What is the difference between a primary election and a general election?
A primary election determines which candidates will represent a political party in the general election. Primaries can be either open or closed, allowing party members or any registered voters to participate in selecting nominees. The general election, however, is the final electoral contest where voters choose from among the candidates of various parties to fill public offices. While primaries focus on intra-party competition, the general election serves as the decisive moment for voters to influence governance by selecting their preferred representatives.