P.R. Laws tit. 16, § 4115
The decision to hold primaries with regard to any candidacy for an elective public office rests with the central governing body of the political party concerned. No political party shall have to hold primaries with regard to any elective public office for which it does not wish to nominate a candidate.
In the event that the party determines that there are one or more offices for which the central governing body wishes to nominate a candidate, any voter who is a member of said political party shall be entitled to be considered by the central governing body concerned for nomination as an aspirant to any elective public office if he/she complies with the requirements provided by law to hold and/or aspire for such office. Every political party shall have to hold primaries in those cases in which there is more than one qualified candidate, as established herein.
(a) Automatic certification of candidates for senator or representative-at-large, or district senator or representative. — The Chair shall certify as candidates for senator or representative-at-large, or district senator or representative, any aspirant who meets all the requirements to participate in primaries, without the need to hold said primaries, in the following cases:
(1) If the number of aspirants is equal to or less than the number of candidates that the political party has notified the Commission it shall nominate for such offices in the next general election.
(2) If the number of aspirants is equal to or less than eleven (11), in those cases in which the political party has failed to notify the Commission how many candidates it shall nominate for senator or representative-at-large. In the case of district senators, this provision shall apply if the number of aspirants is equal to or less than two (2).
(b) Automatic certification of candidates for other elective public offices. — When only one aspirant has met the requirements to participate in the primaries of a specific political party for any elective public office other than senator or representative-at-large, or district senator, the Chair shall certify said aspirant as the candidate for said office of the political party concerned in the next general election.
Aspirants certified as candidates pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be required to submit endorsement petitions for primaries.
History —June 1, 2011, No. 78, § 8.005.