What is a Primary Election and when is it held?

Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. The Primary Election for nominating party nominees for the General Election is 10 weeks before the General Election.  The next Primary Election is August 28, 2018.    The next General Election is November 6. 2018.

What are the voter registration deadlines for the Primary and General Elections?

Voter registration for the August 28th Primary Election closes on July 30th.  Voter registration for the November 6th General Election closes on October 9th.

Where do I register to vote?

You may register online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov (FAQ), or at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Main Office (240 So. Military Tr, WPB) or Northeast County Courthouse Branch Office (3188 PGA Blvd, PBG).

I want to vote in the primary. Do I have to be a Democrat or Republican?

Since Florida is a closed primary state, only voters who are registered members of the respective political party's candidates can vote for those candidate nominees in a primary election. Typically that would be either one of the two major political parties (Republicans and Democrats) but it can also include minor political parties if they have candidates for an office on the primary election ballot. 

All registered voters can vote in a primary election, regardless of which major or minor political party they are registered or even if they are registered without a specific party affiliation when: 1) All the candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner of the primary election will not face any opposition in the general election (i.e. no write-in candidates have qualified); or 2) the race is nonpartisan (i.e., prohibited from qualifying or campaigning based upon party affiliation) (e.g., judicial and school board offices, nonpartisan special districts or local referendum questions).

What percentage comprises a win in the primary?

The partisan candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be nominated. In nonpartisan races, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the top two candidates will be voted on in the general election.