Primaries & General Elections
Primary — choosing who moves forward
A primary is an election used to select nominees or narrow the candidates for a later election. It can involve a presidential race, Congress, a state office or a local office.
Primary does not mean local. It describes a stage of candidate selection, while local describes the office being contested.
General election — choosing officeholders
A general election selects the people who will serve in office. Presidential elections also involve the Electoral College process.
Taking part in a primary is not a requirement for voting in the general election. You still need to meet the applicable eligibility and registration rules.
Why primary rules differ
Open or closed: party registration can affect which primary you may enter. States use different systems, including variations between these categories.
Presidential caucus: a party-organized meeting used in selecting delegates. It is a different process from a primary election.
Check your election office’s rules before deciding which ballot or process is available to you.