Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

open-primary

noun
ˈō-pən-ˈprī-ˌmer-ē
Definition
A primary election in which any registered voter can participate, regardless of their party affiliation.
Examples
  • Many states have transitioned to open-primaries to encourage more voter participation.
  • In an open-primary system, a Republican might choose to vote in the Democratic primary if they wish to influence that party’s candidate selection.
Meaning
An open-primary allows voters to choose which party’s primary to participate in, enabling independents and members of other parties to vote in the primary election of a given party.
Synonyms
  • unrestricted primary
  • nonpartisan primary