Primary elections have become an important part of the election cycle in the United States. Prior to 1968, party bosses, individuals in high positions within the Democratic or Republican parties, chose the nominees. Voters had no say in which candidate moved on to the general election later in the year. Can you imagine if that was the case today?
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Primary elections have become an important part of the election cycle in the United States. Prior to 1968, party bosses, individuals in high positions within the Democratic or Republican parties, chose the nominees. Voters had no say in which candidate moved on to the general election later in the year. Can you imagine if that was the case today?
This article explains what primary elections are, how they work, and provides an example of a notable US 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.
Semi-closed primaries are used by at least one political party in fifteen states within the US. It is also considered a hybrid primary, where voters who are not affiliated with a party can vote in the primary of the party of their choice while those already affiliated with a party can only vote in that party's primary.
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.
Caucus- A caucus is similar to a primary in that it involves party members voting for a candidate. However, in a caucus, the voting is not done by secret ballot as in a primary, instead, the party members at the caucus will form groups for each candidate or show their support for a candidate by raising their hands. Primary elections are far more frequent in the United States but some states such as Iowa still hold a caucus.
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
New Hampshire has held the first presidential primary of the election cycle since 1916 and established it as a tradition in 1920. In 1952, the New Hampshire primary gained nationwide importance after a change of voting procedure in 1949. In 1968, the state legislature passed a law guaranteeing that the New Hampshire Primary would be held before any other and gave officials the power to change the date of the primaries to make sure New Hampshire would be first. However, Iowa still holds the first caucus of the election cycle. Caucuses are slightly different from primaries in that they are organized by the party, not the state.
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.
US Primary Election - Key takeaways
States organize and run primary elections to narrow down the roster of candidates for the general election.
Primary elections can be open, closed, or semi-closed.
States compete to hold primaries early in the year in order to influence the primaries of other states and force candidates to spend more time campaigning in specific areas.
Primaries were introduced as a reform during the Progressive Era but did not gain popularity until after the events of 1968.
The Democratic National Convention of 1968 led to important election reforms, including a more inclusive nomination process, and allowed voters to vote directly for nominees instead of party bosses.
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