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Primaries
Each political party goes through a process of selecting a nominee that will represent the party in the general election. Parties hold a primary election in each state to determine that state's choice for the national party nominee .

The first stage of a presidential campaign is the nomination campaign. At this time the candidate is competing with other candidates in the same party, hoping to get the party's nomination. The candidate works to win delegates --representatives who pledge to support the candidate's nomination at the national party convention--and to persuade potential voters in general.

Primary Elections vs. Caucuses
Primary elections are not held the same way in every state, and there are actually a variety of ways in which the primary elections can work. There are two basic systems: the caucus system and the primary elections. Caucuses and primaries are ways for the general public to take part in nominating presidential candidates. Before the 20th century, only the party leaders in each state could nominate presidential candidates.

At a caucus, local party members gather to nominate a candidate. A caucus is a lively event at which party leaders and activists debate issues, consider candidates, choose delegates, and discuss the party platform, or statement of principles. The rules governing caucus procedures vary by state and party.

A primary is more like a general election. Voters go to the polls to cast their votes for a presidential candidate (or delegates who will represent that candidate at the party convention). These elections can be either open to all eligible voters in the state or closed only to registered members of the party, depending on the state. Primary elections are the main way for voters to choose a nominee.Is your primary open or closed?

Find out if you are eligible to vote in your primary. The structure of primary elections differs from state to state, but their goal is the same: To determine the state party's choice for the national candidate. Most states require you to register to vote at least 30 days before an election.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Primary Election An election prior to the general election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket. Primaries are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders, and may be open or closed. State primaries begin in January 2004. Open Primary An election in which any registered voter can vote in any party's primary. They must pick a party, and cannot vote in more than one election. Closed Primary The selection of a party's candidates in an election limited to registered party members. Prevents members of other parties from "crossing over" to influence the nomination of an opposing party's candidate. Runoff Primary If no candidate gets a majority of the votes, a runoff is held to decide who should win. Presidential Primary A primary used to pick delegates to the presidential nominating conventions of the major parties. Delegates Every state divides itself into smaller territories known as districts. Political parties situate themselves in every district in America. These smaller groups elect officials known as delegates to represent the district during a national convention. Caucus Some states hold a caucus instead of a primary. This was how we originally did it back in the day, but most states hold primaries now. Generally, any voter registered with the party may attend. At the caucus, delegates are chosen to represent the state's interests at the national party convention. After discussion and debate, an informal vote is taken to determine which delegates should be chosen. Basically, in a caucus you are voting for a delegate who represents your choice rather than the actual candidate, as you would in a primary. Winner Take All Every state approaches the electoral process differently. Some states have an electoral system that allows the winning candidate to control the whole delegate vote, while other states split their delegations on the actual voting percentages of the population.