With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, presidential primaries have begun. The primaries are an important step in the general election in order to determine which candidates will run for the Republican and Democratic parties. In some states, third-party groups will conduct primaries as well to nominate their own candidates, according to the U.S. Vote Foundation. In order for a presidential candidate to be nominated, they need to receive a certain number of delegate votes in a state. Delegate voting is held at a national convention where delegates are chosen by each party, typically from voter preference, so that they represent the voter population. USA Today explains that delegates are pledged to candidates based on the result of the caucus or primary. Once the candidate secures the majority of the delegate votes, they have secured nomination. After they have won, their name will appear on the general election ballot in November. So, while the primaries do not directly elect presidential nominees, delegate voting is a direct reflection of primary results.
There are many different types of primaries. The first is an open primary, which does not require voters to affiliate with a certain party. For example, a registered democratic voter could still vote for the republican candidate in an open primary. Some examples of states with open primaries are Texas, Hawaii, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, and more. In contrast, a closed primary requires voters to vote within the party for which they are a registered voter. Some states with closed primaries include New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Florida. Primaries can also be semi-closed or semi-open. A semi-closed primary requires voters registered in a particular party to vote for that party; however, independent voters (those who are not affiliated with one party) are able to vote for the candidate of their choice. Some states with these primaries are Oregon, Utah, Connecticut, and Maryland.
Now, some may be wondering how the current 2024 presidential primaries are going, so let’s break it down. The primary process began on January 23 in New Hampshire. For the Democratic Party, incumbent President Joe Biden is almost guaranteed to win the democratic nomination, according to CNN. For the republican party, former President Donald Trump has held the majority of the poll votes for a while and has the most delegate votes after a large contest in Iowa. His challenger Nikki Haley, who made history for women republican politicians as Trump’s last remaining rival, suspended her campaign in the week of March 6th, according to PBS. This suspension leaves Trump the remaining Republican candidate who is projected to secure the rest of the delegate votes. For this reason, America will most likely be seeing a Trump-Biden rematch in the November 2024 presidential election. Although this is not definite until the final primary on June 12, 2024, the Super Tuesday projection by AP News predicts a rematch.
Exciting times are arising for some 2024 Greeley seniors who have the ability to vote in the 2024 presidential election. Senior Reese Solomon provides insight to how she and her peers are feeling about voting in the upcoming election: “I am really excited to vote because I’ve thought about this day for a really long time and now that I’m 18, it feels surreal to be able to have the power to give my opinions and input my voice to our government,” she says. Solomon continues to discuss how relevant having representation is to her. “Being in high school and taking AP Government and Politics and learning about the government system and how it operates, I can finally participate in our direct democracy.”
As the election gets closer, we will know our nominees for each political party with confidence. However, as stated previously, it is projected to be a Biden-Trump rematch. As Solomon expresses her excitement for voting, other young voters can exercise their constitutional right and sign up to vote so that they too can make their voice and opinions heard. It is important for young voters to learn about the different primaries and other aspects of the election process so they are informed and educated when voting. Make sure to keep up with the news and check for June 12th when the nominees will be solidified.