Primary elections are important because the names that appear on the general election ballot on November 4, 2008 are the candidates that were chosen during the primary process.

A primary election is an election that selects a candidate(s) that will represent the party in the general election.  The winning candidate is the one who takes the largest percentage of votes.  The winner of a primary election does not necessarily receive a majority of the votes.

The higher the voter turnout, the greater the possibility that the winner is indeed a true representative of the population at large.

Voters in state primaries select their party's candidates for state and federal offices such as president, Vice President, Governor, US. Senator, and Member of the US House of Representatives.  DC, Florida, Michigan, and South Carolina will be holding their Presidential Preference Primary in January. Twenty seven other states in February, and so on, until all states finish in October. (www.fvap.gov)