The ASUA primary elections begin today, and come Friday, two presidential candidates will be eliminated from the race.

Alistair Chapman, Brian Raphel, Amanda Meaker and Josh Shapiro are running for ASUA president, but only two can move on to the general elections, March 3 and 4.

The student body president is chief executive officer, chief financial officer and representative for UA students.

Melanie Rainer, ASUA executive vice president, said it is important that students vote in the primaries.

"Usually, only a small percentage of students vote, and they are electing people to represent the entire student body," she said.

No one will be eliminated in the race for executive vice president and administrative vice president as there are only two candidates running for each position.

ASUA Sens. Blake Buchanan and Sara Birnbaum are competing for executive vice president, while Jordan Miller, Freshman Class Council director, and Clint Walls, former vice president of public relations for the Interfraternity Council, are running for administrative vice president.

Since only 20 students are running for senate, all will advance to the general elections, where 10 will be eliminated.

J.P. Benedict, student body president, said the primaries are significant because they illustrate where a candidate stands.

"It shows a candidate where their weaknesses are," Benedict said.

Dan Suh, ASUA elections commissioner, said the primaries are a good indication of how a candidate should approach the last week of campaigning.

"The primaries will tell candidates how they're doing, and if they should push forward their campaigns," Suh said.

Suh added that, in previous years, those who win the primaries usually go on to win the general elections.

This is the third year online voting will be used. Around 1,900 students voted in last year's primary, which was four times higher than in previous years.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow. The winners will be announced tomorrow at 9 p.m.

To vote, go to asua.arizona.edu.