What is the difference between a closed and open primary election?

A primary election is a preliminary election used to determine which candidates will be on the general election ballot. In the state of Massachusetts, there are two types of primary elections: open and closed. A closed primary election is limited to members of a particular political party and only allows registered voters who affiliate with that party to vote. This means that if you are registered as a Democrat, you can only vote for Democratic candidates in a closed primary election. On the other hand, an open primary election allows all registered voters to vote regardless of their political party affiliation. In this type of election, registered voters can choose if they want to vote for a candidate of their own party or a candidate from another party. The major difference between a closed and open primary election is that a closed primary election limits the number of people who can participate in the election process. This is because it only allows members of a particular political party to vote and does not consider the preference of voters with different party affiliations. An open primary election, on the other hand, encourages more voter participation by allowing anyone to cast a ballot.

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