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A '''primary election''' is one in which a [[political party]] selects a candidate for a later [[election]] by all registered voters in that jurisdiction (''nominating primary''). Primaries are sometimes open only to registered members of that party, and sometimes open to all voters. In open primaries, voters must typically choose only one primary to participate in that election cycle. [[Louisiana]], [[U.S.A.]] is an exception. Until [[2004]] in the state of [[Washington]], [[U.S.A.]], this was also not the case, and voters were able to vote in all parties' primaries on the same ballot, though not for more than one candidate per office. This "[[blanket primary]]" was struck down by the [[United States Supreme Court]] as violating the [[First Amendment]] guarantee of [[freedom of assembly]].
Primaries can also be used in nonpartisan elections to reduce the set of candidates that go on to the general election (''qualifying primary''). (In the U.S. many city, county and school board elections are nonpartisan.) Generally twice as many candidate pass the primary as can win in the general election, so a single seat election primary would allow the top two primary candidates to participate in the general election following.
Because many Washingtonians were disappointed over the loss of the blanket primary, which the [[Grange_movement|Washington State Grange]] helped institute in [[1935]], the Grange filed [[Initiative]] 872 in [[2004]] to establish a qualifying primary for partisan races, thereby allowing voters to once again cross party lines in the primary election. Supporters claimed it would bring back voter choice; opponents said it would exclude [[third party (United States)|third parties]] and independents from general election ballots, would result in Democrat or Republican-only races in certain districts, and would in fact reduce voter choice. The initiative was put to a public vote in November 2004 and passed.
In elections using [[voting system]]s where [[strategic nomination]] is a concern, primaries can be very important in preventing "clone" candidates that split their constituency's vote because of their similarities. Primaries allow political parties to select and unite behind one candidate.
In the [[United States]], the small state of [[New Hampshire]] draws national attention every four years because it has the first [[U.S. presidential primary]]. (In 2004, the [[Washington, DC]] primary had the distinction of being the first in the nation; however, it was only binding for the [[United States Green Party|Green Party]]. The [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]]'s vote in the primary was non-binding, and only 4 of the 9 Democratic candidates were listed on ballots.)
'''TYPES OF PRIMARIES'''
Other ways that parties may select their candidates include [[caucus]]es and [[political convention|convention]]s.
==See also==
* [[List of democracy and elections-related topics]]
* [[List of U.S State and Territory Primaries and Caucuses]]
[[Category:Voting systems]]
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