A primary election is an election in which political parties select their candidates who will run in the upcoming general election. It serves as a preliminary step where voters choose among candidates within a party to determine who will represent that party on the general election ballot

. There are different types of primaries, including:

• Closed primaries: Only voters registered with a particular political party can vote in that party's primary

• Open primaries: Any registered voter can participate in any party's primary without declaring party affiliation

• Semi-open or semi-closed primaries: Variations where some restrictions on voter participation apply

In primary elections, candidates compete to receive the most votes within their party. The winner becomes the party's nominee for the general election. In some cases, a candidate must receive a minimum percentage of votes to secure the nomination

. For presidential elections, primaries also determine delegates who represent the voters at national party conventions, where the party's nominee is officially chosen. Delegate allocation methods vary by party and state, including winner-take-all or proportional representation systems

. In summary, a primary election is a party-specific election to nominate candidates for the general election, helping to narrow the field of candidates and allowing voters to have a say in who represents their party