Primary Election vs. General Election

Key Differences

What is Primary Election?
Primary election is a mode of election by which political parties scrutinize their candidates before allowing them to contest an election for public office. After that, political parties nominates the candidates for upcoming general or by-election. This method is very common in United States. However, in recent years, political parties of Asian countries have also adopted this system. The key benefit of this process is that through this process, political parties comes to know about the eligibility and credibility of their nominees.
What is General Election?
In democratic or presidential system, general election refers to regularly scheduled election by which voters of a country chooses the candidates, to hold a public office of the national legislature or parliament. In most of the countries, general election held after the expiry of five years of existing government. Through this process, new members are chosen by voter for the next term of five years. At the end of the election, political party who won the seats with heavy margin, established the government alone or with the alliance of runner up political party. After that a new setup of government from the designation of president to the federal ministers is formed.