The list of states below use a STRICTLY CLOSED primary process. Only voters registered for the party which is holding the primary may vote.
Usage
There are 12 states that use a strictly closed primary process, including:[5][4][6]
There are 21 states that have a mixed primary system, including:
- Alaska: Parties decide who may vote in their primary election. The Alaska Democratic Party, AlaskaLibertarian Party and Alaskan Independence Party allow any registered voters. The Alaska Republican Party allows only registered Republicans, nonpartisan or undeclared voters.[7]
- Arizona: The primary is considered semi-closed. Unaffiliated voters may choose which party’s primary they will vote in, but voters registered with a party can only vote in that party’s primary.[4]
- Colorado: The primary is considered closed, but unaffiliated voters may choose to affiliate with a party on Election Day in order to vote.[8]
- Connecticut: Though parties may decide to hold a semi-closed primary election, the primary is considered closed as neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party allows any voter but those registered with their party to vote.[4]
- Idaho: Parties decide who may vote. The Democratic Party allows unaffiliated voters to vote in their primary. The Republican Party allows only voters registered with their party. Unaffiliated voters can choose to affiliate with a party on election day, but they will be bound to that party at the next election as well.[4]
- Illinois: Voters do not have to register with a party, but they do have to choose, publicly, which party’s ballot they will vote on at the primary election.[9]
- Indiana: Voters are not required to register with a party, but the ballot they get depends on their voting history, which party they have voted for most in the past.[10]
- Iowa: The primary is closed, but voters are allowed to change their political party affiliation on election day.[11]
- Maryland: Parties decide who may vote in their primary election and generally close it to all voters except those registered with their party.[12]
- Massachusetts: Unaffiliated voters are allowed to vote in the primary election. They may choose which party ballot they wish to vote on and still remain unaffiliated.[13]
- Mississippi: Voters do not have to register with a party, but they must intend to support the party nominations if they vote in the primary election.[14]
- Nebraska: A blanket primary system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races.[15]
- New Hampshire: Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary, but in order to so they have to choose a party before voting. This changes their status from unaffiliated to affiliated with that party, unless they fill out a card to return to undeclared status.[16]
- North Carolina: Parties decide who may vote, and they opened the primary election to unaffiliated voters. They may choose which ballot they want to vote on without affecting their unaffiliated status.[17]
- Ohio: Only affiliated voters can vote for candidates in the primary election; however, voters do not choose their affiliation until election day, when they request a party’s ballot.[18]
- Oklahoma: Parties decide who may vote, so an unaffiliated voter must be authorized by a party in order to vote in the primary.[19]
- Rhode Island: Unaffiliated voters may vote in a party’s primary, but they will then be considered affiliated with that party. In order to disaffiliate, they must file a “Change of Party Designation” form.[20]
- South Dakota: Parties decide who may vote. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary. Only registered Republicans may vote in the Republican primary.[21]
- Texas: Voters do not have to register with a party. At the primary, they may choose which party primary ballot to vote on, but in order to vote they must sign a pledge declaring they will not vote in another party’s primary or convention that year.[4][22]
- Utah: Parties decide who may vote. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary. Only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary.[23]
- West Virginia: Parties decide who may vote. Both parties allow unaffiliated voters to vote in their primaries.[4]
ballotpedia.org/Closed_primary
Schedule of primaries and caucuses[edit]
For more details on this topic, see Results of the Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016.
As of December 2015, the tentative schedule for 2016 is as follows:[106][107]
| Date[108][109] | State/ territory |
Filing Date | Election Type[110][a] | Open or Closed[106] |
Pledged/ Unpledged/ Total Delegates[111][b] |
Delegate breakdown | Allocation method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1, 2016 | Iowa | Caucuses | Closed | 30 / 0 / 30 | 12 district 15 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, no threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| February 9, 2016 | New Hampshire | 11/20/2015 | Primary | Mixed | 20 / 3 / 23 | 6 district 14 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 10% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. |
| February 20, 2016 | South Carolina | 9/30/2015 | Primary | Open | 50 / 0 / 50 | 21 district 26 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all for at-large delegates by statewide vote winner-take-all for district delegates by district vote. |
| February 23, 2016 | Nevada | 1/9/2016 | Caucuses | Closed | 30 / 0 / 30 | 12 district 15 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, no threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. |
| March 1, 2016 | Alabama | 11/6/2015 | Primary | Open | 47 / 3 / 50 | 21 district 26 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 20% threshold–At-large delegates: If a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote, he or she is awarded all of the state’s at-large delegates. District delegates: If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. |
| Alaska | 1/28/2016 | Caucuses | Closed | 25 / 3 / 28 | 3 district 22 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 13% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| Arkansas | 11/9/2015 | Primary | Open | 37 / 3 / 40 | 12 district 25 at-large 3 RNC |
At-large delegates: Proportional, 15% threshold–District delegates: Proportional, no threshold–At-large delegates: All candidates who win at least 15% of the statewide vote are allocated one delegate. If one candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, he or she is awarded the remaining delegates. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the remaining delegates are allocated proportionally. District delegates: If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of that district’s delegates. Otherwise, the highest vote-getter wins two of the district’s delegates one delegate is awarded the second-place candidate. |
|
| Colorado | Caucuses | Closed | 34 / 3 / 37 | 21 district 13 at-large 3 RNC |
No preference poll. Delegates are bound according to the preferred presidential candidate on their intent-to-run forms when they are elected as delegates at state or district conventions. | ||
| Georgia | Primary | Open | 76 / 0 / 76 | 42 district 31 at-large 3 RNC |
At-large delegates: Proportional, 20% threshold– District delegates: Proportional, no threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated on a winner-take-all basis if a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she receives all of that district’s delegates. Otherwise, the highest vote-getter wins two of the district’s delegates one delegate is awarded to the second-place candidate. |
||
| Massachusetts | 1/4/2016 | Primary | Mixed | 39 / 3 / 42 | 27 district 12 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 5% threshold–Both at-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| Minnesota | Caucuses | Open | 35 / 3 / 38 | 24 district 11 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 10% threshold–If a candidate wins more than 85% of the statewide vote, he or she is awarded all at-large and district delegates. | ||
| North Dakota | Caucuses | Closed | 25 / 3 / 28 | 3 district 22 at-large 3 RNC |
No preference poll. Delegates are bound according to the preferred presidential candidate on their intent-to-run forms when they are elected as delegates at state or district conventions. | ||
| Oklahoma | 12/9/2015 | Primary | Closed | 40 / 3 / 43 | 15 district 25 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 15% threshold–At-large delegates are allocated on a winner-take-all basis if a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote. If only one candidate in a district wins more than 15% of the vote, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. If two candidates win more than 15% in a district, the first-place finisher is awarded two of the district’s three delegates and the second-place finisher is awarded one. If three or more candidates receive more than 15% of the vote in a district, each of the top three candidates is awarded one delegate a piece. If one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. |
|
| Tennessee | 12/1/2015 | Primary | Open | 55 / 3 / 58 | 27 district 28 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 20% threshold–If a candidate receives more than 66% of the statewide vote, he or she is awarded all of the state’s at-large delegates. If a candidate receives more than 66% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. If the winning candidate in a district receives between 20% and 66% of the vote in the district, he or she is awarded two of the district’s three delegates the second-place finisher is awarded one delegate (if the second-place finisher wins less than 20% of the vote, then the first-place finisher is awarded all of the district’s delegates). If no candidate wins more than 20% of the vote, the top three finishers each are awarded one delegate. |
|
| Texas | 12/14/2015 | Primary | Open | 152 / 3 / 155 | 108 district 44 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 20% threshold–If a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote, he or she is awarded all of the state’s at-large delegates. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. | |
| Vermont | 1/11/2016 | Primary | Open | 16 / 0 / 16 | 3 district 10 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 20% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote, he or she is awarded all of the state’s delegates. |
|
| Virginia | 12/10/2015 | Primary | Open | 46 / 3 / 49 | 33 district 13 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, no threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| Wyoming | Caucuses | Closed | 26 / 3 / 29 | 3 district 23 at-large 3 RNC |
No preference poll. Delegates are bound according to the preferred presidential candidate on their intent-to-run forms when they are elected as delegates at state or district conventions. | ||
| March 5, 2016 | Kansas | 1/20/2016 | Caucuses | Closed | 40 / 0 / 40 | 12 district 25 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 10% threshold |
| Kentucky | 1/7/2016 | Caucuses | Closed | 42 / 3 / 45 | 18 district 24 at-large 3 RNC |
Proprotional, 5% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| Louisiana | 12/4/2015 | Primary | Closed | 44 / 3 / 47 | 18 district 26 at-large 3 RNC |
At-large: Proportional, 20% threshold–District: Proportional, no threshold | |
| Maine | 12/15/2015 | Caucuses | Closed | 20 / 3 / 23 | 6 district 14 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 10% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. At-large and district delegates are allocated on a winner-take-all basis if a candidate receives more than 50% of the statewide vote. | |
| March 6, 2016 | Puerto Rico | 1/13/2016 | Primary | Open | 20 / 3 / 23 | 3 RNC 20 at-large |
Proportional, 20% threshold–If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, he or she is allocated all of the territory’s at-large delegates. |
| March 8, 2016 | Hawaii | 2/23/2016 | Caucuses | Closed | 16 / 3 / 19 | 6 district 10 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, no threshold |
| Idaho | 12/9/2015 | Primary | Closed | 29 / 3 / 32 | 6 district 23 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 20% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. At-large and district delegates are allocated on a winner-take-all basis if a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote. | |
| Michigan | 12/11/2015 | Primary | Open | 56 / 3 / 59 | 42 district 14 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 15% threshold–Both at-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote all at-large and district delegates are allocated on a winner-take-all basis if a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote. |
|
| Mississippi | 1/15/2016 | Primary | Open | 37 / 3 / 40 | 12 district 25 at-large 3 RNC |
At-large delegates: Proportional, 15% threshold–District delegates: Proportional, no threshold–The candidate who wins the greatest number of votes in a district is awarded two of that district’s delegates the second-place finisher receives one delegate. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she receives all three of that district’s delegates. |
|
| March 12, 2016 | Guam | Territorial convention | Closed | 6 / 3 / 9 | 3 RNC 6 at-large |
No preference poll. Delegates are bound according to the preferred presidential candidate on their intent-to-run forms when they are elected as delegates at state or district conventions. | |
| Washington, D.C. | 1/4/2016 | Convention | Closed | 16 / 3 / 19 | 3 RNC 16 at-large |
Proportional, 15% threshold | |
| March 15, 2016 | Florida | 11/30/2015 | Primary | Closed | 99 / 0 / 99 | 81 district 15 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are both allocated based on the statewide vote. |
| Illinois | 1/6/2016 | Primary | Open | 66 / 3 / 69 | 54 district 12 at-large 3 RNC |
At-large delegates: Winner-take-all–District delegates: Directly elected–District delegates are elected directly at the primary district delegates are bound to a candidate for whom they declare themselves. |
|
| Missouri | 12/29/2015 | Primary | Open | 49 / 3 / 52 | 24 district 25 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, no threshold–The winner candidate in each district is awarded five delegates (three district delegates and two at-alrge delegates). The remaining at-large delegates are awarded to the statewide winner. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the statewide vote, he or she is awarded all of the state’s at-large and district delegates. | |
| North Carolina | 12/21/2015 | Primary | Mixed | 72 / 0 / 72 | 39 district 30 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, no threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Caucuses | Closed | 6 / 3 / 9 | 3 RNC 6 at-large |
Winner-take-all | ||
| Ohio | 12/16/2015 | Primary | Mixed | 63 / 3 / 66 | 48 district 15 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are both allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| March 19, 2016 | Virgin Islands | Caucuses | Open | 6 / 3 / 9 | 3 RNC 6 at-large |
Winner-take-all | |
| March 22, 2016 | American Samoa | Territorial convention | Open | 6 / 3 / 9 | 3 RNC 6 at-large |
No preference poll. Delegates are bound according to the preferred presidential candidate on their intent-to-run forms when they are elected as delegates at state or district conventions. | |
| Arizona | 12/14/2015 | Primary | Open | 58 / 0 / 58 | 27 district 28 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are both allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| Utah | Caucuses | Closed | 40 / 0 / 40 | 12 district 25 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 15% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote, he or she is awarded all of the state’s delegates. |
||
| April 5, 2016 | Wisconsin | 1/26/2016 | Primary | Open | 42 / 0 / 42 | 24 district 15 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all for at-large delegates by statewide vote winner-take-all for district delegates by district vote. |
| April 19, 2016 | New York | 2/4/2016 | Primary | Closed | 92 / 3 / 95 | 81 district 11 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 20% threshold–At-large delegates are allocated on a winner-take-all basis if a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote. The highest vote-getter in a district receives two of the district’s three delegates the second-place finisher receives one delegate. If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. |
| April 26, 2016 | Connecticut | 3/4/2016 | Primary | Closed | 25 / 3 / 28 | 3 district 10 at-large 3 RNC |
At-large delegates: Proportional, 20% threshold–District delegates: Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are allocated on a winner-take-all basis if a candidate wins more than 50% of the statewide vote. |
| Delaware | 2/26/2016 | Primary | Closed | 16 / 0 / 16 | 3 district 10 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all for at-large delegates by statewide vote winner-take-all for district delegates by district vote. |
|
| Maryland | 2/3/2016 | Primary | Closed | 38 / 0 / 38 | 24 district 11 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all for at-large delegates by statewide vote winner-take-all for district delegates by district vote. |
|
| Pennsylvania | 2/16/2016 | Primary | Closed | 68 / 3 / 71 | 54 district 14 at-large 3 RNC |
At-large delegates: Winner-take-all–District delegates: Directly elected–District delegates are directly elected as unbound delegates. | |
| Rhode Island | 1/23/2016 | Primary | Mixed | 16 / 3 / 19 | 6 district 10 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 10% threshold–If three candidates each win more than 10% of the vote in a district, each is awarded one of the district’s three delegates. If a candidate wins more than 67% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. | |
| May 3, 2016 | Indiana | 2/5/2016 | Primary | Open | 54 / 3 / 57 | 27 district 27 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all for at-large delegates by statewide vote winner-take-all for district delegates by district vote. |
| May 10, 2016 | Nebraska | 3/11/2016 | Primary | Closed | 33 / 3 / 36 | 9 district 24 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are both allocated based on the statewide vote. |
| West Virginia | 1/30/2016 | Primary | Mixed | 31 / 3 / 34 | 9 district 22 at-large 3 RNC |
Direct election | |
| May 17, 2016 | Oregon | 3/8/2016 | Primary | Closed | 25 / 3 / 28 | 15 district 10 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, no threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. |
| May 24, 2016 | Washington | 3/10/2016 | Primary | Closed | 41 / 3 / 44 | 30 district 11 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 20% threshold–District delegates: If a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates also, if only one candidate wins more than 20% of the vote in a district, he or she is awarded all of the district’s delegates. |
| June 7, 2016 | California | 3/26/2016 | Primary | Closed | 169 / 3 / 172 | 159 district 10 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all for at-large delegates by statewide vote winner-take-all for district delegates by district vote. |
| Montana | 3/14/2016 | Primary | Open | 24 / 3 / 27 | 3 district 21 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are both allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| New Jersey | 4/4/2016 | Primary | Mixed | 51 / 0 / 51 | 36 district 12 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are both allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| New Mexico | 2/2/2016 | Primary | Closed | 21 / 3 / 24 | 9 district 12 at-large 3 RNC |
Proportional, 15% threshold–At-large and district delegates are allocated based on the statewide vote. | |
| South Dakota | 3/29/2016 | Primary | Closed | 26 / 3 / 29 | 3 district 23 at-large 3 RNC |
Winner-take-all–At-large and district delegates are both allocated based on the statewide vote. |
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