What to know about Michigan’s primary election

Michigan moved up its primary contest this year, creating a domino effect for the state’s Republican party that led to a primary and a caucus being held in yet another confusing moment for the US primary election.

The midwestern state’s primary will be held on 27 February for Republicans and Democrats, who voted to move up the date to meet requests from national Democrats and President Joe Biden to diversify the states with earlier primaries.

Then, Republicans will meet to caucus, potentially in two different conventions because of party in-fighting, on 2 March. At that time, GOP activists will vote on how to allocate most of the state’s delegates, with the other portion of delegates being awarded based on the results of the 27 February primary.

Nevada, too, saw a GOP contest split in two, with a primary that no one won and a caucus won by Trump. The Democratic reshuffling of their electoral calendar also led to an unsanctioned Democratic primary in New Hampshire, where Biden won but the delegates might not count in the end.

Michigan’s presidential primaries moved up this year, which in a year with a better understood electoral calendar and competitive elections would give the state more clout and lead to candidates working hard to win over the state’s voters.

On 27 February, Michigan voters in both parties will be able to cast a vote in person for a presidential candidate on their party’s ballot. They have also had a chance to vote by mail and early in person ahead of election day. Voters need to choose one party’s ballot for the presidential primary.

The Democratic primary will award 117 delegates based on the day’s results.

For Republicans, a week later, the state party will hold its convention, where a caucus will award