| In recent years, many states have opened their primary elections, making them nonpartisan. In these states, independent or unaffiliated voters can cast ballots in primaries leading into the 2024 election. But some Republican-led states are moving in the opposite direction. This is their reasoning and the potential impact of these changes: ➡️ Louisiana's Republican Gov. Jeff Landry says a closed primary — which only allows registered party members to vote — would result in a "stronger, more unified team of elected leaders."
➡️ Lawmakers in Wyoming say some voters are taking advantage of a law that allows them to register to vote on Election Day by casting ballots in GOP primaries and switching their party affiliation ahead of the general election. Lawmakers passed legislation preventing voters from changing their affiliation up to three months before an election.
➡️ Some critics, like Democratic Louisiana state Sen. Jay Luneau, worry closed primaries will push out moderate candidates and make his state's politics more extreme.
➡️ Closed primaries could have a long-term electoral cost for the GOP, which could grow its market share by welcoming independents, according to Nick Troiano, who leads a venture fund that invests in nonpartisan electoral reforms. But in the short term, he says it could lead to what Republicans want: candidates who are more partisan and won’t do things like vote to impeach Trump. | 
