open primary

noun

1. a direct primary election in which voters need not meet a test of party membership.

open primary

noun

1. government a primary in which any registered voter may participate Compare closed primary

open primary

1. A type of direct primary open to voters regardless of their party affiliation. Voters need not publicly declare their party affiliation but must vote for candidates of only one party. The opposite is a closed primary, in which only registered members of a party may vote.

Word History and Origins

Origin of open primary¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

We should welcome a raucous, open primary to thrash out who we are and what and who we’re going to fight for.

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In Illinois, you don't register under a party, so it's kind of an open primary.

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Had Pelosi gotten her way, Harris would have had to duke it out with Democrats in an open primary.

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An open primary would have involved a number of Democratic candidates competing to be elected by party members to succeed Biden as their White House nominee.

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Colorado Voters First’s initiative would open primary elections to all candidates.

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