Voting in a Primary Election: Everything You Need to Know

Choose the person who will represent your party in the general election

Voting in a primary or caucus gives you the chance to tell the party you most closely identify with which candidate you think should run in the general election. These elections take place at different times in each state. Primaries are run just like general elections except that you choose among candidates in the same party. Read on to learn about the different types of primaries and caucuses and how you can make your voice heard.

The next US election is a Midterm Election and it is on Tuesday, November 03, 2026 .

Things You Should Know

  • Vote in any party's primary if your state has an open or semi-open primary.
  • Vote in the primary for the party you listed when you registered to vote if your state has a closed or semi-closed primary.
  • Change your party affiliation before your state's registration deadline if you want to vote in a different closed primary.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Open or Semi-Open Primaries

  1. 1
    Confirm or update your voter registration. While you're not required to declare a party affiliation when you register in an open-primary state, you do have to be registered to vote. Check your registration status well in advance of the date of the primary to make sure everything's correct. [1]
  2. If your state has open primaries, you can vote in any primary you want—but you can only vote in one primary, so you do have to choose which one you want. It doesn't matter if the party you choose matches the party you listed on your voter registration (if you listed one at all). [2]
    • Open primary states include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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  3. Early in-person voting is available in every US state except Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi, and New Hampshire. Connecticut recently enacted a law offering in-person early voting starting in 2024. Voting early allows you to take advantage of much shorter lines and cast your vote when it's more convenient for you.
    • Check the early voting calendar to find out when and where you can take advantage of early voting in your state.
  4. Check your voter registration card for the location of your assigned polling place. If you don't have your voter registration card, check the website of your state's election office . You don't need your voter registration card to vote! [3]
    • If you live in a state with a voter ID law, make sure you have a state-issued driver's license or photo ID with information that matches your voter registration information exactly.
    • If you have any questions, ask the election official who processes your registration and sets you up to vote. They can help you make sure your vote is cast properly and counted.
  5. States with semi-open primaries do require voters to register with a party. But if you want to vote in a different party's primary, you can! You just have to say so when you go to cast your vote. [4]
    • Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, and Wyoming have partially open primaries.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Closed or Semi-Closed Primaries

  1. If your state has a closed primary, you can only vote in the primary of the party listed on your registration. But that doesn't mean you can't change your party affiliation—you just need to do it before your state's party affiliation deadline. [5]
    • To change your party affiliation, use the same form you would use to register for the first time. While you're there, double-check all the other information on your registration and make sure it's still accurate.
    • States with closed primaries include Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania. [6]
  2. 2
    Go to an early voting location if you can. Voting early helps you avoid delays and long lines so you can cast your vote in the primary quickly and be on your way. All but 3 states have early voting, so chances are this is an option for you. [7] Connecticut recently enacted a law offering in-person early voting starting in 2024.
  3. Go to the assigned polling place listed on your voter registration card to vote. If you can't find your voter registration card, look up your polling place online. At the polls, an election official will look up your registration and provide you with the primary ballot that matches your registered party affiliation. [8]
    • In most states , you must show ID to vote. Bring your state-issued driver's license or photo ID along with you, if your state requires it.
    • Election officials are there to help! They'll explain how to cast your vote and answer any questions you might have about the process.
  4. 4
    Choose a party if you're an independent voter in a semi-closed state. In states with semi-closed primaries, each party has the option to allow independent or unaffiliated voters to vote in their primaries—and most parties do. If you didn't choose a party when you registered, the poll worker will likely ask you which primary you would like to vote in. [9]
    • States with semi-closed primaries include Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Caucuses

  1. Caucuses are generally only open to party members, not the general public. If you want to participate in a caucus, become a member of the state chapter of the party of your choice before the date of the caucus. [10]
    • Typically, you have to reach out to the party directly to make sure you're listed as a member. Since caucuses are run by the parties, not your state election office, it might not matter if you listed that party when you registered to vote.
    • Only a handful of states—Iowa, Nevada, North Dakota, and Wyoming—hold caucuses. All the other states have primary elections of some type. [11]
  2. Caucuses are run by the individual parties, not your state election office, so it's up to them when and where to hold these meetings. Caucuses are often held in local school gyms, town halls, or other large public gathering places. [12]
    • Caucuses can sometimes be held in unexpected places, such as your local grocery store, a grain elevator, or even a bar. [13]
  3. Caucuses are party meetings, so typically each candidate has an opportunity to make their case to party members. They'll explain why you should choose them to represent you. Supporters for the different candidates might also get a chance to speak. [14]
  4. 4
    Move to your candidate's designated space or cast your vote. When it comes to caucus voting, Democrats and Republicans do things somewhat differently. A Republican caucus is typically run similar to a primary, with party members casting secret ballots that are then counted to determine the winner. Democrats, on the other hand, simply stand and move to different areas of the space to indicate who they want to vote for. [15]
    • In a Democratic caucus, if there are clearly a lot more people in one candidate's area, the individual votes might not even be counted.
  5. The caucus system isn't specifically related to the presidential elections. Instead, it's a way for the parties to organize on a local level. After the voting, the party typically discusses various political issues, including the planks in the candidate's platform and campaign strategies. If you want to work with your party on a grassroots level, stick around and find a way to become involved! [16]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Changing Your Party Affiliation

  1. Check your state's party affiliation deadline . If your state asks you to list your party affiliation when you register to vote, it's not set in stone—you can always change it. But if you want to vote in the other party's primary, you'll have to change it before the party affiliation deadline passes. Remember that the date is relative to the date for the primary election, not the general election. [17]
    • For example, if your state's party affiliation registration deadline is 30 days before the date of the next election, that means the date of the primary election.
  2. 2
    Use the voter registration form to change your party affiliation. Update your voter registration the same way you originally registered. Typically, there are boxes at the bottom of the form that you can use for updates. If you update online , simply follow the prompts on the website and you should be good to go. [18]
    • While you're there, go ahead and look over the other information on your voter registration and update anything that's changed since the last time you registered.
  3. If your state has a semi-closed primary or caucus, unaffiliated voters can vote in any party's primary or caucus. If you haven't made up your mind yet, changing your affiliation to "unaffiliated" or "independent" will preserve your right to vote in the primary of your choice. [19]
    • States with semi-closed primaries include Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/change-voter-registration
      2. ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/state-primary-election-types
      3. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/find-polling-place
      4. ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/state-primary-election-types
      5. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/change-voter-registration
      6. ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/state-primary-election-types
      7. ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/early-in-person-voting
      8. ↑ https://fairvote.org/archives/open-and-closed-primaries/
      9. ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/state-primary-election-types
      1. ↑ https://www.polyas.com/election-glossary/caucus
      2. ↑ https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-presidential-nominating-process
      3. ↑ https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-presidential-nominating-process
      4. ↑ https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/weirdest-iowa-caucus-locations/story?id=36615113
      5. ↑ https://www.polyas.com/election-glossary/caucus
      6. ↑ https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-presidential-nominating-process
      7. ↑ https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-presidential-nominating-process
      8. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/voter-registration-deadlines
      9. ↑ https://www.usa.gov/change-voter-registration
      10. ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/state-primary-election-types
      11. ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/preregistration-for-young-voters

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