Which term refers to elections where voters cannot identify party affiliations?

The term "nonpartisan" refers to elections where voters are not required to identify party affiliations. In a nonpartisan election, candidates typically run without formal alignment to a political party, allowing voters to evaluate them based solely on their individual qualifications, platforms, or issues rather than party allegiance. This format is commonly seen in local or municipal elections, where the focus can be more on community issues rather than party ideologies.

In contrast, closed elections involve restrictions on who can vote in party primaries based on party affiliation, whereas special elections are held to fill vacancies or decide on specific issues and general elections are the standard elections for various offices where party affiliations are usually more prominent. The absence of party labels in nonpartisan elections fosters a more direct relationship between candidates and voters, emphasizing personal merit and policy over party loyalty.