Open primaries are a type of electoral system that allows voters to participate in primary elections regardless of their registered political party affiliation. This means that registered Democrats, Republicans, and independents can all vote in the same primary election, enabling a broader range of voters to influence candidate selection. The main goal of open primaries is to encourage greater voter participation and to reduce the influence of party extremes. By allowing all voters to choose candidates from any party, open primaries aim to promote more moderate candidates who can appeal to a wider audience in the general election.