As the focus remains on the presidential race, it is important to remember that 18 states still have primary elections to select congressional and local legislature seats.
In August, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington hold primary elections. Kansas has a semi-closed primary, where unaffiliated voters can choose any party’s candidate, while registered party members must vote within their party. Michigan has an open primary, allowing any voter to participate regardless of party affiliation. Missouri also has an open primary system, as does Washington which utilizes a top-two primary where the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election.
Hawaii, Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin have primary elections on August 10. These states all have open primaries, allowing any voter to participate in selecting candidates.
Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming hold primary elections on August 20 with differing primary systems. Alaska uses a top-four open primary system, while Florida and Wyoming have closed primaries, meaning only registered party members can participate.
Oklahoma holds primary runoffs on August 27, with Republicans having closed primaries and Democrats holding semi-closed primaries.
Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Louisiana hold primary elections in September and November. Louisiana’s unique primary system allows for candidates to win outright with a simple majority of votes, with a runoff in December if no candidate reaches this threshold.
It is essential to stay informed and engaged in all election processes, not just the presidential race, to ensure representation at all levels of government.
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