How Indiana’s Primary Election System Works

Indiana uses a partially open primary system, meaning voters do not register with a political party in advance but must choose a party ballot when they vote. At the polling place, voters select either a Democratic or Republican ballot and can only vote in that party’s primary races for that election.

While state law expects voters to choose the party they generally support or intend to support in the general election, this is not strictly enforced in practice. Primary elections determine each party’s nominees for offices such as U.S. House, statewide positions, and state and local offices.