Primary Elections
What are Primary Elections:
Primary elections are the elections held by political parties and by the state before the general election to determine the party’s candidate for office, such as president, governor, senator, or local positions too. Primary elections can also serve as a way to narrow down a large filed of candidates.
There are two types of primary elections:
Closed primaries: In closed primary elections, only the voters who are officially registered with that party can vote for who they want to be the main candidate to represent their party in the general election. This is a way for each party to choose their best candidate!
Open primaries: In open primary elections, voters do not need to be registered or affiliated with a certain party to participate. Voters can choose which party’s primary election they wish to participate in on the day of the primary elections. For example, an independent voter can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. Again, the winners of the primaries become the official nominees of their parties and go onto compete in the general election.
Nonpartisan Primaries: In nonpartisan primaries, all voters are given a voice in every election. In 2022, Nevadans passed “Ballot Question 3” to get rid of the closed primary elections, and instead use a fully open [primary ballot with all candidates on the ballot. Nevada voters will choose their top 5 candidates through a ranking system ensuring that the top five candidates (regardless of party) will go onto the general election!
*this ballot question will need to pass a second time in the 2024 general election before it becomes a state law
Why primary elections are important:
1. Primary elections give voters the opportunity to choose which person they want to represent their party in the bigger general election. This provides a way for voters to express their preferences for a particular candidate.
2. Primary elections encourage voters to play an active role in the democratic process.
3. Primary elections serve as a way to hold incumbent officeholders accountable to their party and party members because they can be challenged by other candidates within their party who offer alternative visions of methods to represent their constituents.
Click this link to learn more about Primary elections!
https://www.usa.gov/primaries-caucuses
Nevada Primaries:
- The Clark County Sheriff, Kevin McMahill, won the election outright in the primary on June 14, 2022 after the general election was cancelled. Learn more through this link: https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/clark-county/kevin-mcmahill-to-be-next-clark-county-sheriff-2592519/
- Scott Kelley (WCSD School Board Member in District A in 2016) and Angie Taylor (WCSD School Board President in District E in 2016), both won their seats in the 2016 primary election.
Click this link to learn more about 2024 Nevada Primaries!
https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/election-information/2024-election-information
