A win in the primary election is usually a ticket to the general election.
But for some candidates in today's primary, it may mark the end of campaigning.
Among today's eight races, two will determine winners for positions normally decided in the general election.
The two races are the sheriff's race, between Sheriff Sadie Darnell and Lonnie Scott, and the property appraiser race, in which incumbent Ed Crapo is running against Alonzo Victor Perkins.
The four candidates are Democrats, and since there are no Republican candidates running for the positions.
This makes it a universal primary, meaning it opens voting up to members of different parties.
It also means today's primary determines the winner, said Pam Carpenter, supervisor of elections of Alachua County.
This year's universal primary contests could be attributed to a lack of Republican candidates.
Only two Republican nominees - both running for the state representative nomination - are on the ballot for the primary, compared with eight Democrats.
Alachua County does have a majority of Democrats, with registered voters consisting of 52 percent Democrats and 28 percent Republicans, as determined by numbers from Carpenter.
Carpenter said she hopes fewer Republican candidates on the ballot this year won't deter voters from going to the polls.
"Voting in any election is important if you want a voice in your government," she said. "There are plenty of races for people to come out and vote for."
The primary results after today will also determine the Democratic nominee for the District 1 county commission seat, and the Democratic and Republican nominees for the District 10 state representative.
Nonpartisan races for school board members for Districts 2 and 4 will also be decided.
The county judge race could also be determined after today's election.
A complete list of local primary candidates
| Name of Candidate | Party Affiliation | Desired Office | Incumbent? | Who can vote |
| Ed Crapo | D | Property Appraiser | Yes | Any party |
| Sadie Darnell | D | Sheriff | Yes | Any party |
| Eileen Roy | Nonpartisan | School Board District 2 | Yes | Any party |
| Janie S. Williams | Nonpartisan | School Board District 4 | Yes | Any party |
| Leonard L. Bembry | D | State Rep. for District 10 | No | Only Democrats |
| Richard J. (Rick) Bryant | D | County Commissioner District 1 | No | Only Democrats |
| Mike Byerly | D | County Commissioner District 1 | No | Only Democrats |
| Jeannine Murphey Cawthon | Nonpartisan | School Board District 2 | No | Any party |
| Julie Conley | D | State Rep. for District 10 | No | Only Democrats |
| Don Curtis | R | State Rep. for District 10 | No | Only Republicans |
| Denise Ferrero | Nonpartisan | County Judge (Group 2) | No | Any party |
| Rob Groeb | Nonpartisan | County Judge (Group 2) | No | Any party |
| Alonzo Victor Perkins | D | Property Appraiser | No | Any party |
| Lonnie Scott | D | Sheriff | No | Any party |
| Barbara Sharpe | Nonpartisan | School Board District 4 | No | Any party |
| Lorraine H. Sherman | Nonpartisan | County Judge (Group 2) | No | Any party |
| Rhonda DeCambre Stroman | Nonpartisan | County Judge (Group 2) | No | Any party |
| Mike Williams | R | State Rep. for District 10 | No | Only Republicans |
