What is a “universal primary” election?
A Universal Primary election is a type of election in Massachusetts that lets voters participate regardless of their political party. It allows voters to select from all of the candidates who are running for a particular office, regardless of party affiliation. It eliminates the primary election process, where each political party holds its own separate primary. In Massachusetts, the Universal Primary is used for all state, county and municipal offices, and for all offices in the U.S. Congress. All of the candidates running in the Universal Primary will be listed on the same ballot and voters will be able to select from among all of the candidates. After the votes are tallied, the winner in the Universal Primary is the candidate who receives the most votes. The Universal Primary can help create a more competitive election. By having all candidates running on the same ballot, the election is open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation. This can help create a more balanced and representative field of candidates and help ensure that the best candidate for the job is elected. The Universal Primary can also make the election process more cost effective. By eliminating the primary process, more money can be saved in both staff time and resources allocated for the voting process. This is especially beneficial for smaller municipalities who are not able to afford the costs associated with holding a primary election.
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