Primary Elections & Caucuses

The United States Primary Elections and Caucuses are held to determine who will represent a political party on a ballot.  The United States Presidential Primaries and Caucuses are usually held from January to June of the election year.  In a Primary, people go to the polls to vote for the candidate of their choice.  In a Caucus, people come together in town halls or other meeting places to discuss the candidates and then choose who they will support in the upcoming election.  Once the voting is concluded, State Delegates from each political party will represent their state at a National Convention.

States may hold a Closed Primary or an Open Primary.  An Open Primary is open to all voters regardless of what party he or she might belong to.  At the poll, the voter chooses which party's primary to vote in.  The voter may be a Democrat and vote for a Republican or vice versa.  A Closed Primary only allows party members to vote in their party's election.  Voters must be a registered party member to vote in the primary election.  Only a registered Republican may vote in a Republican Primary.

After all the Primaries and Caucuses are finished, the State Delegates travel to a National Convention to select their political party's candidate.  A State Delegate will cast his or her vote for the candidate they represent.  Each political party also has extra delegates that vote for the candidate of their choice.  These delegates are party members that make their own decision about the candidate he or she feels would best represent the political party.  Once the voting is finished, the political party supports their candidate in the National Presidential Election on the first Tuesday of November.