+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

Here are all the states where you have to register as a Democrat to vote in the primaries

Nov 18, 2019, 21:01 IST

Twins Amir, right, and Milo Klatzkin, 3, put on their &quotI Voted" stickers after their father Barry Klatzkin, left, voted at a polling site in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. New York's first election with early voting is reaching its conclusion as people across the state cast ballots in county and municipal races. With no federal or statewide contests on the ballot Tuesday, turnout is expected to be low, but this year's contests are serving as a rehearsal for next year's blockbuster presidential race. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Associated Press

Advertisement
  • The first primary contests of the 2020 election are just under three months away, and the deadlines to register to vote are coming up in several early states.
  • But states all have different policies about who can vote in the primaries, and whether or not you have to be registered with a given political party to vote in their primary.
  • In states with closed primaries, you must be registered as a Democrat to vote in the Democratic presidential primary.
  • States with open primaries, on the other hand, allow unaffiliated voters, people registered to different parties, or both, to vote in the Democratic primary.
  • Here's which states have open and closed Democratic primaries, and the deadline to register in every state.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The first primary contests of the 2020 election are just under three months away, and the deadlines to register to vote are coming up in several early states.

Over the course of almost four months between February and June, nearly every US state and territory will hold a primary election or caucus to determine how they will allocate their delegates to determine the 2020 presidential nominees for each party.

But states all have different policies about who can vote in the primaries, and whether or not you have to be registered with a given political party to vote in their primary.

In states with closed primaries, you must be registered as a Democrat to vote in the Democratic presidential primary. Some states with closed primaries, like Oregon and Connecticut, technically have closed primaries but let their state's Democratic Party decide whether or not to allow unaffiliated voters to cast ballots.

Advertisement

States with open or partially open primaries allow unaffiliated voters, and in some cases, people registered to different parties, to vote in the state's Democratic presidential primary.

According to Green Papers' data, 23 states have fully or partially closed Democratic presidential primaries, meaning you must be registered as a Democrat to vote in the primary.

Eleven states further have partially open primaries where unaffiliated but not registered Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary. And sixteen states have fully open primaries where any person, regardless of their party registration, can cast a ballot in the Democratic presidential primary, however, voters can only participate in one party's primary.

Keep in mind, however, that many states have different rules for federal and state-level primary elections, and this map of which states have open or closed primaries only applies to Democratic presidential primaries.

And since every state has its own unique laws and stipulations regarding presidential primaries, double-check your own state's rules before deciding how to register.

Advertisement

States where you have to register as a Democrat to vote in the primaries

Ruobing Su/Business Insider


The deadline to register to vote in every state

Ruobing Su/Business Insider

Read more:

All of the important primary, convention, and debate dates you need to know for the 2020 presidential election

The 19 election nights you need to know for the 2020 Democrat and Republican presidential primaries and caucuses

Here are the last days you can register to vote for the 2020 primary elections in every state and how to do it

Advertisement

NOW WATCH: This top economist has a radical plan to change the way Americans vote - weighted voting

Next Article