What is the difference between primary and general elections?

In Montana, primary and general elections are two distinct processes used to determine the winner of an election. A primary election is a vote in which the candidate is chosen to represent a political party in the general election. Primary elections can be either closed or open, depending on the state laws in place. In a closed primary election, only registered members of a political party can vote for the party’s candidate. This means that only the Democrats can vote for the Democratic candidate, and only the Republicans can vote for the Republican candidate. In an open primary election, voters don’t have to be affiliated with a particular political party in order to participate. This means that members of any party or no party at all can vote for the candidate of any party. Once the candidate is chosen in the primary election, the general election is held. This is the final election and determines who will be elected to the political office. All eligible voters can participate in a general election, no matter their party affiliation. In the general election, multiple candidates from different parties may be listed on the ballot, giving voters more options to choose from. The candidate who gets the most votes is declared the winner of the election.

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What is the difference between primary and general elections?

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