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The purpose of primary elections is to choose the candidates for the main elections.
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Political parties use primary elections to determine who they will nominate to represent the parties in the general elections. In the general elections, voters choose from among candidates of various political parties their preferences to fill government offices.
Such is the purpose of primary elections. Candidates may also be determined by caucuses and state conventions.
Perhaps you are referring to the party caucuses and primary elections that choose the candidates.
Primary elections are preliminary elections for the purpose of choosing the candidates for the main elections that actual choose the office-holders. The term "state primary" may refer to an election held within a state to choose candidates for the presidential election or it may refer to primaries held to choose candidates for state offices.
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A non paricant primary is a primary where candidates are not labeled under a party. It may also be called an open primary.
The reform that allowed voters, rather than party bosses, to choose candidates for elections is known as direct primary elections. In direct primaries, registered party members have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidates. This reform aimed to increase participatory democracy and reduce the influence of party elites in candidate selection.
An election held to choose candidates for the main election is called a Primary Election.