Closed primary states (15)
Voters registered with no party cannot vote in party primaries.
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
States with open primaries
Which states have open primaries in 2026?
Last updated:
35 states and Washington, D.C. let voters without a party take part in primaries in some way; 15 states do not.
Our primary elections guide, updated November 2026, shows 15 states run fully closed primaries and 10 jurisdictions run semi-closed ones. The rest use semi-open, open, or nonpartisan systems such as California's Top-Two. Rules can differ for state, congressional, and presidential races, so check the office on your ballot.
How many states have open primaries?
It depends on what you count as open. If open means a voter without a party can get some primary ballot, the answer is 35 states plus Washington, D.C. If open means every voter sees every candidate on one ballot, only a handful qualify, led by California, Washington, and Alaska for state races. We work toward the second definition: one ballot for every voter.
List of states by primary type
Semi-closed primary states (10)
Unaffiliated voters may pick one party ballot; members of other parties cannot cross over.
- Washington, D.C.
- Idaho
- Massachusetts
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- West Virginia
Which states have top-two primaries?
California uses a nonpartisan Top-Two primary for state and congressional offices, adopted through Proposition 14 in 2010. Washington also uses a top-two system. Alaska uses a related nonpartisan top-four primary for state races.
Semi-open and open states
Our guide lists three semi-open states, where any voter can request a party ballot but the choice may be recorded; Colorado is one. Open states, such as Alabama, let voters pick a party ballot on election day without party registration.
Seven states up close
| State | Primary type | Independent / no party | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Nonpartisan Top-Two | 27.25% | Proposition 14 passed 2010 |
| Alaska | Nonpartisan top-four (state races); closed presidential | 63.78% | Repeal rejected, 52.6% voting No on Ballot Measure 2 |
| Colorado | Semi-open | 50.78% | 2024 turnout 73.4% |
| Alabama | Open | 8.46% (modeled) | No party registration |
| Rhode Island | Semi-closed | 51.9% | Unaffiliated voters choose one party |
| Maryland | Closed | 23.28% | About 997,600 independents excluded |
| New York | Closed | 25.72% | Subject of Rieckhoff v. Berger |
How many voters are locked out?
Nationally, 63 million voters are registered independent or unaffiliated, 28.9% of all registered voters. The national petition puts the number shut out of primaries at 30 million Americans across 15 closed states. For independent background, see Ballotpedia's 2026 primary competitiveness report.
If you live in a closed state, the most useful step is to add your name to the open primaries petition. Read how open and closed primaries differ or return to the open primaries overview.
Common questions
- Which states have open primaries in 2026?
- Rules differ for state, congressional, and presidential races, so the answer depends on the office. Alabama runs open primaries, California uses a nonpartisan Top-Two, Alaska uses a nonpartisan top-four for state races, and Colorado is semi-open. For your exact state, check your election office or IVP's state voter data pages, updated in November 2026.
- How many states have open primaries?
- It depends on how you count. IVP's primary elections guide classifies 15 states as closed, meaning voters without a party are shut out entirely. The remaining 35 states and Washington, D.C. let unaffiliated voters take part in at least some way, through semi-closed, semi-open, open, or nonpartisan systems.
- Which states have closed primaries?
- IVP's primary elections guide lists 15 closed primary states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wyoming. In these states, voters registered with no party cannot vote in party primaries. Rules change, so confirm with your state election office before each election.
- Which states have top-two primaries?
- California uses a nonpartisan Top-Two primary for state and congressional offices, adopted when voters passed Proposition 14 in 2010. Washington also uses a top-two system. Alaska uses a related nonpartisan top-four primary for state races. Presidential primaries in these states follow separate party rules, so check each election.
- Which states have semi-closed primaries?
- IVP's guide lists 10 semi-closed jurisdictions: Washington, D.C., Idaho, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, and West Virginia. In these places unaffiliated voters can choose a party ballot, while members of another party cannot cross over.
- Can independents vote in New York primaries?
- No. New York runs closed primaries, so only voters enrolled in a party may vote in that party's primary. IVP filed Rieckhoff v. Berger in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on October 1, 2026, challenging rules that bar 3,187,610 registered voters, 25.4% of the electorate, from primaries.
Start with open primaries.
Signing the open primaries petition takes about 30 seconds. Then explore More Choice Voting, the reform that builds on it.