Primary Election

Primary Election Definition

Primary elections are used to narrow the number of candidates running for an elective office. Primary elections are also used to determine a political party's nominee before the general election and are organized and run by states.

Primaries were a reform introduced during the Progressive Era (1890-1920). They were created to give citizens more control of their party's selection of candidates. However, only a few states used primaries before 1968.

Open Primaries vs. Closed Primaries

Open primaries: In open primaries, voters don't have to be formally affiliated with a political party in order to cast their vote in the primary. Voters can declare their party affiliation when they reach the polls. They can even change party affiliation on the day of the primary. There are twenty-one states in the US where at least one political party uses an open primary system to narrow candidates for state-level and congressional offices.

Open primaries are said to produce more moderate candidates for selection in general elections and are also good at countering partisan gridlock. Because open primaries allow all registered voters to participate it remedies the issue of disenfranchisement caused by closed primaries.

However, many disagree that open primaries are beneficial. Some believe that opening primaries to all voters oversteps political parties' right to association. Political parties shouldn't be forced to hold open primaries but should have the option to do so if they wish. Another downside to open primaries is the possibility of sabotage by opposing political party members. Opposing party members may vote for the weaker candidate in order to ensure they have a better chance of winning the general election.

Closed primaries: In closed primaries, voters must be affiliated with a political party before the primary election date. In fourteen states and the District of Columbia, at least one political party uses closed primaries to choose candidates for the election of congressional and state-level seats.

Those in favor of closed primaries agree that choosing candidates for the general election is the most important decision parties can make. Therefore, the choice should be made solely by party members. Allowing Independent voters or voters from the opposing party to vote in their primaries can weaken the ideology of the party.

Some note that closed primaries produce candidates that are less accountable to constituents and more accountable to their party. Closed primaries also exclude independent voters, who are a growing portion of the electorate. It is hard to get party members to come together across ideologies because independent voters are excluded and the majority of the party members may shift to one side of the political spectrum.

Differences Between Primaries and General Election

Primary elections are used to narrow the list of candidates for a given elective office. Primaries can be open, meaning everyone is able to cast a vote, or closed, meaning only voters affiliated with a political party can vote in their party's primary. There is also the hybrid primary model that allows independent voters to cast their ballot while ensuring those who are politically affiliated vote for members of their party.

General elections allow all registered voters to cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice regardless of party affiliation. These candidates have usually been chosen through the primary elections, though it's not always the case. In general elections, the outcome determines which candidate is appointed to office.

US Primary Elections

The US Constitution doesn't provide procedures for the nomination of presidential candidates. Currently, presidential candidates go through a procession of state primaries and caucuses. Based on the number of votes a candidate receives at these events, candidates are allotted a number of delegates from their party that will vote for them at either the Democratic or Republican Conventions. At national conventions, the candidate with the most state delegates wins the party nomination.

State legislatures compete to set their primaries as early in the year as possible. Early primaries are important because they influence the primaries held in other states afterward. This competition for the earliest primary dates forces presidential candidates to spend more time campaigning in certain states.

Fig. 1 1976 campaign flyer for Jimmy Carter - Wikimedia Commons

Congressional primaries are similar to presidential primaries, but congressional elections are held every two years instead of four. The primaries serve to choose candidates for the general election later in the year.

Fig. 2 1946 congressional primary flyer for Richard Nixon - Wikimedia Commons

Example of a Primary Election

The Democratic National Convention of 1968 provides an example of a primary that had shocking results that changed the importance of primaries in the United States.

It was a turbulent time in the United States. It was the thirteenth year of the Vietnam War and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated in April. The Democratic Party was divided over the war. Democratic president, Lyndon B. Johnson, supported the war but liberal voters opposed it.

At that time, voters had no say in who was nominated in the primaries. Party bosses cast their ballots for nominees. This turned out to be a huge scandal in 1968 when the same party bosses nominated Herbert H. Humphrey, who was pro-war and hadn't run in a single primary.

The results sparked riots and protests that were met with police violence. The National Guard was called in to restore order. The violence, along with party divisions, led to the victory of the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon.

Fig 3 "Hippies" standing in front of National Guard soldiers during riots and protests at the National Democratic Convention in 1968. Wikimedia Commons.

The Democratic National Convention of 1968 led to the creation of the McGovern-Fraser Commission which reformed the nominating process and put the process in the hands of voters. The Republican Party changed its process through more moderate reforms soon after.