What is a primary election?
A primary is an election that may take place within each of New York State’s official political parties. It precedes the general election and provides enrolled political party members the opportunity to nominate their party’s candidates for elected office as well as to elect various party officials. However, if there is no contest, there is no primary.
At a primary election the political parties select the candidates who will represent that party on the ballot in the next general election in November. California now has a “Modified Closed Primary System” which means that a political party has the option of allowing unaffiliated (“decline to state”) voters to vote for the candidates on their party’s ballot. Unaffiliated voters must request the ballot of one of those political parties or they will be given a ballot containing only measures and non-partisan candidates. See details about voting in the March 2, 2004 primary election. –> Q. When is a primary election held? A primary is held in June or earlier of even-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday. The California Legislature sets the primary date. In 2008, the primary date for the Presidential election is February 5. The primary for state and legislative offices is June 3. Q. What is a Presidential primary? During presidential election years, California holds a
