US Vote Blog

What are the different ways that primaries are conducted?

There are five types of primaries conducted in the United States: open primaries, primaries open to unaffiliated voters, partially open primaries, closed primaries, and semi-closed primaries. Here we provide details on the several types of primaries.

The United States is the only major democracy using primary elections to narrow down nominees for office from a selection of candidates. And we haven’t always done it this way.

Think of primaries as a way to narrow down the field of candidates to those who will ultimately appear on the ballot in the general election. A primary election permits voters to decide which candidates for office will become the parties’ nominees in an upcoming general election. During primary elections, we collectively winnow down pools of candidates, the winners of which are voted on for office in the general election.

What's at stake in the general election: All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a varying number each midterm of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, plus handfuls of other state offices and ballot measures.

What is a Midterm Election?

U.S. Presidents hold office for 4-years at a stretch. This is referred to as a four year “term” in office.

A “midterm” election is therefore defined as an election that takes place halfway through the 4-year Presidential term, i.e. in the middle of the 4-year term.

Hence what is referred to as a “midterm” election. It's an election 2 years after the Presidential election. The midterm elections happen across all states, and they are for offices other than that of the President or Vice President.

Who Gets Your Vote and What Do They Do? Election Season: What’s at Stake?

As the upcoming election approaches, voters across the country are preparing to cast their ballots for a variety of elected officials. While presidential races often attract the most attention, other positions—like state and municipal level officials—hold critical roles in shaping our government and everyday lives.

Understanding who these officials are, how they differ from federal level senators, congresspersons, and representatives, and what they do is key to making an informed decision at the polls.

Early voting will take place across the country for the 2026 Midterm Elections. There will be opportunities to vote early in the MIdterm Primaries and in the 2026 Midterm General Elections. Voters are encouraged to cast their ballots early if their state offers an early voting period for the 2026 elections.

“Early voting” is a form of voting in which all eligible voters of a state have the chance to cast ballots before Election Day without needing an excuse or a ballot application. Usually this is over the course of several days or weeks, but it can vary by state.

Voting early in-person can be just like voting on Election Day. The only difference may be the voter’s polling location in some states.

Civics Crash Course Lesson 7
The Supreme Court can strike down laws, shape national policy, and redefine your rights - but it wasn’t always this powerful. Born as “the least dangerous branch,” the judiciary has become one of the most influential forces in American life. Civics Crash Course Lesson 7 explains the courts’ constitutional structure and sources of power.

While advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton asserted that the judiciary was “beyond comparison the weakest” as measured against the executive and legislative branches. After the Constitution was adopted, many of the leading statesmen of that era considered it more prestigious to serve in state legislatures rather than on the Supreme Court.

How, then, did the Supreme Court achieve the clout and influence it has today?

We are united in our strong opposition to the Proving Residency for Overseas Voter Eligibility Act, H.R. 4851 (“PROVE Act”). If enacted, it would disenfranchise non-military Americans living overseas by imposing an arbitrary and unworkable new “evidence of recent residence” requirement that has no basis in law, necessity, or election security.

The PROVE Act purports to “fix” something that is not broken. For nearly 40 years, UOCAVA has provided a clear, verifiable process for establishing a voter’s eligibility using their U.S. identification number together with their U.S. voting residence address (their last U.S. residence) — which has been used in all 50 states and territories without issue.

Civics Crash Course Lesson 6
This Civics Crash Course lesson unpacks the structure, responsibilities, and unique authorities of the House and Senate.

From taxing to declaring war to regulating commerce, Congress was delegated substantial authority in our constitutional framework. Learn how the founders designed this institution and how its powers have evolved over time.

Civics Crash Course Lesson 5
The Separation of Power
Whereas the first half of our Civics Crash Course lessons address how we both empower and restrain government in our federal system, next we will focus on how institutions of government function. In the second half of our Civics Crash Course lessons, we pivot from checks and balances to the separation of power.

Beginning with the executive branch, join us to identify the powers delegated to the three federal branches in the U.S. Constitution.