What type of elections do we have

Kinds of Elections: General Elections - an election to fill public offices. Primary Elections - an election prior to the general election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket. Primaries are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders, and may be open or closed. Open Primary - an election that permits voters to choose on Election Day the party primary in which they wish to vote.

They may vote for candidates of only one party. A blanket or "free love" primary is a type of open primary. In the voting booth you mark a ballot that lists the candidates for nomination of all the parties, and thus you can help select the Democratic candidate for one office and the Republican candidate for another.

Closed Primary - the selection of a party's candidates in an election limited to registered party members. NOTE: You must live inside the boundaries of a municipality to be eligible to vote in that municipality's election.

If you have any questions or need more information regarding voting you may contact: Division of Elections R. Nonpartisan primary and election method N. If there are more than two candidates for a single office or the number of candidates for a group of offices is greater than twice the number of seats to be elected, there will be a primary election.

The primary will trim the number of candidates down to twice the number of seats. For example, if 7 candidates are running for 2 seats, the top 4 vote-getters in the primary would advance to the general election in November.

If needed, the primary would occur in October before the general election in November. Nonpartisan plurality method N. All candidates for a position are listed on the ballot, without party affiliation. The top vote-getters are elected, regardless of whether or not they received a majority of votes cast.

If the contest is for more than one seat, the person or persons receiving the next-highest vote totals are also elected. For example, if 7 candidates are running for 2 seats, the candidates that finish first and second are elected. View your by entering your address using our online voter guide, Voter's Edge. For the new and busy voter, check out our Easy Voter Guide and get help understanding the ballot measures in plain language. Types of Elections Share:.

What types of elections are there? What is a primary election? When are primary elections held? What is a general election? When are general elections held? What is the purpose of a general election?

What is a nonpartisan office? Which offices are nonpartisan? Are there nonpartisan primaries? Do all nonpartisan offices use primaries? When are local elections held and how do I learn about them? Related Content. Election date:.