WHAT IS A PRIMARY ELECTION?

Primary Elections or “primaries” are elections that determine the delegates from political parties who will face their opposing party’s delegates in the General Election. Voters may also see nonpartisan contests on their ballot during a primary including school board and judges.

IS FLORIDA AN OPEN OR CLOSED PRIMARY STATE?

Florida’s primaries are closed which means that only voters who are registered members of a political party may vote for their respective party’s candidates in a Primary Election. Voters without party affiliation are not eligible to vote for party candidates and voters who belong to a minor party can only vote for party candidates if those candidates are on the ballot. The deadline for voters to change their political party affiliation is 29 days prior to Election Day.

WHAT IS A UNIVERSAL PRIMARY?

A universal primary is a contest in the Primary Election in which all candidates have the same party affiliation, but will not see opposition during the General Election. During a universal primary, all qualified electors may vote regardless of their party affiliation.

HOW DO CANDIDATES WIN IN A PRIMARY ELECTION?

During a Primary, partisan races are won by the top vote getter. In nonpartisan races, including contests for judicial and school board seats, the winning candidate must receive 50% of the votes plus one in order to win the contest. The top two vote getters will face off with a run-off contest during the General Election.