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Massachusetts's Primaries

Partisan Primary Types​

Democratic PartyRepublican Party
Presidential PrimariesState PrimariesPresidential PrimariesState Primaries
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Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling​

Consolidated Primaries: No

Massachussetts is one of the states that have not merged their presidential and state primaries. On a Presidential Election year, presidential primaries and State primaries are scheduled to run on different dates.

Massachusetts is an open Primary state. Registered voters may choose to enroll in a political party, enroll with a political designation or choose to be an unenrolled voter (independent).

Voting In Primaries​

  • All registered voters may vote in general elections. Massachusetts voters enrolled in a particular party may vote only in that party's primary, and cannot vote in another party's primary. Unenrolled voters may cast a primary ballot for any party. Political designations are treated as "unenrolled" voters for primary purposes, and so they too may choose to vote in any one of the party primaries.

Delegates and Presidential Primaries​

The presidential primary process involves selecting delegates who will represent the state at the party's national convention. Delegates selected from the primary elections attend the party's national convention, where they officially nominate the presidential candidate. The candidate with the majority of delegates becomes the party's nominee for the presidential election. Candidates Ballot access rules vary depending on the candidate’s political party.

Democratic PartyRepublican Party
Total Del. VotesPled.Unpled.Altern.Total Del. VotesPled.Unpled.Altern.
116 92 24 8 40 40 37

Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process​

Democratic Party Delegates Allocation​

Massachusetts Democratic Party will send a total of 116 Delegate Votes and 8 Alternate Delegates to the 2024 Democratic national convention. 92 of the 116 delegates are pledeged and the remaining 24 are unpledged. The party will use a proportional representation system based on the results of the Presidential Primary Election for apportioning pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Presidential Candidates Ballot Access​

  • A presidential candidate gains access to the State presidential preference primary ballot if:
  • The candidate has filed the appropriate registration information with the federal election commission (FEC) to become a candidate for president of the United States; and
  • Please check with the State Democratic party for further requirements.

Delegates Breakdown​

  • District-level Delegates: 60
  • At-large Delegates: 20
  • Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 12
  • Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 24
  • Alternate Delegates: 8

Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown​

  • DNC Members: 9
  • Dem. Members of Congress: 11
  • Dem. Gorvernors: 1
  • Distinguished Party Leaders: 3

Republican Party Primary Delegates Process​

Republican Party's Delegates Allocation​

The Republican party will send a total of 40 Delegate Votes and 37 Alternate Delegates to the 2024 RNC. 40 Delegate Votes (27 District-level delegates, 10 At-Large, and 3 RNC delegates).

Delegates will be awarded on a proportional basis consistent with the March 5, 2024, Republican primary results in Massachusetts.

Specific delegate selections will be made as follows:​

  • 3 delegates and 3 alternates per Congressional District to be selected by the state chair of the respective Massachusetts Presidential campaigns or other campaign designee, in consultation with the MassGOP Chair (27 total delegates);
  • 3 automatic delegates, consistent with RNC rules - State Party Chair, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman (3 delegates);
  • 10 at-large delegates and alternates to be selected by the State Party Chair, after asking for submissions from members of the Republican State Committee and registered Republicans, and in consultation with the presidential campaigns (10 delegates);

Presidential Candidates Ballot Access​

  • A presidential candidate gains access to the State presidential preference primary ballot if:
  • The candidate has filed the appropriate registration information with the federal election commission (FEC) to become a candidate for president of the United States; and
  • Please check with the State Republican party for additional requirements.

Delegates Breakdown​

  • District-level Delegates: 27
  • At-large Delegates: 10
  • RNC Delegates: 3
  • Alternate Delegates: 37

NOTES​

This page contains primary election rules and Presidential Primary delegates allocation information on elections occurring across the country

Primary voting rules and delegate allocation apply to statewide partisan primary elections in most cases. However, check with your Town Clerk for primary voting guide as they may vary by town and political party.Please be advised that the information provided on this site is updated regularly but is subject to scheduling changes at the local level.

The information provided on the page was validated using the following resourses: