In the recent past, primaries were used both to select delegates and to allow state governors to express their nominee preferences allow party members to express their nominee preferences allow party bosses to express their nominee preferences allow state judiciaries to express their nominee preferences

In the recent past, primaries were used both to select delegates and to allow party members to express their nominee preference. Primaries are not elections but nominations that narrows the field of candidates before a general election for an office. They are the means by which general public can indicate their preference for a candidate in an upcoming general election or a by election.