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## Open Primaries: Opening Doors—or Changing the Game?

Pre-Reads
Open primaries in the United States
State Primary Election Types | NCSL

Primary elections play a major role in determining which candidates appear on general election ballots, yet states take different approaches to how these elections are run. Open primaries, in particular, raise questions about who should be able to participate and how that participation shapes electoral outcomes.

At this meeting, we’ll explore how open primaries work, how people understand their purpose, and what impacts they may have on voters, political parties, and elections in the United States.

We’ll explore questions such as:

  • What do you see as the purpose of primary elections, and how do open primaries fit that purpose?
  • How might open primaries affect voter participation and representation?
  • In what ways could open primaries influence political parties and candidate selection?
  • What are some potential benefits and drawbacks of open primaries compared to closed primaries?

Before this meeting, please take a few minutes to watch these videos, which explain the primary system and where open primaries fit within it.

This conversation will provide an opportunity to explore different perspectives and engage respectfully on how primary election systems shape democratic participation.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

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