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Glite Dictionary
open primary

open primary

5 6.4
An early election before the main vote where any registered voter can vote for candidates of only one party
  • noun
  • /ˈoʊpən ˈpraɪˌmɛri/
  • Literature
translation icon : primarias abiertas
  • The key is that South Carolina has an open primary, meaning that independents can vote.
  • independents in open primary
  • open primary state
  • open primary system

So I think I was a huge, huge deal, maybe much larger than it has been in several open primary Republican years.

Examples

  • I know here in Georgia we have open primaries, so you can register as a Democrat and still vote in the Republican primary.

    Blog text (4)

  • Due to California's new open primary law, two Democrats will compete for the 10th District Assembly seat in the Nov. 6 general election.

    Blog text (11)

  • Any state that has an open primary gets no votes at the convention.

    Blog text (9)

  • I'm lucky to live in a state with an open primary.

    Blog text (21)

  • The open primary will remove the ideological and special interest lock and get to real issues.

    Blog text (31)

  • Back in 2000, most of McCain's primary wins came in open primary states, and the general feeling was that support from Democrats gave him those wins.

    Blog text (16)

  • Unlike Huck-a-Boom, McCain's the nominee because of open primaries and the huge influence of non-GOPers, political independents, and GOP moderates in the primaries.

    Blog text (24)

  • In an open primary, every registered voter has the chance to participate, regardless of their political party.

  • During the election, South Carolina held an open primary that allowed independents to vote for any party candidate.

  • Michigan's open primary system enables voters from different parties to join the Republican primary, broadening participation.

Synonyms

primary
vsopen primary
  • US
∞ 5.9

An election within a party to choose its candidate for the main election

is open to any registered voter who may vote for only one party
primary election
vsopen primary
  • US
12 3.2

An early election where party voters choose candidates for the general election

allows any registered voter to vote for candidates of only one party

How Open

open primary
  • Literature
5 6.4
primary
  • US
∞ 5.9
closed primary
  • US
2 7.2

Surface Forms

open primary singular
open primaries plural

Morphology

open + primary

The meaning 'a primary that allows any registered voter to participate regardless of party' is directly derivable from combining 'open' (allowing access) with 'primary' (a nominating election). This compositional reading is straightforward and common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Open primary may come from the image of a door left open: a primary is the first election to choose a party's candidate, and when it is open any registered voter can take part. So the phrase means a first election 'open to all' where each person usually 'votes for one party'.