Topeka ? Kansas Democrats are once opening their primary elections to unaffiliated voters.

But the state GOP will continue limiting its primary to registered Republicans.

This year’s Kansas primaries will be held Aug. 3.

The two parties have used different rules since 2004, when a federal court invalidated a longstanding Kansas law directing them to have closed primaries.

Kansas Democratic Party chairman Larry Gates says letting unaffiliated voters cast primary ballots will strengthen the party’s nominees. He also says it shows Democrats are more inclusive.

But state GOP executive director Ashley McMillan says the truly inclusive primary is the one with more voters and more candidates on the ballot. Both of those are true on the Republican side in GOP-leaning Kansas.