Standards
How we report
Last updated: November 13, 2026
The Primary Desk builds every page from named, linkable sources and attributes each number to the organization that published it.
Primary rules change through court rulings, ballot measures, and legislation, so we date our facts, show a Last updated line on every page, and refresh pages when a case or rule moves. When sources count the same thing differently, we show each figure and explain what it measures.
Where does The Primary Desk get its facts?
From court filings and case pages, state voter registration data, and published research. That includes the Independent Voter Project's case pages and state voter data, the Ballotpedia competitiveness study, MultiState 2026 primary results, and the Bipartisan Policy Center turnout analysis.
Our sourcing rules
- Every statistic names its source in the sentence or table where it appears.
- Numbers keep their original date, place, and conditions. A New York figure is never presented as national.
- When counts differ, such as 18.2 million, 26 million, and 30 million voters locked out of primaries, we show each and say what it counts.
- State primary types follow one consistent classification so totals add up across pages.
- We do not publish rankings, ratings, or endorsements of candidates.
How we keep pages current
Every page shows a Last updated date near the top, matching the dateModified value in its structured data. We change that date only when we change the content. This edition was last updated November 13, 2026.
Spotted an error? We correct mistakes openly. Start with the FAQ for common questions.
Common questions
See all 47 questions in the FAQWhere can I follow open primaries news?
The Primary Desk tracks open primaries news, lawsuits, and state rules in one place and updates its pages as cases and ballot measures move. For longer reporting and commentary, IVN.us publishes nonpartisan political news, and the Independent Voter Podcast covers election reform on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
How many Americans are locked out of primary elections?
Estimates vary by method. The open primaries campaign states more than 26 million voters are locked out, and the national petition with Open Primaries cites 30 million. The voter map counts 18.2 million registered independents across the 15 closed primary states. Each figure counts a different group, so compare like with like.
How many states have open primaries?
It depends on how you count. Our primary guide sorts the 50 states plus Washington, D.C. into closed, semi-closed, semi-open, open, and nonpartisan systems. It lists 15 closed primary states. In the other 36 jurisdictions, voters who are not enrolled in a party can take part in primaries in some form.
What is an open primary?
An open primary is a primary election in which any registered voter can take part without first joining a political party. In a traditional open primary the voter picks one party's ballot on election day. In a nonpartisan open primary, such as California's top-two, every candidate appears on one ballot and the top finishers advance to November.
What should I do first if I support open primaries?
Start by supporting open primaries: sign the Independent Voter Project’s open primaries petition or the national petition at openmyprimary.org, which has action pages for 15 closed primary states. Then explore More Choice Voting, the next reform in the sequence. New Yorkers can also sign a declaration in the Rieckhoff v. Berger case.
Your next step
Support open primaries first. Then explore More Choice Voting.
Opening the primary is the reform every other change builds on. Add your name, then read how More Choice Voting takes the next step.