What distinguishes an open primary from a closed primary?

An open primary is characterized by the ability of voters to participate in any primary election regardless of their registered party affiliation. This means that a voter who is registered with one political party can choose to vote in the primary elections of another party. This system encourages broader participation as individuals can support candidates across party lines based on issues rather than party loyalty.

In contrast, a closed primary restricts voting to individuals who are registered with a particular political party, thereby limiting participation to those who are officially affiliated with that party. This system tends to maintain party integrity and ensures that only committed party members can influence the candidates that the party will support in the general election.

Independent candidates don’t have a role in determining the primary structures of party affiliations, and voting outside of the general election refers to different aspects of the electoral process that do not pertain specifically to the distinctions between open and closed primaries. Thus, the distinguishing feature of an open primary is indeed the allowance for voters to engage in the primary process of any political party, highlighting its inclusive nature.