What do voters do in a state presidential primary?

In a state presidential primary, voters participate in selecting their preferred candidate for their party's nomination for the presidency. Depending on the state's rules, the primary may be open, allowing voters to choose candidates from any party, or closed, restricting participation to registered party members. Voters cast their ballots either in person or through mail-in voting, and the results influence the allocation of delegates to the national party convention. Ultimately, the primary serves as a crucial step in the electoral process, shaping the candidates who will appear on the general election ballot.