When does a Primary Election become a Final Election?

Question: When does a "Primary Election" become a "Final Election?"

Answer: More often than you think.

A primary election is an election that narrows the field of candidates before a General Election. Primary elections are used by political parties to nominate their candidates for an upcoming General Election.

Many people think that a Primary Election is only for Republicans, Democrats, or Libertarians.

But in Orange County there are 7 races this month that could be Final Elections.

According to Bill Cowles, the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, there are several races that could be decided based upon how people vote this month.

Which races could be over on August 30?

• School Board District 7
• Judges (5 races)
• Comptroller

All registered voters get to vote for these offices, regardless of party affiliation.

The General Election in November should be called a run-off election.

"The run-off election (on November 8^th), is only when there are 3 or more candidates in the contest and nobody gets 50% + 1 vote," says Cowles. "In a two-person contest top vote-getter wins. Since School Board contest are non-partisan, like the judges, the same applies to School Board contests, like School Board District 7. Finally, because the Comptroller contest is just two candidates, from the same party, it becomes an Universal Primary and is on all ballots. Because there are only two candidates the top vote-getter wins."