A general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election.

The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by elections and local elections.

General elections are held in even numbered years, on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.

A primary election is an election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election (nominating primary). In other words, primary elections are generally when each political party decides its nominee for the upcoming general election. Primaries are common in the United States, where they trace their origin to the progressive movement. 

Elsewhere in the world, the nomination of candidates is usually the responsibility of political parties and does not make use of the public apparatus

for holding elections. The Primary Election in Iowa is a “Closed” primary, meaing a voter must affiliate formally with a political party in order to participate in that party's primary election. A primary election is held for the members of political parties to nominate candidates

for the general election.

The term “primary election” when it is used in the Code of Iowa, refers to the Primary Election held in June of even-numbered years. The primary election is held on the 1st Tuesday following the 1st Monday in June.

The regular City/School Election includes the regular city election and the regular school election, as well as the election of community college directors. 

• A city election is used to elect the Mayor and Council Members for specific cities in Clay County.
• School elections are used to elect school board members for specific school districts located in and adjacent to Clay County.
• City, schools, merged areas and counties can include public measures on the regular city/school election ballot.

City/School Elections are held in odd numbered years, on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.

A Special Election is any election that is not a regular scheduled election called for by any taxing authority in Clay County for specific purposes as defined by the Code of Iowa.