Virgin Islands Primary and Delegate Rules
Last reviewed: July 26, 2026. Virgin Islands primary election and presidential delegate rule information is summarized from the source links listed on this page. Confirm final rules, deadlines, and party procedures with the listed official sources.
Quick Answer
- Primary types: Democratic presidential: Closed; Democratic state: Open; Republican presidential: Closed; Republican state: Open.
- Consolidated presidential and state primaries: No.
- Democratic delegates: 12 total, 6 pledged, 6 unpledged, 1 alternates.
- Republican delegates: 4 total, 4 pledged, 0 unpledged, 2 alternates.
Virgin Islands Primary Election Types
| Party | Contest | Primary type |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Presidential | Closed |
| Democratic | State | Open |
| Republican | Presidential | Closed |
| Republican | State | Open |
Presidential and State Primaries Scheduling
Consolidated Primaries: No
Virgin Islands haa not merged their presidential and state primaries. On a Presidential Election year, presidential caucuses and State primary are scheduled to run on different dates.
Each registered and enrolled elector shall be entitled to vote only for the number of candidates for each office as there are positions to be filled for such office. 18 VIC § 355. Conduct of primaries
Virgin Islands Presidential Delegate Allocation
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.
| Party | Total delegate votes | Pledged | Unpledged | Alternates | Allocation method | Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 12 | 6 | 6 | 1 | Proportional | 15% minimum vote required |
| Republican Party | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | Winner-Take-All | Not specified |
Democratic Party Primary Delegates Process
Democratic Party's Delegates Allocation
The Democratic party will send a total of 12 Delegate Votes (6 Pledged, 6 unpledged) and 1 Alternate delegates to the Democratic National Convention. 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: 0
- At-large Delegates: 6
- Pledged PLEOs Delegates: 0
- Automatic Delegates - Unpledged PLEOs: 6
- Alternate Delegates: 1
Automatic Delegates (Unpledged PLEOs - Super Delegates) Breakdown
- DNC Members: 4
- Dem. Members of Congress: 1
- Dem. Governors: 1
- Distinguished Party Leaders: 0
Republican Party Primary Delegates Process
Republican Party's Delegates Allocation
The Republican party will send a total of 4 Delegate Votes (0 district-level, 1 at-large, 3 RNC) and 2 Alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention. All 4 of the Virgin Islands delegates to the National Convention delegates are allocated in the Presidential caucus. A ranked-choice voting scheme is used-- this will elevate one of the candidates to 50% and trigger the winner take all clause. The 1 at-large delegate is elected by the Delegate Selection Committee and 3 party leaders are elected at the Presidential caucus.
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: 0
- At-large Delegates: 1
- RNC Delegates: 3
- Alternate Delegates: 2
About These Rules
This page contains primary election rules and presidential primary delegate allocation information for states and U.S. territories.
Primary voting rules and delegate allocation usually apply to statewide partisan primary elections. Check with your local election office for current guidance because rules, dates, and party procedures can change.Sources and Related Election Pages
The information provided on this page was validated using the following resources: