What is the difference between a primary and general election?

In North Carolina, a primary election is held in order to select candidates for public office in the General Election. Primary elections are held before the General Election and are restricted to registered members of a certain political party. For instance, in North Carolina, a Democratic primary election would be restricted to registered Democratic voters, and a Republican primary election would be restricted to registered Republican voters. A General Election is held after the primary elections and is open to all registered voters regardless of political party. Generally, the winners of the primary elections become the candidates for the General Election. During a General Election, all registered voters have the opportunity to vote for the candidate they prefer. The candidate with the most votes wins the election. In summary, a primary election is held before the General Election and is restricted to registered members of a certain political party. During a General Election, all registered voters are allowed to vote for the candidate they prefer. The candidate that wins the most votes in the General Election is declared the winner.

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