Does an independent candidate's name appear on the primary election ballot?

An independent candidate does not appear on the primary election ballot because primary elections are specifically designed for registered party members to select their nominees for the general election. Primaries allow political parties to determine their candidate for various offices, and as such, only individuals who are affiliated with a party can participate in that party's primary and have their names listed on the ballot.

In New Jersey, the primary election system requires candidates to be registered with a political party, which inherently excludes independent candidates from the primary ballot. They may run in the general election but would not have a presence during the primary voting process. Therefore, the assertion that the name of an independent candidate appears on the primary election ballot is incorrect, affirming that only registered party members participate in this electoral phase.