.
Ballotpedia. “Closed primary.” Accessed January 23, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Closed_primary.
Ballotpedia. “Blanket primary.” Accessed January 23, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Blanket_primary.
Ballotpedia. “Nonpartisan blanket primary.” Accessed January 23, 2023. https://ballotpedia.org/Nonpartisan_blanket_primary.
National Conference of State Legislatures. “Primary Types.” Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/primary-types.aspx.
Fairvote. “Primary Election Systems and Extremists.” Accessed January 23, 2023. https://www.fairvote.org/primary_election_systems_and_extremists.
Foster, Chase. “The Spectrum of Primary Election Types.” The Spectrum of Primary Election Types | Independent Voter News. Accessed January 23, 2023. https://ivn.us/posts/the-spectrum-of-primary-election-types.
Shor, Boris, and Nolan McCarty. “Aggregate Level Voter Behavior in the United States.” (August 2018).
Wines, Michael. “Primaries Offer Choices, if Voters Know Where to Look.” The New York Times, May 7, 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/us/open-closed-semi-closed-primaries-new-york.html.
Voter Participation by Primary Type
Primary Type | Voter Turnout |
---|---|
Closed | Low |
Semi-closed | Moderate |
Open | High |
Nonpartisan | Moderate |
Blanket | High |
This table summarizes average voter turnout in primaries based on the type of primary election. Closed primaries tend to have lower turnout because only major party members can participate. Blanket and open primaries see higher turnout since more voters are eligible to participate.
Strategic Voting in Different Primaries
The type of primary impacts how voters cast their ballots strategically. Here are some key strategies for voters in different primaries:
Closed Primary Strategies
- Partisans should vote in their registered party’s primary, as they cannot crossover vote.
- Independents should consider registering with a party in advance of the primary to participate.
- Focus should be on choosing strong candidates within your own party.
Open Primary Strategies
- Voters can choose which party’s primary to vote in each election cycle.
- Independents should weigh voting in the more competitive primary.
- Sabotage voting is possible to hurt the other party.
Semi-Closed Primary Strategies
- Independents should strategically choose which primary to vote in.
- Registered partisans must stick with their own party’s primary.
- Weigh voting in the primary with the most competitive races.
Nonpartisan Primary Strategies
- Focus should be solely on candidate qualities, as party labels are excluded.
- Research candidates ahead to learn their partisan affiliations.
- Vote for your preferred candidates regardless of party.
Voters must understand their state’s primary rules in order to vote strategically within each system.
Examples of States with Each Primary Type
Primary Type | Example States |
---|---|
Closed | Florida, New York, Delaware |
Semi-Closed | West Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts |
Open | Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia |
Nonpartisan | California, Nebraska, Washington |
Blanket | Washington |
This table provides example states for each type of primary election system. The state a voter lives in determines which primary rules govern elections.
Pros and Cons of Different Primaries
Primary Type | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Closed | Protects party integrity | Limits voter participation |
Semi-Closed | Balances party control with independent participation | Still excludes some voters from participation |
Open | High voter participation | Risk of sabotage voting |
Nonpartisan | Reduces hyper-partisanship | No party cues for voters |
Blanket | Maximum choice for voters | Strong party opposition |
This table weighs the advantages and disadvantages of each type of primary system. There are good arguments on both sides of which primary system is best. Individual voters may prioritize factors differently.
Key Takeaways
- Closed primaries restrict voting within party lines and prohibit ticket splitting.
- Open and blanket primaries allow total freedom to split tickets across parties.
- Semi-closed primaries offer a hybrid middle ground approach.
- Nonpartisan primaries downgrade partisan affiliation but enhance voter choice.
- Understanding your state’s primary system is crucial for strategic voting.
The structure of a state’s primary election determines how much voters can split their tickets between parties. Closed primaries limit options fully within party lines. More open systems enable varying degrees of crossover voting. Your voting strategies and impact will differ based on the primary rules in your state.