Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.

State primary election types

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search


Election Policy VNT Logo.png
Primary election
Primary elections by state
Closed primary
Open primary
Semi-closed primary
Top-two primary
Final-five voting
Caucus
Alternative nomination means
Primary cancellations
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration.

Primary elections allow voters to determine which candidates compete in the general election. Primaries can be nonpartisan—where all candidates appear on the same ballot (with or without a party label)—or they can be partisan. In partisan primaries, voters choose the candidates they prefer for a political party to nominate for the general election.

Laws governing primary elections vary by state. In some states, primary types also vary by political party or office up for election.

This article covers two main topics, the laws that govern primary participation and outcomes, and the rules that major parties in each state use for their primaries. This article also includes this information organized by state.

As of September 2025, 14 states require open primaries, 13 require closed primaries, nine require semi-closed primaries, three require top-two style primaries for all offices, and in 11 states parties have discretion to choose participation rules for their primaries.[1] See below for a breakdown of these laws, as well as what primaries are in use.

Primaries also vary by the way their outcomes are determined. Majority systems require the winning candidate to receive at least fifty percent of the votes cast, while plurality systems do not. See below for each state's requirements.

This article does not include information about presidential preference primaries, which frequently operate under different laws and rules than other primaries. Click here for more information about those primaries.

  • Primary types currently in use in each state
    Primary types currently in use by the Democratic and Republican parties in the 50 states and D.C.
    Read more
  • Laws governing primaries by state
    State laws that dictate who may participate in primaries and how they are won.
    Read more
  • State specific information
    Information organized by state, including laws and participation details.
    Read more


Primary election types by state

Because not every state specifies the type of primary that political parties must conduct, the primary types that parties actually use fit into a different categorization and may vary within a state. In 40 states, both the Democratic or Republican parties use an open, closed, or semi-closed primary. In seven states, the parties operate different types of primary. In three states—Alaska, California, and Washington—there were no partisan primaries for congressional and state-level offices.

As of September 2025, the Democratic Party used:

  • Open primaries in 18 states
  • Closed primaries in 16 states
  • Semi-closed primaries in 14 states

The Republican Party used:

  • Open primaries in 15 states
  • Closed primaries in 23 states
  • Semi-closed primaries in nine states

Open primaries

See also: Open primary

In 19 states, at least one political party conducts open primaries for congressional and state-level offices. The map and table below identify states in which at least one political party uses open primaries for congressional and state-level elections. Hover over a state for additional details.

States where at least one political party uses open primaries for congressional and state-level elections
State Open primaries Notes
Alabama Yes Alabama voters may participate in any party's primary by declaring their preference for that party at the polls on the day of the primary.[2]
Arkansas Yes Arkansas state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. Both the Democratic and Republican parties operate an open primary.
Georgia Yes  
Hawaii Yes  
Idaho Democratic Party Idaho state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Democratic Party operates an open primary.
Kansas Democratic Party Kansas state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Democratic Party operates an open primary.
Michigan Yes  
Minnesota Yes  
Mississippi Yes  
Missouri Yes  
Montana Yes  
Nebraska Democratic Party Primary participation rules in Nebraska vary by office type. State law grants parties discretion to determine participation rules for primaries whose rules are not otherwise set by state law. The Democratic Party operates an open primary for these offices. Regardless of party rules, an unaffiliated voter is allowed to vote in the primary of their choice for the office of United States Senator or United States Representative.
North Dakota Yes  
South Carolina Yes  
Texas Yes  
Utah Democratic Party Utah state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Democratic Party operates an open primary.
Vermont Yes  
Virginia Yes  
Wisconsin Yes  

Closed primaries

See also: Closed primary

In 23 states, at least one political party conducts closed primaries for congressional and state-level offices. The map and table below identify states in which at least one political party uses closed primaries for congressional and state-level elections. Hover over a state for additional details.

States where at least one political party uses closed primaries for congressional and state-level elections
State Closed primaries Notes
Connecticut Yes Connecticut state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. Both the Democratic and Republican parties operate a closed primary.[3]
Delaware Yes  
Florida Yes  
Idaho Republican Party Idaho state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Republican Party operates a closed primary.
Illinois Yes A voter must declare their affiliation at the polls to vote a partisan primary ballot. However, any voter is able to choose their affiliation at the polls on the day of the primary. Their ballot choice may be considered as registering with that party.[4]

Although state law requires voters to be affiliated to vote in a partisan primary, Illinois does not record a voter's affiliation as part of their registration record.
Indiana Yes State law stipulates that, in order to participate in a party's primary, a voter must have either voted for a majority of that party's nominees in the last general election or must intend to vote for a majority of the party's nominees in the upcoming general election.[5]

Although state law requires voters to be affiliated to vote in a partisan primary, Indiana does not record a voter's affiliation as part of their registration record.
Iowa Yes Iowa law stipulates that only registered party members can vote in a party's primary, however Section 43.42 of the Iowa Code stipulates that a voter may change his or her party affiliation at the polls on primary day and vote in the primary of a party other than the one to which he or she formerly belonged.[6][7]

Although state law requires voters to be affiliated to vote in a partisan primary, Iowa does not record a voter's affiliation as part of their registration record.
Kansas Republican Party Kansas state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Republican Party operates an closed primary.
Kentucky Yes  
Maryland Yes Maryland state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. Both the Democratic and Republican parties operate a closed primary.
Nebraska Republican Party Primary participation rules in Nebraska vary by office type. State law grants parties discretion to determine participation rules for primaries whose rules are not otherwise set by state law. The Republican Party operates a closed primary for these offices. Regardless of party rules, an unaffiliated voter is allowed to vote in the primary election of their choice for the office of United States Senator or United States Representative.
Nevada Yes  
New York Yes  
New Jersey Yes A previously unaffiliated voter can participate in the primary of his or her choice by affiliating with a party on the day of the election. Otherwise, a voter must indicate his or her party preference (e.g., via an updated voter registration) no later than the 55th day preceding the primary in order to vote in that party's primary.
Ohio Yes State law requires a voter to be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary, however a voter of any affiliation can choose the ballot they would like to vote on the day of the primary and their choice may be regarded as registration with that party.

Although state law requires voters to be affiliated to vote in a partisan primary, Ohio does not record a voter's affiliation as part of their registration record.
Oklahoma Republican Party Oklahoma state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Republican Party operates a closed primary.
Oregon Yes Oregon state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. Both the Democratic and Republican parties operate a closed primary.
Pennsylvania Yes  
South Dakota Republican Party South Dakota state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Republican Party operates a closed primary.
Tennessee Yes State law requires a voter to be a "bona fide member of and affiliated with the political party" to vote in a party's primary.[8]

Although state law requires voters to be affiliated to vote in a partisan primary, Tennessee does not record a voter's affiliation as part of their registration record.
Utah Republican Party Utah state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Republican Party operates a closed primary.
West Virginia Republican Party West Virginia state law gives parties discretion to determine participation rules. The Republican Party operates a closed primary.
Wyoming Yes  

Semi-closed primaries

See also: Semi-closed primary

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.

States where at least one political party uses semi-closed primaries for congressional and state-level elections
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.


Top-two primaries and variants

See also: Top-two primary

Five states use a top-two primary or a variant of a top-two primary for some or all congressional and state-level offices. In general, these are primaries where all candidates are listed on the same ballot, regardless of their party affiliation, and all registered voters participate in the same primary. A pre-designated number of candidates that receive the most votes (typically the top two voter-getters) advance from the primary. The map and table below identify states that use a top-two primary primary or a variant for at least some congressional and state-level elections. The map and chart below identify states that utilize top-two primary elections or a variation. Hover over a state on the map for additional details.

States where at least one political party uses top-two style primaries for congressional and state-level elections
State Top-two primary or variant Statute Notes
California Top-two California Constitution Article II, Section 5 California uses a top-two primary where candidates from all parties appear on the same primary ballot. The top two finishers move on to the general election.
Louisiana Varies by office (Semi-closed & top-two variant) La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 18:401, 18:511, 18:410.3 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.
Nebraska Varies by office (Party discretion, semi-closed, & top-two) Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 32–912 & 508 Primary type varies by office. State legislative primaries use a non-partisan top-two system. Congressional primaries are partisan, but any voter may vote in the congressional primary of their choice. For all other statewide offices, a state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their primary ballot. Unaffiliated voters can also choose to vote a "non-partisan partisan ballot" on the day of the election which allows them to vote for any elective office that a party decides to include on that ballot. A voter can change their affiliation up until the second Friday before the election.
Washington Top-two Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.112 Washington uses a top-two primary where candidates from all parties appear on the same primary ballot. The top two finishers move on to the general election.

Laws governing primary participation by state

Each state has laws that either stipulate which voters can participate in primaries, or that allow parties to choose who may vote in their primaries. The categories a state's primary laws may fall in to are:

  • Open: State law says that anyone can vote in this primary, regardless of partisan affiliation. There are no affiliation requirements before or after the primary.
  • Closed: State law says a voter must be affiliated with a political party to participate in its primary. Note: It may still be possible for a voter to affiliate or change affiliation on the day of the primary in some states with closed primaries.
  • Semi-closed: State law says that voters who are not affiliated with a political party may participate in the partisan primary of their choice while retaining their status as an unaffiliated voter.
  • Top-two or variation: State law says that all registered voters vote in the same primary, and all candidates are listed on the same ballot.
  • Party discretion: State law permits parties to choose participation rules for their primaries.

In 39 states, laws specify that major parties must hold an open, closed, semi-closed, or top-two style primary for most congressional and state offices. In 11 states, laws permit parties to choose between at least two possible primary types for most primaries.[9] In some cases, a state's laws may specify that parties conduct closed primaries where a voter must be affiliated with the party to participate, but the voter may be able to affiliate at the time of voting. Click here to see primary participation details for each state.

Of the 39 states where state law specifies a single primary type for most or all state and congressional offices:

As of September 2025:
  • Fourteen require open primaries.
  • Thirteen require closed primaries.
  • Nine require semi-closed primaries.
  • Three require top-two style primaries for all offices.


    • Of the 11 states where parties have discretion to choose between primary types:

    As of September 2025:
  • In one state, both the Democratic and Republican parties hold open primaries.
  • In three states, both the Democratic and Republican parties hold closed primaries.
  • In four states, the Democratic party holds an open primary and the Republican party holds a closed primary.
  • In three states, the Democratic party holds a semi-closed primary and the Republican party holds a closed primary.



    • Open primaries
    Closed primaries
    Semi-closed primaries
    Top-two primaries and variants
    Party discretion


    State primary laws
    State Primary type specified by law Statute Notes
    Alabama Open Ala. Code 17-13-7 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in. A voter is bound to the party they voted for in case of a run-off primary.
    Alaska Top-four Alaska Stat. § 15.25.010 Alaska uses a top-four primary where candidates from all parties appear on the same primary ballot. The top four finishers move on to the general election.
    Arizona Semi-closed 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.
    Arkansas Party discretion Ark. Stat. Ann. § 7–7–307 Organized political parties prescribe the qualifications of their own membership and the qualifications for voting in their party primaries. Both parties run open primaries. A voter is bound to the party they voted for in case of a run-off primary.
    California Top-two California Constitution Article II, Section 5 California uses a top-two primary where candidates from all parties appear on the same primary ballot. The top two finishers move on to the general election.
    Colorado Semi-closed 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.
    Connecticut Party discretion Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9–431 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote for some or all offices. If a voter is not affiliated with any party, they can join a party in person up until noon on the day prior to the primary. A voter previously affiliated with a party cannot vote in any partisan primary election for 3 months after their affiliation is changed.
    Delaware Closed Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 3110 To vote in a partisan primary, a voter must affiliate with that party any time before the last Saturday in May before the primary.
    Florida Closed Fla. Stat. § 101.021 To vote in a partisan primary, a voter must affiliate with a party 29 days before the primary.
    Georgia Open Ga. Code 21-2-224 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in. A voter is bound to the party they voted for in case of a run-off primary.
    Hawaii Open Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 12–31 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Idaho Party discretion Idaho Code § 34–904A A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters or voters affiliated with another party to vote their ballot. Regardless of what a party decides, a previously unaffiliated voter can affiliate on the day of the primary. A voter previously affiliated with a party who wants to change their affiliation or become unaffiliated must do so no later than the twelfth Friday before the primary.
    Illinois Closed Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/7–44 A voter must declare their affiliation at the polls to vote a partisan primary ballot. However, any voter is able to choose their affiliation at the polls on the day of the primary. Their ballot choice may be considered as registering with that party.
    Indiana Closed Ind. Code § 3–10–1–6 State law says that voters can only vote in a party's primary if they voted for a majority of that party’s candidates in the last general election or plan to in the upcoming election, thereby requiring affiliation. However, it is possible for any voter to vote in any party's primary so long as they meet this criteria.
    Iowa Closed Iowa Code § 43.42 Any voter can affiliate or change their affiliation on the day of the primary, however state law requires the voter to be affiliated with a party to vote in its primary.
    Kansas Party discretion Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25–3301 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their ballot. However, unaffiliated voters can affiliate on the day of a primary election. A previously affiliated voter may change their affiliation up until noon on June 1 before a primary.
    Kentucky Closed Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.055 A voter must affiliate with a party by December 31 preceding a primary election to vote in a partisan primary.
    Louisiana Varies by office (Semi-closed & top-two variant) 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 Semi-closed 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.
    Maryland Party discretion Md. Election Code Ann. § 8–202 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters or voters affiliated with another party to vote their ballot. A voter can affiliate or change their affiliation up until the 21st day prior to a primary election.
    Massachusetts Semi-closed 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.
    Michigan Open Mich. Comp. Laws 168.531 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Minnesota Open Minn. Stat. § 204D.08 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Mississippi Open Miss. Code Ann. § 23–15–575 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in. A voter is bound to the party they voted for in case of a run-off primary.
    Missouri Open Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.397 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Montana Open Mont. Code Ann. § 13–10–301 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Nebraska Varies by office (Party discretion, semi-closed, & top-two) Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 32–912 & 508 Primary type varies by office. State legislative primaries use a non-partisan top-two system. Congressional primaries are partisan, but any voter may vote in the congressional primary of their choice. For all other statewide offices, a state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their primary ballot. Unaffiliated voters can also choose to vote a "non-partisan partisan ballot" on the day of the election which allows them to vote for any elective office that a party decides to include on that ballot. A voter can change their affiliation up until the second Friday before the election.
    Nevada Closed Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.287 A voter must be affiliated with a party to participate in their primary. However, a voter can affiliate or change party affiliation on day of the primary.
    New Hampshire Semi-closed 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 Jersey Closed N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:23–45 An unaffiliated voter can affiliate on the day of the primary and vote in the primary of their choice. They are then considered registered with that party and must change their affiliation before voting in another party's primary.
    New Mexico Semi-closed 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.
    New York Closed N.Y. Election Law § 17–102 A voter has until February 14th before a primary to change or affiliate with a party.
    North Carolina Semi-closed 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.
    North Dakota Open N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1–11–22 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Ohio Closed Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.19 State law requires a voter to be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary, however a voter of any affiliation can choose the ballot they would like to vote on the day of the primary and their choice may be regarded as registration with that party.
    Oklahoma Party discretion Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 1–104 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their ballot. A voter may change their party affiliation at any time except from April 1 to August 31 in even-numbered years.
    Oregon Party discretion Or. Rev. Stat. § 254.365 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their ballot. A votermay change their affiliation up until the 20th day before a primary.
    Pennsylvania Closed Pa. Stat. tit. 25, § 299 A voter has until 15 days prior to a primary to affiliate or change their affiliation with a party and vote in that party's primary.
    Rhode Island Semi-closed 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.
    South Carolina Open S.C. Code Ann. § 7–9–20 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    South Dakota Party discretion S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12–6–26 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their ballot. A voter has until 15 days prior to the primary to affiliate with a party or change their affiliation.
    Tennessee Closed Tenn. Code Ann. § 2–7–115 Although voters do not register with a party affiliation, state law requires a voter to be a "bona fide member of and affiliated with the political party" to vote in a party's primary.
    Texas Open Tex. Election Code Ann. § 172.086 A voter can become affiliated with a party by voting in a party's primary election. That voter cannot then become affiliated with another political party during that year. Party affiliation automatically expires at the end of the year. In case of a run-off primary, a voter is bound to the party whose ballot they voted in the primary.
    Utah Party discretion Utah Code Ann. § 20A–9–403 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters or voters affiliated with another party to vote their ballot. Unaffiliated voters can affiliate on the day of the election. In even-numbered years when a presidential election is held, the deadline to change party affiliation for a voter who was affiliated with a party previously is the day after the declaration of candidacy deadline. In even-numbered years when a presidential election will not be held, the deadline to change party affiliation is April 1.
    Vermont Open 17 V.S.A. § 2363 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Virginia Open Va. Code § 24.2–530 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Washington Top-two Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.112 Washington uses a top-two primary where candidates from all parties appear on the same primary ballot. The top two finishers move on to the general election.
    West Virginia Party discretion W. Va. Code § 3–4A–20 A state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters or voters affiliated with another party to vote their ballot. The deadline to change political party affiliation is 21 days prior to the primary.
    Wisconsin Open Wis. Stat. § 5.62 There is no partisan registration and any voter may select one party's primary to participate in.
    Wyoming Closed Wyo. Stat. § 22–5–209 et seq. An elector has until the 96th day before a primary to affiliate or change their party affiliation.

    Vote requirement laws

    Methods for determining a primary's outcome include plurality counts and majority counts.

    Forty-one states require that a candidate receive a plurality of all votes cast in order to be declared the winner of a primary, including three states that use a top-two or top-four primary system. The candidate who wins the largest share of the vote wins the election, regardless of their vote total.

    Eight states require that a candidate win a majority of all votes cast (i.e., 50 percent plus at least one) in order to be declared the winner of a primary, including one state that uses ranked-choice voting (RCV) for primaries. In the event that no candidate wins an outright majority in a non-RCV election, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters.

    State specific information

    Click on a state below to see who may vote in that state's primary, what state law says, and extra details when needed.


    Recent legislation related to primaries

    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.

    Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia

    • Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
      Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
      Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.

      Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.
      Search bills
    • Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
      Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
      Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.

      These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
      Read the latest report
    • Subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin

      Subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin
      The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.

      The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
      Subscribe


    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ In two states, Nebraska and Louisiana, participation laws vary by the state or congressional office up for election.
    2. ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed July 23, 2025
    3. ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "Section 9-431," accessed July 24, 2025
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/7–44," accessed July 15, 2025
    5. ↑ Indiana General Assembly, Ind. Code § 3–10–1–6," accessed July 24, 2025
    6. ↑ Iowa Legislature, "Iowa Code § 43.42," accessed July 24, 2025
    7. ↑ Iowa Legislature, "Iowa Code § 43.38," accessed July 24, 2025
    8. ↑ LexisNexis, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-7-115," accessed July 25, 2025
    9. ↑ In Louisiana and Nebraska participation rules change depending on the office up for election. 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 theLouisiana majority-vote system. In Nebraska, state legislative primaries use a non-partisan top-two system. Congressional primaries are partisan, but any voter may vote in the congressional primary of their choice. For all other statewide offices, a state party can determine if it will allow unaffiliated voters to vote their primary ballot. Unaffiliated voters can also choose to vote a "non-partisan partisan ballot" on the day of the election which allows them to vote for any elective office that a party decides to include on that ballot.
    10. ↑ The Alabama Legislature, "Code of Alabama, Section 17-13-7 Persons Entitled to Vote; Voter to Certify Political Party Preference by Signing Poll List." accessed July 29, 2025
    11. ↑ Alaska Legislature, "Alaska Statutes, Sec. 15.25.010. Provision for primary election." accessed July 29, 2025
    12. ↑ Arizona Legislature, "Arizona Revised Statutes Annotated, § 16-467. Method of voting on ballot," accessed August 13, 2025
    13. ↑ LexisNexis, "Arkansas Code Annotated § 7-7-307. Additional voter qualifications." accessed August 13, 2025
    14. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed August 13, 2025
    15. ↑ California Legislative Information, "California Constitution, Article II, Section 5," accessed August 13, 2025
    16. ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Revised Statutes § 1-7-201. Voting at primary election.," accessed August 13, 2025
    17. ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Connecticut General Statutes § 9-431. Eligibility to vote at primary." accessed August 13, 2025
    18. ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Deadline Approaching: Connecticut Voters Who Want to Change Parties and Vote in 2025 Primaries Must Change Their Affiliation by June 9," May 20, 2025
    19. ↑ Delaware Code Online, "Delaware Code Ann. tit. 15, § 3110," accessed September 3, 2025
    20. ↑ The Florida Senate, "Fla. Stat. § 101.021," accessed September 3, 2025
    21. ↑ LexisNexis, "O.C.G.A. § 21-2-224," accessed September 3, 2025
    22. ↑ Hawaii Legislature, "Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 12–31," accessed September 3, 2025
    23. ↑ Idaho State Legislature, "Idaho Code § 34–904A," accessed September 3, 2025
    24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    25. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/7–44," accessed September 3, 2025
    26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Indiana General Assembly, "Ind. Code § 3–10–1–6," accessed September 3, 2025
    27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Iowa General Assembly, "Iowa Code § 43.42," accessed September 3, 2025
    28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, "Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25–3301," accessed September 3, 2025
    29. ↑ Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, "Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25–3304," accessed September 3, 2025
    30. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.055," accessed September 3, 2025
    31. ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 18:410.3," accessed September 3, 2025
    32. ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 18:401," accessed September 3, 2025
    33. ↑ Maine Legislature, "Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21–A, § 341," accessed September 3, 2025
    34. ↑ LexisNexis, "Md. Election Code Ann. § 8–202," accessed September 3, 2025
    35. ↑ LexisNexis, "Md. Election Code Ann. § 8–302," accessed September 3, 2025
    36. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 38," accessed September 3, 2025
    37. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Vote in Primary," accessed September 3, 2025
    38. ↑ Michigan Legislature, "MCL - Section 168.531," accessed September 3, 2025
    39. ↑ Michigan Legislature, "MCL - Section 168.576," accessed September 3, 2025
    40. ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "Minn. Stat. § 204D.08," accessed September 3, 2025
    41. ↑ LexisNexis, "Miss. Code Ann. § 23–15–575," accessed September 3, 2025
    42. ↑ Missouri Revisor of Statutes, "Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.397," accessed September 3, 2025
    43. ↑ Montana Legislature, "Mont. Code Ann. § 13–10–301," accessed September 3, 2025
    44. ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32–912," accessed September 3, 2025
    45. ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32–314," accessed September 3, 2025
    46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Nebraska Legislature, "Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32–302," accessed September 3, 2025 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "nelaw3" defined multiple times with different content
    47. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.287," accessed September 4, 2025
    48. ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 659:14," accessed September 4, 2025
    49. ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 654:34," accessed September 4, 2025
    50. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:23–45," accessed September 4, 2025
    51. ↑ New Mexico One Source, "N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–12–7," accessed September 4, 2025
    52. ↑ New Mexico Legislature, "2025 Regular Session - SB 16," accessed September 4, 2025
    53. ↑ The New York State Senate, "N.Y. Election Law § 17–102," accessed September 4, 2025
    54. ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163–119," accessed September 5, 2025
    55. ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly, "N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1–11–22," accessed September 5, 2025
    56. ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.19," accessed September 5, 2025
    57. ↑ Ohio Laws and Administrative Codes, "Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.05," accessed September 5, 2025
    58. ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 1–104," accessed September 5, 2025
    59. ↑ Oregon Laws, "Or. Rev. Stat. § 254.365," accessed September 5, 2025
    60. ↑ FindLaw, "Pa. Stat. tit. 25, § 299," accessed September 5, 2025
    61. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "How to Update Your Registration," accessed September 5, 2025
    62. ↑ Rhode Island General Assembly, "R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-24," accessed September 5, 2025
    63. ↑ Rhode Island General Assembly, "R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-9.1-23," accessed September 5, 2025
    64. ↑ South Carolina General Assembly, "S.C. Code Ann. § 7–9–20," accessed September 5, 2025
    65. ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Primaries Certified, Runoffs Set for June 25," accessed September 5, 2025
    66. ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12–6–26," accessed September 8, 2025
    67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Justia, "Tenn. Code Ann. § 2–7–115," accessed September 8, 2025
    68. ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, "Tex. Election Code Ann. § 172.086," accessed September 8, 2025
    69. ↑ Utah State Legislature, "Utah Code Ann. § 20A–9–403," accessed September 8, 2025
    70. ↑ Utah State Legislature, "Utah Code Ann. § 20A-2-107," accessed September 8, 2025
    71. ↑ Vermont General Assembly, "Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 2363," accessed September 8, 2025
    72. ↑ Virginia Legislative Information System, "Va. Code § 24.2–530," accessed September 8, 2025
    73. ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.52.112," accessed September 8, 2025
    74. ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "W. Va. Code § 3–2–31," accessed September 8, 2025
    75. ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wis. Stat. § 5.62," accessed September 8, 2025
    76. ↑ Wyoming Legislature, "Wyo. Stat. § 22–5–212," accessed September 8, 2025

    ‎

    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=State_primary_election_types&oldid=10501130"