How To Change Party Affiliation In Tennessee

A century ago, political parties did non select their nominees through primary elections. Instead, parties ran their own processes using their own rules, and hearing from—generally—party stalwarts, with piffling function for rank-and-file members. In other words, nominees were selected in the proverbial smoke-filled back room.

Half a century ago, primaries were still uncommon. Past so, in an effort to exist more than inclusive, caucuses had largely replaced insider controlling. At a conclave, the rank-and-file could limited support for the candidates of their option. Still, but highly motivated party members attended caucuses, then or at present.

Over the terminal few decades, most parties have switched from caucuses to primary elections to select their nominees for general elections. The motivating factor was—again—to permit participation past more party members, continuing a century-long trend.

Of course, state practices regarding primaries vary considerably. Perhaps the nearly important variable is, who can participate in the primary? It used to be that only members of a party—those who had affirmatively registered with that party—could participate. That is still the instance in eight states, and there is a strong rationale: A chief is a party function, so shouldn't party members be the but ones to choose their nominees? Courts have been largely supportive of this reasoning.

After the theoretical fence about whether a party primary should allow nonparty members to participate, turnout is frequently the next concern. Many elements bear on turnout also the type of principal used: whether statewide candidates are on the ballot (peculiarly if it is a hotly contested race), traditional patterns of voter participation in the state, the level of partisanship in the state (the more partisan, the college participation in primaries) and even the weather.

That said, primary type matters too. The Bipartisan Policy Heart's (BPC) written report, 2018 Primary Election Turnout and Reforms, notes that 19.9% of the eligible electorate participated in 2018'south state primaries. To increase turnout in primaries, it referenced an before BPC report, Governing in a Polarized America: A Bipartisan Design to Strengthen our Commonwealth, recommending that states "adopt open or semi-open up primaries to permit independents and/or members of the reverse party to cast ballots in a political primary." Nigh inquiry points to a small merely measurable increase in turnout correlating with how open a primary is. See:

Study on California Primary System and Turnout: Discusses how the new tiptop two master system in California may affect turnout and other factors that influence main turnout.
University of New Orleans written report: Argues open primaries increment turnout.
CU Boulder study on U.South. Primaries: Concludes a minor effect on turnout based on principal organisation.

Any the instance, the irresolute partisan makeup of the electorate begs the question, turnout for whom? Now, more than voters are unaffiliated with any political political party than are affiliated every bit Democrats or Republicans. To give these unaffiliated voters a chance to participate in determining what candidates make it to the general ballot election, some states accept shifted to permitting unaffiliated voters, or even voters of other political parties, to participate in any primary.

States utilise dissimilar terminology to refer to voters who are not registered with a political political party: unaffiliated, nonpartisan, undeclared, independent, decline to select, decline to land, other and non-affiliated. NCSL uses "unaffiliated."

Overview

This report answers many of the key questions legislators may have if they are because irresolute their state'south primary type. This study does not endeavor to answer questions about presidential preference primaries.

Department 1 looks at who tin can participate in a primary, and the merits of different options.

Department ii looks at the legal landscape on primaries, summarizing guidance from the Supreme Court.

Section three answers these questions:

Who is in charge of primaries, the state or the political party?
Must the two major parties use the aforementioned nominating arrangement inside a land?
In which states is a bulk vote required, and thus, where are principal runoffs used?
When is a primary held, and what are the political consequences of that option?
Is the presidential chief held with the land primary?
What relationship, if any, do principal types and Ballot Day registration take?

Section iv reviews the nexus between ranked choice voting and master elections.

Section 5 and Section 6 provide tables, resource and acknowledgements.

For more information, please contact NCSL's elections and redistricting squad.

Department 1: Primary Systems in Use in the Us

In most states, political parties employ primaries to select their nominees to run in the general election. How those primaries work varies state by state. The common footing is that, throughout the nation, only registered voters can participate in primaries.

Merely can every registered voter participate in a principal? That question is more live now than always. On one hand, it seems to make sense that allowing all voters, not but those affiliated with a party, would increase turnout in primaries.

On the other hand, the constitution gives Americans the correct to free association, and a state telling a party that they must include others may tread on that right. Telling a party that they can't include others may tread on that right as well. Litigation is not decisive on this signal; meet Section 2 for more details on the legal landscape for primaries.

Political analysts employ the phrases "open" and "closed" to refer to various principal systems, but those categories are too wide for detailed comparisons. NCSL has created a taxonomy that is more precise. Information technology is based entirely on who gets to vote in the chief: just registered members of the party, or other voters likewise—and if so, which other voters?

These definitions are detailed below, ordered from most restrictive to most open. See Table 1 for a summary table of primary types.

Closed Primaries

A voter seeking to vote in a closed primary must first be a party member. Typically, the voter affiliates with a party on his or her voter registration application, and it is through an update to the voter registration tape that party affiliation changes tin exist made. This system deters "cantankerous-over" voting by members of other parties, or by independent or unaffiliated voters, and may contribute to a potent political party organization.

Unaffiliated voters: Cannot participate.

Ten states use closed primaries: Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Partially Closed Primaries

In this arrangement, state law permits political parties to cull whether to allow voters unaffiliated with any party to participate in their nominating contests. The decision can shift before each election cycle. In this organization, parties can withal exclude members of opposing parties. This system gives the parties more than flexibility from year-to-year about which voters to include, and it gives the two parties power over their own systems—they do not take to make the same choice. At the same time, it can create dubiousness nearly whether or not certain voters tin can participate in party primaries in a given year.

Unaffiliated voters: May exist able to participate, depending on the party'southward conclusion.

Seven states use partially closed primaries: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Due north Carolina, Oklahoma, Due south Dakota and Utah.

Open to Unaffiliated Voters

A number of states require that parties allow unaffiliated voters to participate in the primary of their choice (while prohibiting voters who are registered with one party to vote in another party'south master). This organization differs from a true open up main because a Democrat cannot cross over and vote in a Republican party primary, or vice versa. New Hampshire requires that unaffiliated voters declare affiliation with the party whose primary election they select in society to vote in that party's primary. Political party affiliation can exist switched back to "unaffiliated" after the election. In Colorado, unaffiliated voters must cull just one party's election, but it does not change their unaffiliated status. The voter's selection is public information.

Unaffiliated voters: Can participate.

Eight states use primaries open up to unaffiliated voters: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Bailiwick of jersey, Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Note: New United mexican states and New Hampshire crave that unaffiliated voters declare affiliation with the party whose principal election they select in order to vote in that party's primary. Some analysts see this as a way for unaffiliated voters to participate in primaries, but considering information technology requires affiliative—even if short lived—we are not considering these ii states as open to unaffiliated voters in this report.

Partially Open Primaries

This system permits voters to cantankerous party lines, merely they must either publicly declare their ballot choice, or their ballot selection may exist regarded as a course of registration with the respective political party. Political parties keep track of who votes in their primaries every bit a means of identifying their supporters.

Unaffiliated voters: Can participate.

Six states use partially open primaries: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Tennessee and Wyoming.

Open Primaries

"Open primary" states practise not register voters by party, either at the time of registration or when a chief election is selected. In an open primary, voters may choose which party's election to vote, and this decision is private and does non register the voter with that political party. In this arrangement, voters tin cast a vote beyond party lines for the primary ballot. Critics argue that the open main dilutes the parties' ability to nominate a candidate of their selection. Supporters say this system gives voters maximal flexibility, maintains their privacy, and also may force candidates to appeal to a broader section of the electorate.

Unaffiliated voters: Tin participate.

15 states use open primaries: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, N Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.

"Peak Two" and "Peak Iv" Primaries

The "top two" primary format uses a common ballot that lists all candidates on the aforementioned ballot. In California, the election includes each candidate's political party affiliation, whereas in Washington, each candidate is authorized to list a party "preference" but does not accept to. The tiptop two vote-getters in each race, regardless of political party, advance to the general ballot. Advocates of the "top two" format argue that it increases the likelihood of moderate candidates advancing to the full general election election. Opponents maintain that it reduces voter choice past making it possible that ii candidates of the aforementioned party confront off in the full general election. They too fence that it is tilted against modest parties who will face slim odds of earning ane of only ii spots on the general election ballot.

California and Washington use a "top two primary", and Alaska will employ a "acme iv" primary for future elections. Alaska adopted this policy in 2020 when voters narrowly canonical Measure 2, which also calls for the use of ranked pick voting for general elections.

Unaffiliated voters: Tin can participate.

Other Primary Processes

In Louisiana (LSA-R.S. 18:402), on the general election date, as set by federal law for the first Tuesday subsequently the first Monday in November (2 U.South. Code § 7), all candidates run on the same ballot. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes (l% +1), then the pinnacle two vote-getters face a runoff vi weeks after. Ane way to look at this procedure is to say in that location is no primary ballot--but a general election for all candidates, with a runoff when needed. In 2020, the Louisiana legislature enacted SCR 55, creating a Airtight Party Principal Task Force to study and make recommendations nigh switching from the electric current organization to a closed primary organization.

In Nebraska (Neb. Rev. St. § 32-401), a partisan primary is used for members of congress and statewide office holders. Legislators, on the other hand, are elected on a nonpartisan ground, without a party designation, and with all candidates on the same nonpartisan primary election. The top ii vote-getters accelerate to the general election. This organisation is mutual for local nonpartisan offices in many parts of the nation.

For data on changes made by states to their master types, 2010 – nowadays, see Table 2.

Section 2: The Legal Mural for Primary Elections

Under the U.South. Constitution, the states have the power to regulate the time, place and way of elections. Equally unlike candidate nominating systems take emerged over time, a tension has arisen betwixt the states' power to regulate these systems and the Offset Amendment rights afforded to voters equally well as political parties based on freedom of association. In the last 40 years, as primaries became the dominant machinery for political parties to identify their general election candidates, the U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on this disharmonize in four notable cases concerning the constitutionality of varying state chief systems.

In Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut (1986), the Court considered a challenge to a Connecticut statute that required voters wishing to participate in a party main to be registered members of that party. In 1984, the Republican Political party of Connecticut issued a rule that allowed unaffiliated voters to vote in Republican primaries for federal and statewide offices, even though land law called for airtight primaries. The Republican Party then filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the Connecticut police, arguing information technology restricted the First Amendment rights of the Political party to enter into political association with individuals of its ain choosing. The District Court ruled in favor of the Party, and the Court of Appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court ruled that the Outset Amendment prevents a land from implementing regulations that significantly affect a political party's right to define their membership: "The Land of Connecticut's interest in preventing raiding was not sufficient footing for statute mandating airtight primaries, where political party wished to open its primary elections only to unaffiliated voters and non to members of other political parties, and ballot statute provided that [an] unaffiliated voter could annals as [a] party member as late equally apex on last business day preceding primary." This case set a precedent; from and so on, the Court would heavily weight a party'due south Outset Amendment rights every bit compared to a state'due south interest in regulating primary elections.

The next claiming to come up before the Supreme Courtroom was in 2000, in California Democratic Party v. Jones. The Democratic Party challenged California's coating primary system, in which any voter could vote for a candidate regardless of party affiliation. The Court struck downwardly the California system, reasoning that the blanket chief impermissibly encumbered the party's right to select its ain representative. The Court ruled that California did not assert a compelling plenty land interest; the state had offered rationales including ensuring candidates were widely represented and increasing turnout. This determination so led to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals invalidating Washington's blanket primary arrangement in Washington State Republican Party v. Washington (2006).

The Supreme Court considered a conform challenging Oklahoma'southward semi-closed primary system in Clingman v. Beaver (2005). Country law allowed parties to open their primaries to independent voters, only voters registered for one party could not vote in a dissimilar party's primary. The Libertarian Party sought to open their primary to all registered voters, merely the country only agreed to permit independent voters to participate in the Libertarian primary. The Libertarian Party and diverse voters challenged the master statute on First Amendment grounds. The Supreme Courtroom ruled that the "Constitution grants States broad power to prescribe the time, places, and manner of property elections for Senators and Representatives, which power is matched by country command over the election process for country offices." Farther, "Oklahoma's semi-airtight primary organization, under which a political party could invite just its own registered members and voters registered as Independents to vote in its primary, did non severely brunt the associational rights of the state's citizenry, so equally to crave application of strict scrutiny when the system was challenged as unconstitutionally burdening First Subpoena correct to freedom of political association." The Courtroom upheld Oklahoma's semi-airtight primary system, marker a departure from the previous ii cases (Tashjian 5. Republican Party of Connecticut and California Democratic Party 5. Jones) in that the Court sided with the state and its interests in this case.

The Supreme Court again considered Washington state's primary system in Washington State Grange five. Washington State Republican Party (2008). Following the invalidation of Washington's coating principal system, voters passed an initiative implementing a "top ii" master organization. A challenge was soon brought past multiple political parties. The Courtroom upheld the top ii system, relying on the land'south constitutional power to regulate elections, and reasoning that the parties' exclamation of the possibility of voter defoliation every bit to which candidate was preferred by the party was based on speculation. This case continued the trend set in Clingman v. Beaver of the Court siding with state interests in disputes over primary election systems.

Determination: The Supreme Courtroom is yet to counterbalance in directly on the constitutionality of primary systems in which a voter can choose to participate in the party primary of their option. In other words, whether open primaries—no matter how that phrase is divers—besides bump up against the right of gratis association—has not been tested in the highest court yet, and lower court rulings have been inconsistent.

Section 3: Other Ways Primaries Differ Between the States

Each country'southward election system is unique, and how they construction their primaries is unique as well. While a primary is likely to be run with the same footing rules every bit are used for full general elections (when and how absentee voting is permitted, polling place standards, voter identification requirements, etc.), a number of principal-specific questions remain.

Who is in accuse of primaries, the state or the political party?

Caucuses are run by political parties, and in recent years political party-run presidential primaries have cropped upwardly. Land principal elections and so far have been run past the state, post-obit state law. The cost of main elections is borne by the land, with South Carolina equally an exception, where the political parties are required to provide some funding for the primaries. (Notation: presidential preference primaries have more than variation than land primaries. Between 2016 and 2020, 11 states replaced caucuses with primaries.)

Must the 2 major parties utilize the same nominating system inside a state?

In most states, all major parties must hold their primaries on the same solar day, following the same rules about who can participate and how the ballot will be run. For state primaries, Alaska and Idaho let each party to determine its preferred primary procedure. This may be advantageous when the ii parties are in disagreement virtually their preferences, and perhaps for the minority party in a heavily one-party state. The minority party might prefer to gather at a convention, or, every bit in the 2020 presidential nominating process, run a separate election under their own auspices.

In which states is a majority vote required, and thus where are primary runoffs held?

Vii largely southern states require a candidate to win a primary ballot with a majority of the votes: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. If no candidate for a given office receives 50%+1 of the vote in the primary ballot, a separate primary runoff ballot is scheduled for a few weeks subsequently. In that second election, only the top two vote-getters run, ensuring that one of them will receive a majority. (In add-on, North Carolina uses runoffs with a 30% threshold; South Dakota uses runoffs only for the offices of U.S. Senator, U.South. Representative and governor; and Vermont uses runoffs but only in the case of a necktie vote.) The advantage of having a bulk vote requirement is that the party nominee has proven to have broad support; a disadvantage is that the state pays to run two separate elections, the primary and the runoff.

When are state primaries held, and what are the consequences of that option?

Each state makes its own decision on when to hold its country primaries. Country primaries brainstorm in early spring and the concluding few are held in early September. (Primaries cannot be held whatever later on than that considering federal police force requires that full general ballot ballots be sent to war machine and overseas voters at least 45 days in advance of the general election; primaries held after approximately September 10 would make preparation for mailing out general ballot ballots to overseas voter's problematic.)

The choice of state primary dates dictates candidate filing dates and marks the showtime of the campaign season. On average, in whatsoever two-year election bike, 1 or two state legislatures motility their state master date earlier or after. To run across state and presidential chief dates in 2020, see Tabular array 3.

The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) recommends analogous with nearby states to concord primaries on the aforementioned day. In fact, the BPC suggests a single national master day for federal (congressional) primaries. The Brookings Institute also favors a national chief day. These ideas have non gained traction. Evidence from naturally occurring shared dates is correlated with a modest increase in participation, maybe because nearby states may share media markets.

Is the presidential primary held on the same appointment every bit the state primary?

Every four years, presidential preference primaries (PPPs) are an option states tin can, and generally do, use. (As recently equally 50 years agone, simply a scattering of states had a PPP, with most state parties determining their preferred presidential candidate through caucuses or other means.)

The laws in 31 states plus D.C. call for their presidential preference primary or presidential nominating upshot to be held separately from (and earlier than) their land principal. (Those states are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.) The perceived reward is that states become more attention early on in the season, before the candidate pool has been narrowed or the final candidate has already been adamant. (In 2020, considering of COVID-19, three of these states—Connecticut, Georgia and New York—moved their presidential primary later in the year to coincide with their country primary.)

The laws in 19 states call for their presidential preference master to be held in conjunction with their state chief. (Those staes are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Bailiwick of jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Westward Virginia). This only works when the country primary is scheduled in June or earlier, in fourth dimension to identify the political party's presidential preference earlier the summer conventions. The advantage is that one election can serve 2 purposes, offering pregnant price savings for the country. It is likely that turnout is improved, because of the involvement in the presidential race.

What relationship, if any, exercise principal types and Election Twenty-four hours registration have?

Based on a cantankerous tabulation of states that have Ballot Twenty-four hour period registration and their main types, in that location is not an obvious correlation. Of the nineteen states that have implemented Election Day registration:

ii states use closed primaries (Maryland and Nevada).
3 states utilize partially closed primaries (Connecticut, Idaho, and Utah).
3 states open primaries to unaffiliated voters (Colorado, Maine and New Hampshire).
2 states use partially open primaries (Iowa and Wyoming).
7 states use open primaries (Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Vermont and Wisconsin).
ii states employ top 2 primaries (California and Washington).

Section 4: Ranked Choice Voting and Primaries

What is Ranked Choice Voting?

Ranked selection voting (RCV) is a vote counting system, non a primary type. In a ranked choice voting system, whether or not the election is a primary or a general election, voters rank all the candidates for a given part by their order of preference—first choice, 2d choice, etc. The votes are offset tallied based on the kickoff choice on every ballot. If no unmarried candidate wins a commencement-round majority of the votes, then the candidate with the everyman number of votes is eliminated and another round of vote tallying commences. If a voter's first pick is eliminated, then the vote goes to the second option on their ballot and and so on. Eventually one candidate receives a majority (over 50%) and wins the election. The result is similar to traditional runoff elections, but voters make but one trip to the polls. That is why RCV is also known as "instant runoff voting." RCV works for multi-winner elections as well.

While much of the debate about RCV is about how the system works, the underlying question is whether having elections won by a plurality—the highest vote-getter—or past a majority—over 50% of voters is preferable. A number of state constitutions are articulate that a plurality determines an ballot's winner; others are silent. It is up to policymakers to decide if an elected official who won based on a plurality beneath the 50% marker tin can be an effective leader. That is, volition they represent the greater population or experience the need to focus just on the needs of their base?

RCV tin can be used in whatever kind of primary—open, closed, top two, etc. The vote counting system does not dictate who tin participate in an ballot.

Some say that RCV is particularly useful in primaries. In primaries with many candidates, as was the example in the Republican presidential field in 2016 and the Democratic presidential field in 2020, RCV would mean voters could select their true first choice, and have more well-known or traditional candidates equally their second, third and and then on choices.

RCV could likewise be used to combine a chief with a full general ballot. In Louisiana, on the general election date nominees from all parties run together, and a runoff between the acme 2 vote getters is held the offset Saturday in December. Louisiana—or whatsoever state that chose to exercise then—could combine the starting time election and the runoff ballot into 1 RCV election.

Considerations:

The toll of running primaries would exist eliminated, and the candidate filing borderline would be subsequently in the year. The price of runoff elections would also exist eliminated.
The requirement to go on the ballot would need to be reviewed, perchance set higher than to get on a primary ballot.
Is the public served past having a smaller puddle of candidates to choose from at the full general election? In other words, is it advantageous to use a two-stride process?
Does the state's voting engineering back up a RCV election?
Would RCV boost the participation and visibility of minor party or independent candidates, and is that a value the state wants to pursue?
Every bit a new form of voting, RCV does require public education efforts simply tends to exist popular once implemented.

Where is RCV used now?

At the state level, Maine was the first to adopt RCV for presidential primaries, state primaries and full general elections, including presidential elections. In 2020, Alaska adopted RCV for presidential elections, state primaries and general elections, but non for primaries.
The Democratic country parties in Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas and Wyoming used RCV in their recent presidential preference primaries. These events were run by the parties, not by the state. RCV can aid winnow a large field of candidates.
20 or more municipalities utilise ranked choice voting. This is often available to home rule municipalities without whatsoever statutory or constitutional changes.
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina are amidst the states that require a majority vote to establish a party'south nominee, and thus utilize master runoffs. These states provide instant runoffs for overseas voters. One ranked choice master ballot is sent to overseas voters. If their beginning-pick candidate doesn't get in to the primary runoff, their 2nd-option candidate is counted in the runoff.

Section five: Conclusion, Resources and Acknowledgements

One of the thorniest election policy concerns that state legislatures address is how primary elections, or political party nominating functions more broadly, are best run. Historically, the tendency (albeit a deadening one) is to allow more voters to participate, but that runs direct counter to the belief that political parties are individual entities and can therefore make up one's mind who participates.

In recent years, the irresolute complexities of the American electorate and particularly the increase in the number of voters who practise not affiliate with a major party take led to more legislative involvement in a full assortment of options.

With that in mind, this report offers a lens into the options currently used around the nation. While we have "bucketed" country main systems based on NCSL'due south taxonomy (closed, partially closed, partially open, open to unaffiliated voters, open primaries and elevation-two primaries), we fully recognize that the specifics of each state's system make each state'southward system unique. In other words, the categories are helpful, but not definitive.

We annotation, too, that new options are developing all the time. Alaska voters canonical a citizens' initiative in 2020 that creates a "tiptop four" master organization, with the general election to be run with ranked choice voting. Louisiana, which has used a system where the nation's general election serves equally the primary, with a runoff scheduled weeks afterwards for decades. In 2021, its legislature will be studying other options.

In fact, the state of country primaries is fluid, and one of the areas where policy is most changeable. This report is intended to provide insights for those who are thinking of future needs and not as a limited menu of options.

NCSL Resources and Acknowledgements

State Master Election Types
2020 State Primary Dates
Ranked Choice Voting
Chief runoffs

A printable version of this report is besides available.

This study was supported in part by a grant from the Thornburg Foundation, a family foundation that makes grants in the areas of good government reform, early on babyhood education, agriculture reform and community funding.

Section 6: Appendices

Table i: Who Tin Vote in a State Primary and How Practice They Register
	Who can vote in a state primary?	What is the borderline for affiliating with a political party?	Does registration requite voters an opportunity to affiliate?	Can a voter change affiliation through an online voter registration portal?
Alabama (Open up Primary)	Democrats: either major political party primary. ]Republicans: either major party master. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Within fourteen days prior to the election. Lawmaking of Ala. § 17-3-l Voter needs to exist registered and may choose which chief or political party election to vote. It holds that voter to that affiliation in example of a runoff ballot. Nonetheless, it does non annals the voter with that political party.	No. Ala. Code § 17-3-52	No.
Alaska (Partially Airtight Primary)	Democrats: their principal simply. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: political parties to choose whether to let unaffiliated voters to participate earlier each election bike.	Thirty days earlier an ballot. Alaska Stat. § 15.07.070	Yes.	Yes.
Arizona (Open up to Unaffiliated Voters Primary)	Democrats: their primary only. Republicans: their master only. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Twenty-nine days before an election. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-120	Yes. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 16-152	Yes.
Arkansas (Open up Primary)	Democrats: either major party primary. Republicans: either major party primary. Unaffiliated: either major political party primary.	Xxx days earlier an election. Ark. Const. Amendment 51, §9 Voter needs to exist registered and may choose which main or party ballot to vote. It holds that voter to that amalgamation in case of a runoff ballot. Still, it does not register the voter with that party.	Yes.	No, Arkansas does not have online voter registration.
California (Superlative-2 Principal)	A mutual election list all candidates with summit two vote-getters advancing to the general election. Democrat: whatsoever candidate. Republican: any candidate. Unaffiliated: whatsoever candidate.	Fifteen days before an election. Same-day registration is permitted xiv days earlier an election and on Ballot Day. Cal. Elec. Lawmaking § 2102, Cal. Elec. Code § 2170	Yes Cal. Elec. Lawmaking § 2150	Yes, to change your political party preference, you must re-register to vote.
Colorado (Top-Two Primary)	Democrats: their primary but. Republicans: their primary but. Unaffiliated: either major party principal.	Viii days before an election to receive a ballot past mail. Deadlines for voter registration drives are 22 days before an ballot. Colo. Rev. Stat. § ane-2-201	Yes. Colo. Rev. Stat. § i-2-204	Yes, under Colorado's "Find My Voter Registration"; After finding their record, the voter tin modify party affiliation.
Connecticut (Partially Closed Main)	Democrats: their primary simply. Republicans: their master merely. Unaffiliated: political parties to choose whether to permit unaffiliated voters to participate before each election bicycle. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-431	The registration deadline is up to noon the day before the primary. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-23g A voter switching political affiliation must do it three months before election.	Yep.	Yes.
Delaware (Closed Primary)	Democrats: their primary but. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: none.	Earlier a primary election: anytime except from the concluding Saturday in May through the appointment of the primary. 15 Del. C. § 2049 Before a presidential primary: anytime except from the 59th day before the presidential primary through the date of the election. xv Del. C. § 3189 The last date to annals to vote for any presidential primary, primary and full general election shall exist the fourth Saturday prior to the engagement of the ballot. fifteen Del. C. § 2036	Yep. Del. Code tit. 15, § 1302	Yes.
Florida (Airtight Primary)	Democrats: their primary merely. Republicans: their master only. Unaffiliated: none.	The borderline to submit a party change before a chief ballot is twenty-ix days before that election. Fla. Stat. § 97.055	Yes. Fla. Stat. § 97.052	Yes.
Georgia (Open Primary)	Democrats: either major party primary. Republicans: either major party primary. Unaffiliated: either major party main.	Twenty-nine days before an election. Ga. Code § 21-2-224	No. Ga. Lawmaking Ann. § 21-2-221.2, Ga. Lawmaking Ann. § 21-two-220	No.
Hawaii (Open Chief)	Democrats: either major political party main. Republicans: either major party primary. Unaffiliated: either major party primary. HRS § 12-31	Twenty-nine days before an election. Aforementioned-day registration is permitted during early voting and on Election Day. Hawaii Rev. Stat. §11-24	No. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 11-15	No.
Idaho (Partially Closed Primary)	Democrats: their primary only. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: political parties to cull whether to let unaffiliated voters to participate before each election cycle.	For a primary election, an elector may change their political party amalgamation or go "unaffiliated" by filing a signed class with the county clerk no later than the concluding day a candidate may file for partisan political office prior to such primary election. Idaho Code § 34-704. (5 p.m., on the tenth Friday preceding the master election). An "unaffiliated" elector may affiliate with the party of the elector's choice past filing a signed form up to and including Election Solar day. Idaho Code § 34-1002. (Application for absentee ballot). An "unaffiliated" elector may affiliate with the party of the elector'southward choice on or earlier Election Day, by declaring such political political party affiliation to the poll worker.	Yes. Idaho Code § 34-411	Yes, chapter with a political party or change your status to unaffiliated.
Illinois (Partially Open Primary)	Democrats: either major party primary but must declare their election option. Republicans: either major political party chief only must declare their ballot pick. Unaffiliated: either major party primary merely must declare their ballot pick.	Registration borderline is twenty-eight days before an election. 16 days before if registering online. Election Solar day registration is permitted from xx-seven days before the election and on Election Twenty-four hours. 10 ILCS v/4-six, iv-16, 5-5, 6-29, 1A-sixteen.v In Illinois, a voter is non required to declare a party at the time they register to vote and is considered independent until the time the voter casts a political party ballot at a main election. There is no form to alter party affiliation.	No. ten Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/1A-16	No.
Indiana (Partially Open Chief)	Democrats: either major political party main but must declare their ballot choice. Republicans: either major party primary just must declare their election choice. Unaffiliated: either major party main merely must declare their ballot option.	Registration deadline is twenty-nine days before an election. Ind. Code §iii-7-xiii-ten A voter must select either a Democratic or Republican ballot to vote in the principal election. In Indiana, your party affiliation is determined by how you voted in the final primary ballot in which you voted.	No. Ind. Code Ann. § 3-7-31-5, Ind. Lawmaking Ann. § 3-7-22-5	No.
Iowa (Partially Open Main)	Democrats: either major party master but must declare their ballot selection. Republicans: either major party primary only must declare their election option. Unaffiliated: either major party master only must declare their ballot option.	Voters can change their party affiliation any time before Election Twenty-four hour period or at the polling place on Election Mean solar day. Iowa Code § 43.42 Any registered voter who desires to change or declare a political party amalgamation may, earlier the shut of registration for the primary election, file a written annunciation stating the modify of political party affiliation with the county commissioner of registration who shall enter a notation of such change on the registration records. Iowa Lawmaking § 43.41	Yep. Iowa Code § 48A.11	Yes.
Kansas (Open to Unaffiliated Voters Chief)	Democrats: their primary simply. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: either major party principal.	20-one days before an election. Kan. Stat. §25-2311	Yes. Kan. Stat. § 25-2309	Yep, a voter must re-register each time they change their political party affiliation for voting.
Kentucky (Closed Primary)	Democrats: their master only. Republicans: their primary but. Unaffiliated: none.	A voter may change their political political party registration at whatever time on or before December 31 to remain eligible to vote in the following political party chief ballot. KRS § 116.045	Yes. Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.155	Yes.
Louisiana	N/A - all candidates run on the aforementioned ticket in general elections.	Changes must be made at to the lowest degree 20 days prior to an ballot if registering through the online registration system with a Louisiana driver's license or Louisiana special ID card or xxx days prior to an election if registering in person or by postal service. La R.S. 18:101(B) and La R.Due south. 18:135(C)	Yes. La. Rev. Stat. § 18:104	Yeah.
Maine (Open to Unaffiliated Voters Primary)	Democrats: their primary just. Republicans: their principal only. Unaffiliated: either major party main.	Past the close of business on the 15th solar day before the election.	Yep.	No, Maine does not have online voter registration.
Maryland (Closed Chief)	Democrats: their main just. Republicans: their master merely. Unaffiliated: none.	The deadline to modify political party affiliation is xx-one days before an election. To alter party affiliation, a voter can use Maryland's Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) or submit a new voter registration application or a signed written asking to your local board of elections.	Yes. Dr.. Lawmaking, Elec. Police § 3-202	Yes.
Massachusetts (Open to Unaffiliated Voters Primary)	Democrats: their master merely. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: either major party chief.	Twenty days earlier an election.	Aye.	Yep.
Michigan (Open up Primary)	Democrats: either major party primary. Republicans: either major party primary. Unaffiliated: either major political party primary.	Registration deadline is xv days before an election. In that location is no political party registration requirement in Michigan. Any registered voter tin participate in the primary. The voter must make a ballot selection in writing by completing the Application to Vote/Ballot Option Form on Election Twenty-four hour period; or on the Absent Voter Ballot Application form. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 168.615c	No.	No.
Minnesota (Open up Primary)	Democrats: either major party main. Republicans: either major party master. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Registration deadline is twenty-i days before an ballot. Minn. Stat. Ann. §201.054, 201.061	No. Minn. Stat. § 201.071	No.
Mississippi (Open Primary)	Democrats: either major political party main. Republicans: either major party primary. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Registration deadline is 30 days before an election.	No. Miss. Code § 23-15-39	No, Mississippi does not accept online voter registration.
Missouri (Open up Primary)	Democrats: either major party principal. Republicans: either major political party primary. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Registration deadline is twenty-seven days before an election. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.135	No.	No.
Montana (Open up Primary)	Democrats: either major political party primary. Republicans: either major party primary. Unaffiliated: either major party principal.	Registration deadline is xxx days before an election. MCA xiii-2-301, MCA 13-2-304	No. Mont. Code § 13-ane-210	No, Montana does non have online voter registration.
Nebraska	All candidates are on the same nonpartisan primary ballot.	A voter may change party affiliation at whatsoever time.	Yes. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-312	Yep.
Nevada (Airtight Primary)	Democrats: their main but. Republicans: their principal only. Unaffiliated: none.	Registration borderline is twenty-eight days before an election in-person; postmarked xx-eight days before if registering by mail; five days before if registering online.	Yep.	Yes.
New Hampshire (Open up to Unaffiliated Voters Primary)	Democrats: their chief only. Republicans: their principal only. Unaffiliated: either major political party primary.	A voter may change your party affiliation or at any scheduled coming together of the supervisors of the checklist except for during the menstruation of time between the first day of the filing period for the principal election and/or the presidential main ballot and the date of the primary ballot itself. Six to thirteen days before an election, depending on local supervisors of the checklist. N.H. Rev. Stat. §654:7, 654:vii-a	Yes. Northward.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 654:7	No, New Hampshire does not offering online voter registration.
New Jersey (Open to Unaffiliated Voters Master)	Democrats: their primary only. Republicans: their master only. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	A registered voter who wishes to modify their political party affiliation must file a Political Political party Affiliation Declaration Form 55 days before a Primary Election. N.J. Stat. § 19:31-13.ii, N.J. Stat. § 19:23-45	Yes, optional. North.J. Stat. § 19:31-half dozen.iv	No.
New Mexico (Airtight Principal)	Democrats: their primary only. Republicans: their principal only. Unaffiliated: none.	A voter needs to fill up out a new registration grade to change political party amalgamation 20-8 days before an ballot. N.Yard. Stat. § ane-4-8	Aye. N.M. Stat. § i-4-5.four	Yeah.
New York (Closed Primary)	Democrats: their primary merely. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: none.	The voter registration form is used to alter party enrollment. A alter of enrollment needs to be received past February 14 each year before the June main. NY CLS Elec § five-210	Yes. N.Y. Elec. Law § 5-210	Yes.
N Carolina (Partially Closed Principal)	Democrats: their primary but. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: political parties to choose whether to allow unaffiliated voters to participate before each election cycle.	Registration deadline is twenty-five days before an election. N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 163-82.six The North Carolina Voter Registration Awarding may be used to modify political party affiliation. The modify notification must exist signed, and should be sent to the appropriate county lath of elections by the voter registration deadline.	Yes. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-82.4	Aye, Partition of Motor Vehicles (DMV) customers may update their voter registration, including party amalgamation through the DMV'due south Online Voter Registration Service.
North Dakota (Open Primary)	Democrats: either major party primary. Republicans: either major party main. Unaffiliated: either major political party primary.	N/A - North Dakota does not maintain or require voter registration.	Due north/A - Due north Dakota does not maintain or require voter registration.	North/A - North Dakota does non maintain or crave voter registration.
Ohio (Partially Open Primary)	Democrats: either major political party primary just must declare their ballot choice. Republicans: either major party main just must declare their ballot option. Unaffiliated: either major party primary but must declare their ballot option.	Registration borderline is thirty days before an election. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §3503.xix A voter declares a political party amalgamation by requesting the ballot of a political party in a partisan primary ballot.	No. Ohio Rev. Code § 3503.fourteen	No.
Oklahoma (Partially Closed Primary)	Democrats: their primary only. Republicans: their main only. Unaffiliated: political parties to choose whether to allow unaffiliated voters to participate before each election wheel.	The terminal twenty-four hour period a voter may change their political amalgamation is March 31. Changing party affiliation is non allowed from April 1 through Baronial 31. All requests to change party amalgamation submitted afterward March 31 will be processed September 1. Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 4-119	Yes. Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § four-109.3; Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 4-112	Yes.
Oregon (Closed Primary)	Democrats: their primary only. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: none.	Registration deadline is 20-1 days before an ballot. Ore. Rev. Stat. § 247.017	Yeah.	Aye.
Pennsylvania (Closed Principal)	Democrats: their main only. Republicans: their primary merely. Unaffiliated: none.	Fifteen days before an election. 25 P.South. § 3071	Yes.	Yep.
Rhode Island (Open up to Unaffiliated Voters Primary)	Democrats: their master merely. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: either major political party primary.	To vote in a party primary you must disaffiliate from any other political party at least 30 days before the primary date. R.I. Gen. Laws Section 17-ix.1-24	Yes. R.I. Gen. Laws Section 17-nine.one-6, R.I. Gen. Laws Section 17-9.1-7, R.I. Gen. Laws Section 17-9.1-ix	Aye.
S Carolina (Open Principal)	Democrats: either major party primary. Republicans: either major party primary. Unaffiliated: either major political party chief.	Xxx days before an ballot. S.C. Code Ann. § seven-v-150	No. S.C. Code § seven-5-320	No, Due south Carolina does not have online voter registration.
South Dakota (Partially Closed Chief)	Democrats: their principal only. Republicans: their principal only. Unaffiliated: political parties to choose whether to allow unaffiliated voters to participate before each election cycle.	To change party affiliation, a voter must update their voter registration by completing a voter registration class, then postal service or render to their county auditor fifteen days earlier an election. S.D. Codified Laws § 12-4-15, Due south.D. Codified Laws § 12-4-5	Aye.	No, S Dakota does not take online voter registration.
Tennessee (Partially Open Principal)	Democrats: either major political party primary but must declare their ballot choice. Republicans: either major party main but must declare their ballot selection. Unaffiliated: either major party principal just must declare their ballot choice.	Registration deadline is thirty days earlier an election. Tenn. Code Ann. § two-two-109	No. Tenn. Code § 2-2-116	No.
Texas (Open Primary)	Democrats: either major political party principal. Republicans: either major party chief. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Registration borderline is thirty days before an election. Tex. Elec. Code § 13.143 A registered voter is not required to pre-register or take any steps towards affiliating themselves with a party before voting in a political party's principal ballot. Tex. Elec. Code § 162.003, 162.006	No. Tex. Elec. Code § 13.121, Tex. Elec. Lawmaking § xiii.122	No, Texas does non offering online voter registration.
Utah (Partially Closed Master)	Democrats: their primary only. Republicans: their primary only. Unaffiliated: political parties to choose whether to allow unaffiliated voters to participate before each ballot bicycle.	To change political parties, a voter will need to update their voter registration online, by mail service, or in-person by the voter registration deadline of 11 days before an election. Utah Code Ann. § 20A-two-107, Utah Lawmaking Ann. § 20A-ii-102.5	Yep. Utah Code § 20A-2-104	Yes.
Vermont (Open up Main)	Democrats: either major party master. Republicans: either major political party master. Unaffiliated: either major party master.	All registered voters can vote in the primary ballot—but can only vote on 1 ballot. Same-mean solar day registration is permitted through Election Twenty-four hour period. Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 17, § 2144	No. 17 V.S.A. § 2145	No, in that location is no party registration in Vermont.
Virginia (Open Primary)	Democrats: either major party primary. Republicans: either major party chief. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Virginia does not accept registration past political political party. Registration deadline is 20-viii days before an election. Va. Lawmaking Ann. § 24.2-416	No. Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-418	No, Virginia does not take registration by political party.
Washington (Summit-Two Principal)	A common ballot list all candidates with top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. Democrat: any candidate. Republican: any candidate. Unaffiliated: any candidate.	Washington does not register voters by political party or political party affiliation. The registration borderline is no later than eight days before the 24-hour interval of the master. Rev. Code Wash. § 29A.08.140	No. Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.08.210	No, Washington does non register voters past party or party amalgamation.
W Virginia (Open up to Unaffiliated Voters Primary)	Democrats: their chief just. Republicans: their principal only. Unaffiliated: either major party primary.	Any registered voter who desires to alter his or her party affiliation may practice so by filing, no afterward than the close of voter registration. Voter registration closes on the xx-showtime day before the election. W. Va. Code § 3-2-22, W. Va. Code § iii-2-6	Yep. W. Va. Code § 3-2-5	Yes.
Wisconsin (Open Master)	Democrats: either major party primary. Republicans: either major party main. Unaffiliated: either major party main.	All registered voters can vote in the master election only can merely vote on one ballot. Xx days before an election if registering online or past post. Friday before ballot if registering in-person. Wis. Stat. § 6.28	No. Wis. Stat. § half dozen.33	No, Wisconsin does not register voters by party amalgamation.
Wyoming (Partially Open Primary)	Democrats: either major party primary but must declare their ballot pick. Republicans: either major party primary but must declare their ballot choice. Unaffiliated: either major party chief but must declare their ballot choice.	To change your party affiliation, a voter must complete the Wyoming Voter Registration Application & Modify Class and submit information technology to their canton clerk's function not later than fourteen days before the main election. Wyo. Stat. § 22-iii-102	Yes. Wyo. Stat. § 22-3-103	No, Wyoming does non have online voter registration.

Table 2: Changes to Country Main Types, 2010 - present
Land	Twelvemonth Enacted	Bill/Election Measure	Modify
Alaska	2020	Mensurate 2	From Partially Closed to Height-Four
New United mexican states	2020	Senate Bill 4	Closed to Open to Unaffiliated Voters
Colorado	2016	Colorado Proposition 108	Closed to Open
Utah	2014	Senate Bill 54	Partially Open up to Partially Airtight
Idaho	2011	House Beak 351	Open up to Partially Closed
California	2010	California Proposition xiv	Closed to Height Two
Washington	2004	Washington Initiative 872	Blanket Primary to Top Two (when coating primary was declared unconstitutional)

Table 3: State Primary Dates in 2020
State	State Chief Engagement	Presidential Principal Appointment
Alabama	March 3* March 31 runoff (rescheduled to July 14)	March 3
Alaska	Aug. 18	April 4 (Democratic merely)
Arizona	Aug. 4	March 17 (Democratic only)
Arkansas	March 3 March 31 runoff	March 3
California	March three	March three
Colorado	June thirty	March 3
Connecticut	Aug. 11	Apr 28 (rescheduled to August 11)
Delaware	Sept. 15	Apr 28 (rescheduled to July 17)
Commune of Columbia	No district-specific primary	June ii
Florida	Aug. eighteen	March 17
Georgia	May nineteen (rescheduled to June 9) July 21 runoff (rescheduled to August 11)	March 24 (rescheduled to June 9)
Hawaii	Aug. 8	April 4 (Autonomous but)
Idaho	May nineteen	March 10
Illinois	March 17	March 17
Indiana	May five (rescheduled to June 2)	May five (rescheduled to June ii)
Iowa	June	Feb. three (caucus)
Kansas	Aug. 4	May 2 (Autonomous only; in-person voting was cancelled and the election was held entirely by mail)
Louisiana	Nov. 3*	April four (rescheduled to July 11)
Maine	June 9 (rescheduled to July 14)	March 3
Maryland	Apr 28 (rescheduled to June two)	April 28 (rescheduled to June 2)
Massachusetts	Sept. 1	March three
Michigan	Aug. four	March 10
Minnesota	Aug. 11	March 3
Mississippi	March 10* March 31 runoff (rescheduled to June 23)	March 10
Missouri	Aug. four	March 10
Montana	June 2	June 2
Nebraska	May 12	May 12
Nevada	June 9	Feb. 22 (caucus, Democratic only)
New Hampshire	Sept. 8	Feb 11
New Jersey	June ii* (rescheduled to July vii)	June ii (rescheduled to July vii)
New Mexico	June 2	June 2
New York	June 23	April 28 (rescheduled to June 23)
Northward Carolina	March 3 May 12 runoff ** (rescheduled to June 23)	March 3
Northward Dakota	June 9	March 10
Ohio	March 17 (rescheduled to April 28)	March 17 (rescheduled to April 28)
Oklahoma	June thirty August 25 runoff	March three
Oregon	May nineteen	May 19
Pennsylvania	April 28 (rescheduled to June 2)	April 28 (rescheduled to June ii)
Rhode Island	Sept. eight	April 28 (rescheduled to June two)
South Carolina	June 9 June 23 runoff	February. 29 (Democratic only)
Tennessee	Aug. half-dozen	March 3
Texas	March 3 May 26 runoff (rescheduled to July xiv)	March 3
Utah	June xxx	March three
Vermont	Aug.11	March 3
Virginia	June 9* (rescheduled to June 23)	March 3 (Autonomous only)
Washington	Aug. four	March x
Due west Virginia	May 12 (rescheduled to June 9)	May 12 (rescheduled to June nine)
Wisconsin	Aug. eleven	Apr vii
Wyoming	Aug. eighteen	February-March (Republican conclave) April 4 (Democratic conclave; in-person caucus was cancelled, and the borderline for mail ballots was extended to April 17.)

* No main for state legislative seats in 2020.

** In certain circumstances, Northward Carolina holds a second master. It did not practise so in 2020, but those dates were either April 21 or May 12.

Source: https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/primaries-more-than-one-way-to-find-a-party-nominee.aspx

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