The reform that allowed voters, rather than party bosses, to choose candidates for elections is known as direct primary elections. In direct primaries, registered party members have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidates. This reform aimed to increase participatory democracy and reduce the influence of party elites in candidate selection.
The purpose of primary elections is to choose the candidates for the main elections.
primary
Primary elections are preliminary elections for the purpose of choosing the candidates for the main elections that actual choose the office-holders. The term "state primary" may refer to an election held within a state to choose candidates for the presidential election or it may refer to primaries held to choose candidates for state offices.
Perhaps you are referring to the party caucuses and primary elections that choose the candidates.
General Elections
Primary
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free elections
the direct primary, which allowed party members rather than political conventions to choose candidates for office.
choose party candidates for the general election.
Parties select their candidates in different ways. In some countries, such as the USA, members and supporters of a party choose its candidates. Now more and more countries are following this method. In other countries like India, top party leaders choose candidates for contesting elections.
Political parties use primary elections to determine who they will nominate to represent the parties in the general elections. In the general elections, voters choose from among candidates of various political parties their preferences to fill government offices.