Yes, most states request that you indicate your party affiliation in order to vote in primary elections. There are some exceptions. When you register to vote using our online voter services, you will be automatically informed of your state requirements. You can register to vote here.

Not all states hold primary elections by party, but most states that do will ask that you indicate your party affiliation on your Voter Registration/Ballot Request form. For example: Democrat, Republican, American Independent, Green, Libertarian, Natural Law or Peace and Freedom, etc.

If you have not chosen a party or do not wish to declare your party, please enter an appropriate note such as "decline to state," or "none, or "nonpartisan", or "undeclared" on your form. The voter registration system will tell you which of these notes to add in accordance with your state requirements.

Most Secretary of State websites provide further information about which parties allow non-affiliated voters to participate in their primary election. You can find your state’s website by going to the State Voting Requirements page and inputting your state. Then, click the tab “State Lookup Tools”, and you will see a link for your state’s elections website. 

Please note: You do not need to declare your party affiliation if you only plan to vote in the November general election and not the primary election.