Elections | Elecciones
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2013| |
Click on each election name to learn more |
Election |
Date |
Candidates |
|
Special Election (to fill vacancies and propose questions) |
March 19 |
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|
April 16 |
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|
Special Election (to fill vacancies only) |
June 18 |
-- |
|
July 16 |
-- | |
| Speial Election Runoff | October 15 |
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|
General Election/Special Election (to fill vacancies and propose questions) |
November 5 |
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| December 3, 2013 |
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General Information on Primaries
| General Primary: July 31
Primaries are elections held between candidates within the same party in order to choose one candidate to represent the party in the November General Election. Candidates must file by a certain deadline to appear on the ballot of a particular state’s primary. Primaries usually have two ballots – a ballot for Democrats and a ballot for Republicans, but not always. The highest voted candidate in each party then proceeds to the runoff election.
There are also two basic different types of primaries – open and closed – though some states have models that have hybrids between the two.
- In a closed primary – only voters of that party can vote for candidates from that party.
- In an open primary, on the other hand, voters of either party can vote for candidates of either party, and the ballots are not party-specific, meaning no party affiliation is required at registration. Georgia has an open primary.
At the Pennsylvania primary, for example, only registered Republicans are allowed to vote on their preferred Republican presidential candidate.
Whichever candidate has the majority of the delegates at the end of the primary elections is designated the presumptive nominee until he or she is formally nominated and endorsed for the presidency by his or her political party.
Criticisms
To read some criticisms on the primary system, please visit this page.
Information on the General Election
| Date: November 6
Unlike primary elections, candidates from different parties compete for office in general elections. The most notable office chosen in General Elections is that of the President and Vice President of the United States, chosen indirectly by the Electoral College every four years. Though their elections also tend to fall on presidential election years, elections to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are held every two years and candidates are directly elected.
Many state and local government offices are also elected on Election Day as a matter of convenience and cost-saving, although a handful of states hold elections for state offices (such as governor) during odd-numbered "off years." Georgia holds gubernatorial elections in the even-numbered midterm years between presidential elections (ie. 2010, 2014, etc.).
Electoral College
To read more on the Electoral College, please visit this page.
