Understanding Primary Elections

The video explains primary elections, focusing on closed, open, and blanket primaries. It discusses how these systems determine candidates for general elections and their impact on political dynamics. Closed primaries restrict voting to registered party members, while open primaries allow broader participation. Blanket primaries involve all candidates in one election, with the top two advancing. The video highlights the influence of primary types on candidate selection and voter representation.

What is the main purpose of primary elections?

• To narrow down candidates for the general election

• To select party leaders

• To elect the President

• To decide on policy issues

In a closed primary, who is allowed to vote?

• Only candidates

• Only unaffiliated voters

• Anyone who wants to vote

• Only registered party members

What is a potential criticism of closed primaries?

• They allow too many people to vote

• They may lead to candidates catering only to party extremes

• They are too expensive to organize

• They do not allow for a general election

How might open primaries affect the selection of candidates?

• They prevent any party influence

• They may lead to more moderate candidates being selected

• They ensure only party members can vote

• They eliminate the need for a general election

Which type of primary might allow for 'raiding' by the opposite party?

• Closed primary

• General election

• Blanket primary

• Open primary

What is a key feature of open primaries?

• They are held after the general election

• Only party leaders can vote

• Voters from any party can participate

• They do not involve any voting

What is a blanket primary?

• A primary where only one party participates

• A primary limited to independent candidates

• A non-partisan primary where all candidates compete together

• A primary that occurs after the general election

In a blanket primary, what is a possible outcome?

• Only one candidate advances to the general election

• Two candidates from the same party may advance

• No candidates advance to the general election

• All candidates are eliminated

How do blanket primaries differ from partisan primaries?

• They do not lead to a general election

• They involve only one party

• They are held before the primary season

• They allow all candidates to compete together

What role do primaries play in presidential elections?

• They only occur in non-presidential years

• They help determine delegate allocation for national conventions

• They decide the President directly

• They are not used in presidential elections