State guide · 2026
Which states have open primaries in 2026?
Last updated: November 13, 2026
In 2026, every state outside the 15 closed primary states lets unaffiliated voters take part in primaries in some form, with fully open or nonpartisan systems in states like Alabama, California, Washington, and Alaska.
State-by-state classifications sort all 50 states and Washington, D.C. into closed, semi-closed, semi-open, open, and nonpartisan systems. The dividing line that matters most is simple: can a voter who has not joined a party get a primary ballot?
How many states have open primaries?
It depends on how strictly you define open. 36 of 51 jurisdictions let unaffiliated voters participate in primaries in some way, while 15 states keep them out entirely. Counting only systems where any voter can take part with no party conditions, the number is smaller and includes the open primary states plus California, Washington, and Alaska.
Locked out
The 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 not enrolled in a party cannot vote in party primaries. New York's rule is now being challenged in Rieckhoff v. Berger, and the national petition at openmyprimary.org has action pages for all 15.
Semi-closed and semi-open states
Semi-closed (10): Washington, D.C., Idaho, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, and West Virginia. Unaffiliated voters can pick one party's ballot, but members of other parties cannot cross over.
Semi-open (3): including Arizona and Colorado. Any voter can request a party ballot, but the choice may be recorded.
Semi-closed systems are an improvement over closed primaries that still tie participation to party labels.
Open and nonpartisan primary states
Alabama is listed as an open primary state: voters choose a party ballot without registering by party. California and Washington use nonpartisan top-two primaries, and Alaska uses a top-four primary for state and congressional races. To confirm any other state, open its page in the voter data by state, which lists the current primary type, registration by party, and turnout.
Independent voter share vs primary access, selected states
Registration data shows how many voters each rule affects. A large independent share in a closed state means more voters without a primary ballot.
| State | Primary type | Independent / no party share | Registered voters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Nonpartisan top-four (state) | 63.78% | 583,011 |
| Colorado | Semi-open | 50.78% | 3,943,363 |
| Rhode Island | Semi-closed | 51.9% | 756,414 |
| New York | Closed | 25.72% | See state page |
| Maryland | Closed | 23.28% | 4,284,427 |
| Alabama | Open | 8.46% (modeled; no party registration) | 3,569,990 |
How to check your state's primary rules
- Find your state in the voter data by state.
- Note the primary type and whether unaffiliated voters can request a ballot.
- Check your state election office for the party enrollment deadline if you live in a closed state.
- Support open primaries through the take action page.
2026 state questions
See all 47 questions in the FAQWhich states have open primaries in 2026?
In 2026, every jurisdiction outside the 15 closed primary states lets unaffiliated voters take part in some form. Fully open or nonpartisan examples include Alabama, California, Washington, and Alaska. Our state-by-state voter data lists each state's current system and links to a full breakdown, which is the fastest way to confirm your own state.
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.
Which states have closed primaries?
Our primary 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 who are not enrolled in a party are excluded from party primaries.
Does New York have open or closed primaries?
New York has closed primaries. Only voters enrolled in a party may vote in that party’s primary, and the enrollment deadline falls months before the June primary. 3,187,610 registered New Yorkers, 25.4% of the electorate, cannot vote in any party primary. That rule is now being challenged in federal court.
Do top-two rules apply to presidential primaries?
Usually not. Presidential nominating contests follow party rules even in states with nonpartisan primaries for other offices. Alaska, for example, uses top-four for its other races but a closed presidential primary. The Independent Voter Project challenged California's exclusion of independent voters from presidential primaries in Boydston v. Padilla, filing a writ with the U.S. Supreme Court.
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.
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.