What is a nonpartisan blanket primary?

• A. All candidates appear on one ballot; the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party
• B. Only candidates from major parties appear on the ballot
• C. Each party runs its own separate primary
• D. The top vote-getter wins in all cases

Answer: (C)

A nonpartisan blanket primary uses a single primary ballot that lists all candidates together, without party labels driving who can run. Voters from any affiliation can vote for any candidate, and after the primary the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of party. This setup eliminates separate party primaries and focuses on voter choice rather than party, and it can even lead to a general election between two candidates from the same party if they are the top two finishers. The other descriptions describe partisan primaries or the incorrect idea that a single top vote-getter wins in all cases.