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

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

From Salon

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.

From BBC

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

From Seattle Times

The new constitution proposed a radical change: Eliminate open primary elections and replace them with closed caucuses.

From Salon

Indiana has an open primary system, which means any registered voter may participate in either party’s primary.

From Seattle Times