What is the difference between a "primary" and a "general" election?

The primary election serves as a crucial first step in the electoral process, as it is designed to select a party's candidates who will compete in the general election. In this context, the general election is the event where voters choose among these nominated candidates to determine who will hold the specific office. Understanding this distinction is essential because it illustrates the two stages of the electoral process: the primaries, which are concerned with candidate selection, and the general election, which is focused on the final decision of the electorate regarding officeholders.

This choice correctly identifies the roles that both types of elections play in the democratic process. The other options misrepresent these roles; for example, indicating that primaries occur after general elections contradicts the actual sequence of events, and suggesting that primaries are only for local offices limits their scope, as they also include state and federal positions. Furthermore, the implication that primaries are always open to all voters does not account for different primary systems, such as closed or semi-closed primaries, which can restrict participation to registered party members. Thus, option A accurately captures the primary's function in relation to the general election.