Presidential primaries are elections held by political parties to select their candidate for the presidency. During these elections, party members vote for their preferred candidate, and the results help determine how many delegates each candidate will receive for the party's national convention. These primaries can be either open or closed. In an open primary, any registered voter can participate, while a closed primary restricts voting to registered party members. The outcome of the primaries significantly influences the presidential election process, shaping the candidates who will compete for the presidency.