Democratic Timing Penalties and Bonuses

The Democratic National Committee approved the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2016 Democratic National Convention on 15 December 2014.

The party set dates for the pre-window states: Iowa-- may begin no earlier than 1 February 2016, New Hampshire-- 9 February 2016, Nevada-- 20 February 2016, and South Carolina-- 27 February 2016. The pre-windows states are designated with a ‡ in the table below. All other states may begin on 1 March 2016 (Stage I).

Delegate selection primaries, caucuses, and conventions will begin on the first Tuesday in March (Stage I - 1 March 2016). The Democrats will award states who begin their process in April (Stage II) with a 10% bonus. For those beginning in May or June (Stage III), a 20% bonus. Starting on the Tuesday 22 March 2016 (Stage I cluster), a 15% bonus is awarded when clusters of 3 or more neighboring states begin on the same date.

The Democratic jurisdictions are listed below in chronological order according to their "First Determining Step". Many of these events are primaries whose dates are established by state law.

 
 
Democratic
Alphabetically by State
(sorted by)
Jurisdiction
(sort)
Start Date
Start Date
Issue
Stage Date
Bonus
Cluster
Bonus
AlabamaTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
AlaskaSaturday 26 March 2016 Stage I cluster 15%
American SamoaTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
ArizonaTuesday 22 March 2016 Stage I cluster 15%
ArkansasTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
CaliforniaTuesday 7 June 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
ColoradoTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
ConnecticutTuesday 26 April 2016 Stage II cluster10% 
DelawareTuesday 26 April 2016 Stage II cluster10%15%
Democrats AbroadTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
District of ColumbiaTuesday 14 June 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
FloridaTuesday 15 March 2016 Stage I  
GeorgiaTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
GuamSaturday 7 May 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
HawaiiSaturday 26 March 2016 Stage I cluster 15%
IdahoTuesday 22 March 2016 Stage I cluster 15%
IllinoisTuesday 15 March 2016 Stage I  
IndianaTuesday 3 May 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
IowaMonday 1 February 2016    
KansasSaturday 5 March 2016 Stage I  
KentuckyTuesday 17 May 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
LouisianaSaturday 5 March 2016 Stage I  
MaineSunday 6 March 2016 Stage I  
MarylandTuesday 26 April 2016 Stage II cluster10%15%
MassachusettsTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
MichiganTuesday 8 March 2016 Stage I  
MinnesotaTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
MississippiTuesday 8 March 2016 Stage I  
MissouriTuesday 15 March 2016 Stage I  
MontanaTuesday 7 June 2016 Stage III cluster20%15%
NebraskaSaturday 5 March 2016 Stage I  
NevadaSaturday 20 February 2016    
New HampshireTuesday 9 February 2016    
New JerseyTuesday 7 June 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
New MexicoTuesday 7 June 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
New YorkTuesday 19 April 2016 Stage II cluster10% 
North CarolinaTuesday 15 March 2016 Stage I  
North DakotaTuesday 7 June 2016 Stage III cluster20%15%
Northern MarianasSaturday 12 March 2016 Stage I  
OhioTuesday 15 March 2016 Stage I  
OklahomaTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
OregonTuesday 17 May 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
PennsylvaniaTuesday 26 April 2016 Stage II cluster10%15%
Puerto RicoSunday 5 June 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
Rhode IslandTuesday 26 April 2016 Stage II cluster10% 
South CarolinaSaturday 27 February 2016    
South DakotaTuesday 7 June 2016 Stage III cluster20%15%
TennesseeTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
TexasTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
UnassignedJuly 2016    
UtahTuesday 22 March 2016 Stage I cluster 15%
VermontTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
Virgin IslandsSaturday 4 June 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
VirginiaTuesday 1 March 2016 Stage I  
WashingtonSaturday 26 March 2016 Stage I cluster 15%
West VirginiaTuesday 10 May 2016 Stage III cluster20% 
WisconsinTuesday 5 April 2016 Stage II cluster10% 
WyomingSaturday 9 April 2016 Stage II cluster10% 
 

Circa or presumably-- an unofficial date. An unconfirmed Presidential Primary established by currently-effective State statute or introduced bill; or- where the foregoing information could not be obtained- the state's prior delegate selection process and associated dates adjusted to the corresponding dates in the current year.

‡ Pre-window state.

 


  Election 2016 - Presidential Primary, Caucus, and Convention Home  
 
  Presidential Candidates  
 
  States Alphabetically  
  Events Chronologically  
  Major Events Chronologically  
  Democratic "First Determining Step" Chronologically  
  Poll Closing Times Chronologically   --   Poll Closing Times Alphabetically  
 
  Chronological Cumulative Allocation of Delegates  
  Weekly Delegate Distribution and Availability  
 
Delegate Counts
  Democratic Pledged and Unpledged Summary   --   Republican Pledged and Unpledged Summary  
  Democratic Hard and Soft Summary   --   Republican Hard and Soft Summary  
  Democratic Hard and Floor Summary   --   Republican Hard and Floor Summary  
  Democratic Unpledged Delegate Preferences  
Commentary: THE TIES THAT BIND-- OR DO THEY? or, Politicus Unbound
 
Delegate Allocation
  Democratic Quick Reference   --   Republican Quick Reference  
  The Math Behind the Democratic Delegate Allocation   --   The Math Behind the Republican Delegate Allocation  
  Democratic Timing Penalties and Bonuses   --   Republican Timing Penalties  
 
  Democratic Delegate Pledging and Voter Eligibility   --   Republican Delegate Selection and Voter Eligibility  
 
  Primaries at a Glance  
 
  Results Status and Date Retrieved  
 
Documentation
  Historical Analysis of the Presidential Nominating Process  
  Historical Analysis of the apportionment of delegate votes at the National Conventions of the two major parties  
  Primary/Caucus/Convention Glossary  
  Statutory Election Information of the Several states / Presidential Primary  
  Dates of PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES re: selection and/or allocation/distribution of Delegates to Major Party National Conventions  
 
  Straw Polls  
 
  (download)