caucuses vs primary elections
Different states either use a primary election or a caucus election to count their votes. Primary elections are more straightforward. Eligible voters go to a polling place, whether that be a school or library, and checks off the ballot for who they want to vote for. Not all primaries though are the same. Some states have an open primaries, where any voter can show up and vote for any candidate, regardless of their political party. California has an open primary. Most states however have closed primaries,
where voters can only cast a ballot in the primary of the party in which they are registered. Caucuses are much more complicated, and take much longer. Groups of voters gather to hear candidate supporters,and debate issues with each other, before ultimately making their decision on who to cast their vote for. 9 states and 3 U.S territories have a caucuses rather than a primary. Some states have both caucuses and primaries, based on the party. For example, Kentucky has a primary for the Democratic party, and a caucus for the Republican party.