Semi-closed primary
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A semi-closed primary is a type of primary where registered party members and unaffiliated voters are allowed to vote. In these primaries, an unaffiliated voter may participate in the partisan primary of their choice while retaining their unaffiliated status.
Some states require political parties to conduct semi-closed primaries by law, while others allow parties some discretion to set their own primary rules and parties may hold a semi-closed primary.
For information on voter participation rules for the 2024 presidential primaries and caucuses, see see here.
- Semi-closed primaries in use by stateStates where the Democratic or Republican party conducts a semi-closed primary
- Laws requiring semi-closed primariesState laws that require parties to conduct semi-closed primaries
- Support and oppositionAbbreviated arguments in support and opposition to semi-closed primaries
Semi-closed primaries in use by state
In 12 states, at least one political party conducts semi-closed primaries for congressional and state-level offices. The map and table below identify states in which at least one political party uses semi-closed primaries for congressional and state-level elections. Hover over a state for additional details.
| State | Semi-closed primaries | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes | |
| Colorado | Yes | |
| Louisiana | Yes | Primary participation rules in Louisiana vary by office type. Beginning in 2026, Louisiana will use a semi-closed primary for congress, justice of the supreme court, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Public Service Commission. For all other statewide offices—including state senator and representative—Louisiana will continue to use the Louisiana majority-vote system. |
| Maine | Yes | |
| Massachusetts | Yes | |
| New Hampshire | Yes | |
| New Mexico | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Yes | |
| Oklahoma | Democratic Party | Oklahoma state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Democratic Party operates a semi-closed primary. |
| Rhode Island | Yes | |
| South Dakota | Democratic Party | South Dakota state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Democratic Party operates a semi-closed primary. |
| West Virginia | Democratic Party | West Virginia state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Democratic Party operates a semi-closed primary. |
Laws requiring semi-closed primaries
Laws in nine states require political parties to conduct a primary where unaffiliated voters may participate in the primary of their choice without affiliating with a party. In Louisiana, participation rules vary by office. See the map and table below for more information.
| State | Statute | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16–467 | A voter previously affiliated with a party who wants to change their affiliation must re-register by the 29th day before the primary. |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1–7–201 | A voter previously affiliated with a party who wants to change their affiliation must do so by the 22nd day before the primary. |
| Louisiana | La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 18:401, 18:511, 18:410.3 | Primary type varies by office. Beginning in 2026, Louisiana will use a semi-closed primary for congress, justice of the supreme court, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Public Service Commission. For all other statewide offices—including state senator and representative—Louisiana will continue to use the Louisiana majority-vote system. |
| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21–A, § 340 | Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary of their choice. An affiliated voter may change their affiliation up to 15 days prior to a primary. A voter must remain affiliated with a party for at least 3 months before they can withdraw or change their affiliation. |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 38 | Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary of their choice. A voter can change their affiliation up until the 10th day prior to a primary. |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 659:14 & 654:34 | Unaffiliated voters can vote in the primary of their choice and leave the polling place without a party affiliation. Previously affiliated voters must change their registration before the first Wednesday of June before a primary. |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–12–7 | Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary of their choice. If a voter is affiliated with a major party they may change their affiliation by the 28th day before the primary to vote in a different party's primary. |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 163–59 & 163–119 | Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary of their choice. A voter may change their party affiliation up until the 25th days prior to the primary. |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws § 17–15–24 | Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary of their choice. A voter who wishes to change their affiliation and vote in another party's primary must do so at least 30 days prior to the primary. |
Support and opposition
The following quotes briefly summarize arguments for and against semi-closed primaries. For detailed support and opposition arguments from a variety of sources, see this page . This section includes quotes briefly summarizing some of the most prevalent arguments for and against semi-closed primaries.
| Support | Opposition |
|---|---|
| "When states allow unaffiliated voters to participate in primaries for the first time, voter turnout increases, and the electorate grows more demographically and politically representative.." -Bipartisan Policy Center (2024)[1] "Opening primary elections by allowing voters registered as independent or unaffiliated to participate in taxpayer-funded elections improves voting fairness and, in turn, democracy." -State Sen. Peter Wirth (NM-D) (2025)[2] |
"Yet no matter how contemptibly party leaders behave, and no matter how frustrating closed primaries might be, independents should resist the call for more states to pass open primaries – for both principled and pragmatic reasons. Citizens should not impose on parties their supposed right to help determine the parties' nominees because it both violates these private groups' freedom of association and because it will cause voters (and "outsider" candidates) to be drawn in and co-opted by the very entities they have chosen not to join in the first place." -Andrew Gipp, Independent Voter News (2018)[3] |
The table below includes state legislation related to primaries introduced during (or carried over to) the current year's legislative session. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by state and then by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
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See also
- Primary election
- Primary election types by state
- State primary election types
- Open primary
- Closed primary
- Top-two primary
- Top-four primary
- Blanket primary
- Jungle primary
- Final-five voting
Footnotes
- ↑ Bipartisan Policy Center, "The Effect of Open Primaries on Turnout and Representation," October 30, 2024
- ↑ Unite America, "New Mexico Governor Signs Open Primaries Bill, Granting 330,000 Voters A More Meaningful Say," April 7, 2025
- ↑ Independent Voter News, "An Independent's Case against Open Primaries," May 4, 2015
