Open Primary
Open Primary: Primary election in which any voters can participate, regardless of their political affiliation.
Also known as: pick-your-party primary
Definition
Primary election in which any voters can participate, regardless of their political affiliation. Some states require voters to publicly declare their choice of party ballot at the polling place, after which the poll worker provides or activates the appropriate ballot. Other states allow the voters to make their choice of party ballot within the privacy of the voting booth.
Alternative Definitions
- Definition 2
Primary election in which voters, regardless of political affiliation, may choose in which party’s primary they will vote. Some states require voters to publicly declare their choice of party ballot at the polling place, after which the poll worker provides or activates the appropriate ballot. Other states allow the voters to make their choice of party ballot within the privacy of the voting booth. Voters also are permitted to vote on nonpartisan offices and ballot issues that are presented at the same election.
- Definition 3
Partisan primary election in which the voter may choose a political party at the time of voting and vote in party-specific contests associated with that party, along with non-party-specific contests presented at the same election.
- Definition 4
Partisan primary election in which the voter may choose a political party at the time of voting and vote in party-specific contests associated with that party, along with non-party-specific contests presented at the same election. Some states require voters to publicly declare their choice of party at the polling place, after which the election worker provides or activates the appropriate ballot. Other states allow the voters to make their choice of party within the privacy of the voting booth.
- Definition 5
A primary in which any registered voter may vote, even if not registered with a political party, but must vote for candidates of only one party a nd must declare a choice of party to election officials. Current open primary states ar e California, Louisiana and Washington. Cf. BLANKET PRIMARY, CLOSED PRIMARY, MODIFIED OPEN PRIMARY, PICK A PARTY PRIMARY, SELECTIVE PRIMARY, SLIGHTLY AJAR PRIMARY.