Types of Elections

It’s the election before the election. In primary elections, you decide which candidate will be your party’s nominee for the general election.

When do primaries happen?

• When more than one candidate wants a party’s nomination.

Who can vote in a primary election?

• You must be registered with a political party to vote in a primary election. 

What happens when a candidate wins a primary election?

• The winner of a primary election runs as that party’s nominee in the general election held in November. 

How many candidates can I vote for?

In primary elections for city offices, NYC uses Ranked Choice Voting. That means you can rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just 1.

In all other primary elections (like for President), you can only vote for one candidate.

This is the championship match. Candidates from different parties compete to win elected office. Winners of primary elections represent their party in the general election. 

General elections sometimes include ballot proposals, where voters choose whether to adopt new laws or policies.

When do general elections happen?

• General elections take place at the end of a term to fill an open seat. They are held on the first Tuesday in November.

Who can vote in a general election?

• Any registered voter can vote in the general election. You can vote for any candidate you’d like. Just make sure you are registered by the deadline!

What happens when a candidate wins in a general election?

• The winner serves in office, starting on their inauguration day.

How many candidates can I vote for?

• In general elections you can only vote for 1 candidate for each office.

Special elections are held when an elected official leaves office before the end of their term. 

When do special elections happen?

• Special elections dates are determined by the Mayor, within three days of a vacancy. They are usually held on the first Tuesday at least 80 days after the office has been vacated.

Who can vote in a special election?

• Any registered voter who lives within a district holding a special election is eligible to vote.

What happens when a candidate wins in a special election?

• The winner serves in office.

How many candidates can I vote for?

• In special elections for city offices, NYC uses Ranked Choice Voting. That means you can rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just 1.

In all other special elections, you can only vote for one candidate.