What is a presidential primary election?
A presidential primary election in the U.S. political system is a process used by political parties in some states to select a nominee for president.HistoryPrior to the 20th century, political parties selected their presidential nominees through caucuses of party members in the individual states and, later, by the vote of delegates in a national convention. Election reform laws, instituted to create more voter participation in the process, created the first presidential primaries in the early 20th century.Open vs. Closed PrimariesSome states use an open primary, which allows any voter to participate simply by selecting a party ballot, while others have a closed primary, allowing only registered party members to vote in their primary.Direct vs. Indirect PrimariesSome states allow voters to directly select candidates for their party’s presidential nomination, while others require voters to choose delegates to later state conventions, or the national convention, who will then vote for the
