Final answer:
A primary is an election where delegates are chosen to attend a party convention and select candidates for public office. Closed and open primaries determine party nominees, while some states opt for caucuses, like the Iowa Caucus, for informal selection.
Step-by-step explanation:
A preliminary election in which a party picks delegates to a party convention or its candidates for public office is commonly referred to as a primary.
During a primary, party members use a ballot to indicate their preference for who should be the party's nominee in the general election. In some instances, a state may choose to hold a caucus instead, which is a meeting of party members to select nominees and delegates through an informal process. Closed primaries only allow registered party members to participate, ensuring that nominees are chosen by those who align with the party's values. Conversely, open primaries allow any voter to participate regardless of party affiliation. The most well-known caucus is the Iowa Caucus, an early indicator of candidate viability.
The delegates chosen through these primaries and caucuses attend the state or national party conventions and represent the voters' preferences when selecting the party's final presidential nominee. The convention itself has historically been a venue for party leaders and delegates to choose their candidate, but in modern times, it has become more of a formal confirmation of the choices made during the primary season.