ELECTIONS 101

TYPES OF ELECTIONS

Primary Election

A Primary Election is a preliminary election between two or more individuals in one political party. It is held several weeks before the General Election (in Florida, the primaries are scheduled nine weeks – generally in late August or early September – before the General Election). The candidate with the highest number of votes is chosen to run in the general election as his or her party's nominee. The offices that may require a Primary Election are governor, state cabinet members, federal and state legislators, and county officers and commissioners.

Open v. Closed Primary

In an open primary voters can select a ballot from any political party and cast votes for candidates running for office in the party. In a closed primary, voters must select a ballot from the party with whom they are registered. Florida is a closed primary state, which means if you are registered as a Democrat you vote in the Democratic primary, not the Republican primary. No crossover voting is allowed.

General Election

A general election is a national, state, or county election held between or among the candidates who won their party primaries. National Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Partisan v. Nonpartisan Elections

A nonpartisan election is held the same day as the primary election. The candidates do not run as representatives of any political party. A partisan election means that candidates are affiliated with a political party. In nonpartisan elections, all voters regardless of political party affiliation are able to vote in these elections. Nonpartisan offices in Florida include Supreme Court and Appellate Court judges. Nonpartisan offices in Palm Beach and Broward counties include school board, judicial candidates (county court), and some county constitutional offices such as property appraiser, sheriff, and supervisor of elections.

Presidential Preference Primary

Democrats and Republicans are able to vote to express their preference for their political party's presidential candidate. These primaries are held in Florida the second Tuesday in March. Each state sets the date for their presidential preference primary (and the few states having a caucus – an informal, nonbinding vote – rather than a primary do the same). The reason for the Presidential Preference Primary is because the United States does not have a direct election for president. Instead, the president is picked by the Electoral College, and states have Presidential Preference Primaries (and caucuses) to express how their electors should vote in the Electoral College.

Referendum

Citizens and citizen groups often attempt to get an issue on a ballot, thus allowing voters the opportunity to vote directly on the passage of the item, rather than the usual means of having elected officials vote on the issue. Amendments to the Florida Constitution and local referenda may appear on the General Election ballot. All registered voters are able to vote for any referenda questions or issues on the ballot regardless of political party affiliation.

Party Convention

A gathering of party delegates, on the local, state, or national level, to set policy and strategy and to select a candidate or candidates for elective office. The national party conventions typically meet in late July and August prior to the presidential election in November.

Overvote

When a voter casts more than one vote per race. For instance, if the ballot lists candidates for the office on more than one page, voters might mistakenly vote for one person on each page and, in so doing, inadvertently cast more than one vote in that race. The votes for the race in question are not counted, but other votes (for other races) on the ballot are still counted, providing they are correctly cast.

Undervote

When a voter decides or fails to cast a vote in a particular race. For instance, a voter might cast votes for governor and state senator but might not cast a vote for a city council office. This is legal and the votes cast are counted.

ELECTIONS AND OFFICES

I. Federal Government

a. President and Vice President

• Term is four years
• Term limit: two terms (plus up to two years of the previous president's term if the individual succeeds to the office on account of death, impeachment, or resignation)
• Election in November; term begins in January

b. U.S. Senate members

• Term is six years
• Term limit: none
• Election in November; term begins in January

c. U.S. Congress members

• Term is two years
• Term limit: none
• Election in November; term begins in January

II. State Government

State executive officers in Florida include a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, and three cabinet members: Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture.

a. Executive Officers

• Term is four years
• Term limit: two terms
• Election in November; term begins in January

b. Florida State Senate

• Term is four years
• Term limit: two terms
• Election in November; term begins next day

c. Florida House of Representatives

• Term is two years
• Term limit: four terms
• Election in November; term begins next day

III. Judicial Branch

a. Supreme Court Justices and Appellate Judges

• Term is six years
• Term limit: none
• Election on Primary Day; term begins in January

b. Circuit Court and County Court Judges

• Term is six years
• Term limit: none
• Election on Primary Day; term begins in January

IV. County Government

There are seven "constitutional officers" in Florida counties including: Clerk of Circuit Court, Public Defender, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, State Attorney, Supervisor of Elections, and Tax Collector.

a. County Commissioners

• Term is four years
• Term limit: two terms
• Election in November; term begins two weeks later

b. County Constitutional Officers

• Term is four years
• Term limit: none
• Nonpartisan elections on Primary Day

Partisan elections in November; term begins in January

Note. A candidate running for office with no opposition is automatically elected, and his or her name will not appear on the ballot.