What is a direct primary?

A direct primary is indeed a preliminary election in which voters have the opportunity to select candidates for an upcoming general election. This process allows party members to directly participate in choosing their party's nominee for various offices, such as state and federal positions. By using direct primaries, the political party can ensure that its elected candidates reflect the preferences of the party's electorate, rather than being chosen solely by party leaders or insiders.

This system enhances democratic participation by allowing voters to have a direct say in the selection process, increasing accountability among candidates to the electorate that ultimately votes them into office. As part of the broader progressivism movement in the early 20th century, direct primaries were implemented to combat corruption and to give more power to the voters.

Other options do not define a direct primary accurately. Proposing amendments to legislation refers to legislative processes rather than the electoral phase, voting on existing laws involves referendums or ballot measures rather than candidate selection, and removing politicians from office typically pertains to recall elections, which are distinctly different from the primary election process.