Final answer:
Primary elections play a crucial role in the process of electing a president by helping political parties choose their nominee.
Step-by-step explanation:
Primary elections play a crucial role in the overall process of electing a president as they help the major political parties choose a nominee. State political parties hold primaries to determine who their party nominee will be. Delegates from the local primaries then go on to vote at state or national conventions on behalf of the voters. This process allows citizens to participate in selecting the candidate who represents their party in the general election.