What is the difference between primary and general elections?

Primary and general elections are two distinct types of elections that are used in Virginia. A primary election is an election of candidates to determine which candidate will represent a political party in the general election. In Virginia, these elections are held in June and the political parties can decide when the election will be held. General elections are held in November and are the elections where citizens vote for candidates to serve in public office. The biggest difference between primary and general elections is that primary elections are limited to party members. As such, only those who are registered members of a political party can vote in a primary election. General elections are open to all registered voters regardless of party affiliation. However, some Virginia counties use a semi-closed primary system where voters registered with a party can only vote for that party’s candidates, while unaffiliated voters can vote for any candidate on the ballot. Primary elections are typically held before the general election, allowing the political party to decide who will be their candidate in the general election. General elections then provide the opportunity to elect a candidate to serve in public office. Other significant differences include filing deadlines, types of offices being elected, and the number of candidates running in each election.

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What is the difference between primary and general elections?

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