1.9 Partisan and non-partisan elections

• Nonpartisan elections - candidate is eligible based on her or his own merits rather than as a member of a political party. No political affiliation is shown on the ballot next to a candidate.

• Nonpartisan elections are common e.g.: 1) in the election of judges (e.g. in the U.S.), or 2) for local government offices such as: municipal and county offices.

• In some nonpartisan elections, it is common knowledge which candidates are backed by which parties; in others, parties are uninvolved and voters make choices with no regard to partisan considerations.

IOWA judges selection: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8nrcissdbhym9df/JNP_KnowYourCourts_2015.pdf?dl=0