In a jungle primary, your vote matters more than ever—because the rules are different, and the stakes are higher.

Unlike traditional elections where each party picks their own candidate first, a jungle primary puts every candidate from every party on one big ballot, and every voter gets one chance to make their voice heard. That means your vote could be the one that decides which two candidates move on—or who wins outright.

Whether you’re Democrat, Republican, Independent, or undecided, you don’t have to wait for your party’s turn—you vote when it counts most.

In a jungle primary, every vote shapes the future, so sitting it out could mean letting someone else choose your leaders for you.

What is a “Jungle Primary”?

A jungle primary is a type of election where everyone runs on the same ballot, no matter what political party they belong to.

Think of it like a big race where Democrats, Republicans, Independents—everyone runs together.

Step-by-Step: How It Works in Georgia

✅ Step 1: All Candidates Are on One Ballot

• Instead of separate ballots for each political party, all candidates appear on one ballot.

• Voters choose any candidate, no matter their party.

Example: You might see a Democrat, two Republicans, a Libertarian, and an Independent all listed together.

Step 2: Everyone Gets to Vote

• All voters can vote, no matter their party registration.

• You just pick your favorite candidate, regardless of political party.

Step 3: Win It All – If You Get Over 50%

• If one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, they win right away.

• No more elections needed.

⚔️ Step 4: Runoff If No One Gets 50%

• If no one gets over 50%, the top two vote-getters go to a runoff election.

• This means there will be a second election with just those two.

Even if both top candidates are from the same party, they can still face off in the runoff.

Why Does Georgia Use It?

• Georgia uses the jungle primary system only for special elections, like when a seat becomes open suddenly (for example, someone resigns or passes away).

• It helps fill the seat quickly without separate party primaries.

Example:

Let’s say there’s a special election for State Senate. Here are the candidates:

• Maria (Republican)

• James (Democrat)

• Lisa (Republican)

• Karen (Independent)

Everyone votes. No one gets over 50%.
Maria (40%) and James (30%) got the most votes.
They go to a runoff, and voters pick between those two in the final election.