{"id":351460,"date":"2020-03-17T09:36:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T14:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-is-a-closed-primary.html"},"modified":"2024-02-07T17:16:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T22:16:45","slug":"what-is-a-closed-primary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-is-a-closed-primary.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Closed Primary?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is a Closed Primary?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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There are two main types of primary elections<\/a> \u2014 open and closed. The type of elections you’ll vote in depends on where you live. If you live in Oregon, you’ll take part in a closed primary election. If you live in Alabama, you would vote in an open primary<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

In a closed primary, only people registered with the party can vote in a party’s primary election. For example, if you’re a Democrat, you can only vote in a Democratic primary. If you’re a Republican, you can only vote in a Republican primary.<\/p>\n

To vote in a closed primary, voters must declare a party affiliation<\/a> before election day.<\/p>\n

With an open primary, you don’t have to affiliate with a particular party to vote.<\/p>\n

There are also semi-closed primaries<\/a>. In these elections, unaffiliated voters can vote any way they wish.<\/p>\n

Allegiance to a Political Party Is Key<\/h2>\n

Voter registration<\/a> is critical in a closed primary. These elections call for loyalty to a political party. Unaffiliated voters cannot take part.<\/p>\n

As of 2024, 12 states hold closed primaries<\/a> for congressional and state-level elections. The states with closed primaries are:<\/p>\n