Being away at college leaves students with many priorities and daily tasks that need to be done. Sometimes, it is easy to forget about what is going on in the world, due to the business of their every day lives.
The race for the 2016 election is in full swing, and every few days the candidates are winning different states in the primaries. Since our college is located in Pennsylvania, we can not forget to vote in the primaries. How do students know exactly who to vote for and what should they base their votes on? Why are the primaries even important? We’ve got you covered:
So, what are primaries?
It is a general preliminary election, which gives registered voters and citizens the opportunity in choosing the candidates for the presidential election.
What kinds of primary elections are there?
These elections are either closed or open.
Closed: a registered voter can only vote for candidate in their own party.
Open: a registered voter can vote for candidate in any party.
An uncommon type is a “blanket primary” where registered voters can engage in all primaries.
How do primaries benefit the public?
These elections are a great way to get to know the candidates, see a more in-depth view of a specific candidate’s beliefs and encourages first-time voters to be involved.
As of Thursday, March 15th, those running in the presidential primaries form the republican party include Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marko Rubio and John Kasich. Those in the Democratic party include Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Who can vote in the primaries?
Generally, those registered with the Democratic or Republican Party are able to vote, with exceptions for other parties.
