Question about Primaries...

[jaxxx]

I've asked 3 American's and I've looked 0nline. Can someone help me?

In the primary races, how is the order of State voting decided? Does someone delegate a specific order? Do States just choose when they want to have their primary votes?

[jaxxx]

Here is the order:

Alabama - Open Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (10 Days - Jan 26).
Alaska - Caucuses (Feb 5). Deadline (30 Days - Jan 6).
Arizona - Closed PPE (Feb 5). Deadline (30 Days - Jan 6).
Arkansas - Open Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (30 Days - Jan 6).
California - Semi-Open Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (15 Days - Jan 22).
Colorado - Caucuses (Feb 5). Deadline (29 Days - Jan 7). (For Democrats, the deadline to register is Feb 5)
Connecticut - Closed Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (12 Noon, Feb 4).
Delaware - Closed Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (24 Days - Jan 12).
District of Columbia - Primary (Feb 12). Deadline (30 Days - Jan 13)
Florida - Closed Primary (Jan 29). Deadline (29 Days - Jan 1).
Georgia - Open Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (Jan 7).
Hawaii - Open Caucuses (Mar 2). Deadline (30 Days - Feb 1).
Idaho - Open Primary (May 27). Deadline (May 2 for pre registration. Registration allowed on Election Day).
Illinois - Semi-Open Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (27 Days - Jan 9).
Indiana - Open Primary (May 6). Deadline (28 Days - Apr 9).
Iowa - Caucus (Jan 3). Deadline (10 days - Dec 24, 2007).
Kansas - Caucuses (Feb 9). Deadline (15 Days - Jan 25).
Kentucky - Closed Primary (May 20). Deadline for new registrations (28 Days - Apr 22). Deadline for party switch (Dec 31, 2007)
Louisiana - Caucus (Feb 9). Deadline (Jan 11).
Maine - Caucuses (February 1 through February 3). Deadline (None - Day of Election though check the rules regarding this caucus).
Maryland - Closed Primary (Feb 12). Deadline (21 Days - Jan 22).
Massachusetts - Semi-Closed Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (1 Day - Jan 16).
Michigan - Open Primary (Jan 15). Deadline (30 Days - Jan 6).
Minnesota - Open Caucuses (Feb 5 *). Deadline (20 Days - Jan 16).
Mississippi - Open Primary (Mar 11). Deadline (30 Days - Feb 10).
Missouri - Open Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (4th Wednesday Prior - Jan 9).
Montana - Open Primary (Jun 3). Deadline (30 Days - May 4).
Nebraska - Primary (May 13 *). Deadline (Second Friday before an election, May 2).
Nevada - Caucuses (Jan 19). Deadline (30 Days - Dec 20, 2007).
New Hampshire - Semi-Open Primary (Jan 8 ). Deadline (10 Days - Dec 28, 2007).[11]
New Jersey - Primary (Feb 5). Deadline for new registrations (21 Days - Jan 15, 2008). Deadline for party switch (50 days - Dec 17, 2007). Unaffiliated voters can declare on the day of primary.
New Mexico - Republican Primary (Jun 3). Deadline (28 Days - May 6) Democrat closed caucus Feb 5, 2008 (deadline January 4).
New York - Closed Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (25 Days - Jan 11).
North Carolina - Semi-Open Primary (May 6 *). Deadline (30 Days - Apr 6). Early voting starts April 17
North Dakota - Open Caucuses (Feb 5). Deadline (No registration. Must have residency for 30 days - Jan 6).
Ohio - Semi-Open Primary (Mar 4). Deadline (30 Days - Feb 3).
Oklahoma - Closed Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (24 Days - Jan 12).
Oregon - Closed Primary (May 20). Deadline (21 Days - Apr 29).
Pennsylvania - Closed Primary (Apr 22). Deadline (30 Days - Mar 23).
Rhode Island - Primary (Mar 4). Deadline (30 Days - Feb 3).
South Carolina - Open Primary (Jan 19 for Republicans, Jan 26 for Democrats). Deadline (30 days - Dec 20, 2007 for Republicans and Dec 25, 2007 for Democrats).
South Dakota - Closed Primary (Jun 3). Deadline (15 Days - May 19).
Tennessee - Open Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (30 Days - Jan 6).
Texas - Semi-Open Primary (Mar 4) & Closed Caucus (begins Mar 4, schedule based on party rules). Voting in primary is prerequisite for caucusing at precinct convention, which convenes after primary polls close. Deadline (Feb 4, 2008).
Utah - Closed Primary (Feb 5). Deadline (30 Days - Jan 6).
Vermont - Open Primary (Mar 4). Deadline (Feb 27, 2008).
Virginia - Open Primary (Feb 12). Deadline (29 Days - Jan 14).
Washington - Open Caucus (Feb 9) & Primary (Feb 19). This is a two step process. Deadline (30 Days via mail or _, 15 Days in Person Friday, Jan 25).
West Virginia -Closed Primary (18 Delegates at the State Convention on Feb 5 (ask the state party for details), 12 Delegates for the May 13 Primary).
Deadline (21 days to register or change your party to Republican - Apr 22 for the Primary).
Wisconsin - Open Primary (Feb 19). Deadline (The day before or the day of at your polling precinct).
Wyoming - Caucus (Mar 8 ).
* - Note that these Primaries / Caucuses may be changed to a date earlier than stated.

As noted in the bold type above, the dates may be changed to earlier - who has the authority to change the date

[Lena]

I think the states decide for themselves , weren't always primaries either .

Long ago the party leaders decided who to back then primaries & caucuses slowly started getting more popular .

More democracy but also bad since politicians need more money to run making them more likely to be influenced by special interests that come up with cash .

[SmilinAtU]

The order of the primaries is a complicated mix of party rules and state law. The states set the dates of their primaries by law, but the political parties have rules about the order of the primaries. Sometimes, there's a conflict.

In 2008, Florida moved it's primary up in the calendar before the Super-Tuesday primaries. This violated Democratic party rules, so the party stripped Florida of it's delegates to the national convention. Ultimately, the party compromised and gave Florida half the votes it was scheduled to have at the convention.

If I recall correctly, there was also a problem with the Florida Republican primary, but I can't recall the details.

I'm sure if you run a search in Wikipedia on the 2008 Florida primary, you will find a reasonably accurate description of what happened.