Article: In a closed primary or caucus, you must vote in the primary according to your official party affiliation. In many closed primary states, you won’t be able to vote in the primary at all if you don’t register as either Democrat or Republican. Make sure you choose the party you plan to vote for in the primary when you register to vote.  For example, in Oregon, you must declare an affiliation when you register in order to vote in all congressional, state, and Presidential primaries. Voter registration in Oregon closes 21 days before the election, so you must choose well in advance of Election Day.  In some states, an independent voter can choose to register with a party on Election Day, or a voter registered with one party can switch at the polls. You can find out which states have closed or semi-closed primaries by visiting https://www.openprimaries.org/primaries_by_state. If you live in a state with semi-closed primaries, you can vote for either party as an independent voter. However, if you choose to register as a Democrat or Republican, you can only vote for the party you’re affiliated with. If you want to be able to choose your party on Election Day, don’t declare a party affiliation when you register. For example, if you’re an unaffiliated voter in Idaho, you can participate in whichever party’s primary you choose. However, if you’re already affiliated with a party, you must disaffiliate with that party by the 10th Friday before the primary election in order to vote in another party’s primary. When you arrive at your designated polling place, provide your name, address, and any required or requested identification to the poll workers at the registration table. They will give you a ballot that matches the party affiliation listed on your voter registration information.  If you’re voting as an independent or NPA (No Party Affiliation) voter in a semi-closed primary, ask for the ballot of your choice. Once you receive your ballot, follow the directions from the election judges to fill it out and cast your votes. In some cases, you may be able to vote in a closed primary regardless of your party affiliation. For example, voters of any affiliation in Florida can participate in a Universal Primary Contest, which takes place when all the candidates for a specific office have the same party affiliation.

What is a summary?
Register with the party of your choice before or on Election Day. Avoid selecting an affiliation if you want a choice in a semi-closed primary. Ask for a ballot that matches your party affiliation.