<P> Delegates to the national convention were usually selected at state conventions whose own delegates were chosen by district conventions . Sometimes they were dominated by intrigue between political bosses who controlled delegates ; the national convention was far from democratic or transparent . Progressive Era reformers looked to the primary election as a way to measure popular opinion of candidates , as opposed to the opinion of the bosses . Florida enacted the first presidential primary in 1901 . The Wisconsin direct open primary of 1905 was the first to eliminate the caucus and mandate direct selection of national convention delegates . In 1910 , Oregon became the first state to establish a presidential preference primary , which requires delegates to the National Convention to support the winner of the primary at the convention . By 1912 , twelve states either selected delegates in primaries , used a preferential primary , or both . By 1920 there were 20 states with primaries , but some went back , and from 1936 to 1968 , 12 states used them . </P>
<P> Delegates to the national convention were usually selected at state conventions whose own delegates were chosen by district conventions . Sometimes they were dominated by intrigue between political bosses who controlled delegates ; the national convention was far from democratic or transparent . Progressive Era reformers looked to the primary election as a way to measure popular opinion of candidates , as opposed to the opinion of the bosses . Florida enacted the first presidential primary in 1901 . The Wisconsin direct open primary of 1905 was the first to eliminate the caucus and mandate direct selection of national convention delegates . In 1910 , Oregon became the first state to establish a presidential preference primary , which requires delegates to the National Convention to support the winner of the primary at the convention . By 1912 , twelve states either selected delegates in primaries , used a preferential primary , or both . By 1920 there were 20 states with primaries , but some went back , and from 1936 to 1968 , 12 states used them . </P>
when were voters first invited to participate in the presidential nomination process
when were voters first invited to participate in the presidential nomination process
1901
1901