2016 Postmortem

Not every state has partisan voter registration.


There are 4 types of primaries (excluding caucuses).

Closed--- only registered party members can vote in it. If you wish to register with the party, you must do so in advance
Semi-open--- primary is open to registered party members and unaffiliated voters. Should an unaffiliated choose to vote in the primary, they are automatically registered with the party. (In NJ, partisan voter registration must be changed 45 days out to vote in the primary)
Open--- Usually in states with no partisan voter registration. You can vote in any primary you want to. If runoffs happen, typically the runoffs are limited to people who voted in the initial primary.
Top two--- Primaries are not partisan at all and open. Top two advance to the general election. This can result in two Democrats or two Republicans being the general candidates

This varies state to state. If you wish for the system to change, work within your state.

I've heard Bernie Sanders people complain that the NY primary was closed (and it is, as a former NY unaffiliated voter). What the campaign should have done was a VR push to register people to vote in the primary. (Side note, I believe this rule also affected Ivanka Trump or one of her brothers). Voter registration deadlines are easy to find online and should be on any campaign calendar.