What are delegates? do any of our individual votes during the primary actually count?

Question

can anyone explain to me how the primaries work?

Answer 1

delegates are the votes each state gets. In primaries it is the popular vote. In the actual election delegates count. That is why Al Gore didn't become president, states with higher population have more delegates and the state chose Bush.

Answer 2

When you cast your ballot in a primary, you are really voting to tell delegates how to vote at the party's nominating convention.