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General Election |
| State | Statutory Election Information |
| Presidential Primary | |
| Alaska | • (--1984) None... Presidential Primary legislation [AK Statutes 15.25.220-15.25.280] repealed, 1984 |
| Alabama | • (--2006) Section 17-16-6. Presidential preference primaries and primary elections, except special primary elections ... shall be held on the first Tuesday in June.... • (2007--) Section 17-13-100 (a) Primary elections for the purpose of determining the preferred candidates for President of the United States shall be held the first Tuesday in February each year in which a President is to be elected beginning in the year 2008. (c) (2) Qualified electors in Mobile County, Baldwin County, and any county that recognizes Mardi Gras as a county holiday may vote in the presidential preference primary on the Wednesday preceding the first Tuesday in February. (4) When early voting is provided, votes on that day shall be counted by poll workers at the voting centers and the results shall be sealed without disclosure... such results shall remain sealed until the first Tuesday in February, when the final tabulation and canvassing shall be conducted, after which all results shall be announced at the same time. |
| Arkansas | • What the statutes call a "Preferential Primary Election" is required for the selection of delegates to any Party's quadrennial National Nominating Convention. [AR Code 7-8-201]... [NOTE: the clear implication being that the date of the resultant Presidential Primary would be the same as that of such a "Preferential Primary Election" as stated in AR Code 7-7-203(b). Hence, the "Preferential Primary Election" is held 3 weeks [AR Code 7-7-203(b)] prior to the 2nd Tuesday in June "General Primary Election" [AR Code 7-7-203(a)].] |
| Arizona | • (NOTE: called a "Presidential Preference Election" in the Statutes) 4th Tuesday in February of a Presidential Election year [AZ Revised Statutes 16-241A]...however, the Governor may- by proclamation- proclaim an earlier date provided that he/she does so prior to 150 days before the new date of the "Presidential Preference Election" as declared in his/her proclamation [AZ Revised Statutes 16-241B] |
| California | • (--2004) at the same time as the State Primary [1st Tuesday in March in even-numbered years (CA Elections Code 1000c, 1201a)] in Presidential Election years [CA Elections Code 1000c, 1202] • (2005-2007) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in June in Presidential Election years [CA Elections Code 1000c, 1202]. • (2007--) The first Tuesday in February of each year evenly divisible by the number four. [CA Elections Code 1000 (e)]. The presidential primary shall be held on the first Tuesday in February in any year evenly divisible by the number four, and shall not be consolidated with the statewide direct primary held in that year. [CA Elections Code 1201] |
| Colorado | • Friday next after 1st Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years [CO Revised Statutes 1-4-1202(1)] |
| Connecticut | • (--2007) 1st Tuesday of March in Presidential Election years (CT General Statutes 9-464) • (2007--) On the first Tuesday in February of each year in which the President of the United States is to be elected, each party shall conduct a primary in each town if the names of two or more candidates are to be placed on such party's ballot ... (CT General Statutes Section 1. Section 9-464) |
| District of Columbia | • (2003--) ... the primary under ... shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday in January of each presidential election year. [D.C. Official Code Division I. Title 1. Chapter 10. Elections. Subchapter I. Regulation of Elections. §1-1001.01(4)] |
| Delaware | • ... a presidential primary election for major political parties shall be conducted on the first Tuesday in February in the calendar year of a presidential election. [Delaware Code, Title 15, Chapter 31, § 3181 (1)] |
| Florida | • (--2007) 2nd Tuesday in March in each year which is a multiple of 4 (FL Statutes 103.101) • (2008--) Last Tuesday in January in each year which is a multiple of 4 (FL Statutes 103.101) |
| Georgia | • (--2007) 1st Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years (Official Code of GA 21-2-191) • (2007--) As provided in this article, a presidential preference primary shall be held in 2008 and every four years thereafter for each political party or body which has cast for its candidates for President and Vice President in the last presidential election more than 20 percent of the total vote cast for President and Vice President in the state ... Such primary shall be held on February 5, 2008, and on the first Tuesday in February every four years thereafter. (Official Code of GA 21-2-191) |
| Hawaii | • None. |
| Iowa | • (for Political party precinct caucuses -Ed) Delegates to county conventions of political parties and party committee members shall be elected at precinct caucuses held not later than the fourth Monday in February of each even-numbered year. The date shall be at least eight days earlier than the scheduled date for any meeting, caucus or primary which constitutes the first determining stage of the presidential nominating process in any other state, territory or any other group which has the authority to select delegates in the presidential nomination. [Merged Iowa Code & Supplement 43.4] |
| Idaho | • same date as the State Primary [4th Tuesday in May in even-numbered years. (ID Code 34-601(1) ) ] in Presidential Election years. (ID Code 34-601(4) ) |
| Illinois | • (--2007) same as date of State Primary [3d Tuesday in March in even-numbered years. (IL Compiled Statutes 10-5/2A-1.1(a) )] in Presidential Election years. (IL Compiled Statutes 10-5/7-5(a) ) • (2007--) same as date of State Primary [first Tuesday in February in even-numbered years. (IL Compiled Statutes 10-5/2A-1.1(a) )] in Presidential Election years. (IL Compiled Statutes 10-5/7-5(a) ) |
| Indiana | • Same date as the State Primary [1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in May in even-numbered years. (IN Code 3-10-1-3)] in Presidential Election years. (implied by the setup of the Primary Ballot required by IN Code 3-10-1-19) |
| Kansas | • on or before the 1st Tuesday in April in Presidential Election years (only if, by 1 November of the immediately preceding year, no "common date" shared with at least five other States holding presidential primaries or delegate selection caucuses or conventions has been adopted) [KS Statutes 25-4501] |
| Kentucky | • ... the first Tuesday after the third Monday in May, in each presidential election year (KRS 118.561(1)) |
| Louisiana | • (2007--) A statewide presidential preference primary election shall be held on the second Saturday in February ... except when a legal holiday falls on the second Tuesday of February, in which case, the presidential preference primary election shall be held on the third Saturday in February. [RS 18:1280.21 A.] [The legal holiday refers to Mardi Gras. -Ed] |
| Massachusetts | • Presidential primaries shall be held on the first Tuesday in March in any year in which presidential electors are to be elected. [The General Laws of Massachusetts, Title VIII, Chapter 53: Section 28.] |
| Maryland | • (--2007) [Election Law §8–201] (a) (2) A primary election shall be held: (ii) in the year in which the President of the United States is elected, on the first Tuesday in March. • (2007--) [Election Law §8–201] (a) (2) A primary election shall be held: (ii) in the year in which the President of the United States is elected, on the first Tuesday in February. |
| Michigan | • (--2007) 4th Tuesday in February in Presidential Election years [MI Act 116 of 1954-168.613a (1)] A political party that received 5% or less of the total vote cast nationwide for the office of president in the last presidential election shall not participate in the presidential primary election. [MI Act 116 of 1954-168.613a (2)] • (2007--) ... a presidential primary shall be conducted under this act on January 15, 2008, and on the fourth Tuesday in February in each following presidential election year. [MI Act 116 of 1954-168.613a (1)] ... If the secretary of state determines that all participating political parties are using a method other than the results of the January 15, 2008 presidential primary, the secretary of state shall cancel the presidential primary ... [MI Act 116 of 1954-168.613a (2)] A political party that received less than 20% of the total vote cast in this state for the office of president in the last presidential election shall not participate in the presidential primary. [MI Act 116 of 1954-168.613a (3)] |
| Missouri | • (--2007) ... an election for a presidential primary held pursuant to sections 115.755 to 115.785 shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each presidential election year. [MO Revised Statutes 115.123.2] • (2007--) A statewide presidential preference primary shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February of each presidential election year. [MO Revised Statutes 115.755] |
| Mississippi | • A presidential preference primary may be held on the second Tuesday in March of each year in which a President of the United States is to be elected. (Mississippi Code Ann. § 23-15-1081.) |
| Montana | • 13-10-401. ... a presidential preference primary election will be held on the same day as the primary provided for in 13-1-107 [the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June]. [Montana Code Annotated] |
| North Carolina | • (1992--) On the Tuesday after the first Monday in May, 1992, and every four years thereafter, the voters of this State shall be given an opportunity to express their preference for the person to be the presidential candidate of their political party. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter § 163‑213.2.] |
| Nebraska | • The statewide primary election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in May in even-numbered years. The statewide primary election shall be held for the purposes of ... (2) electing delegates to the county, state, and national political party conventions, if applicable, (3) in each presidential election year, voting on a preference for President of the United States, ... [State of Nebraska Statutes Section 32-401] |
| New Hampshire | • (--2007) The presidential primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in March or on a Tuesday selected by the secretary of state which is 7 days or more immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election, whichever is earlier, of each year when a president of the United States is to be elected or the year previous. [RSA 653:9] • (2007--) The presidential primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in March or on a date selected by the secretary of state which is 7 days or more immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election, whichever is earlier, of each year when a president of the United States is to be elected or the year previous. [RSA 653:9] [The law no longer requires the primary to be held on a Tuesday in the year of the Presidential election. -Ed] |
| New Jersey | • (2005-2007) The last Tuesday in February in Presidential election years (A30, SB1297 / S2402, 7 July 2005) [19:2-1] • (2007-2008) The first Tuesday in February in Presidential election years (S2193, 1 April 2007) [19:2-1] • (2009--) Presidential primary elections ... shall be held in each presidential year on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in February ... the Secretary of state may change the date ... if the date coincides with a period of religious observance ... the secretary shall inform the ... boards of election of the adjustment no later than the first working day in January of the year prior ... (A3186, 25 September 2008) [19:2-1] |
| New Mexico | • 1-8-54. Presidential primary; date of election. In the year in which the president and vice president of the United States are to be elected, the registered voters of this state shall be given an opportunity to express their preference for the person to be the presidential candidate of their party in either a presidential primary election or in accordance with the selection procedure for presidential candidates of each voter's party. The presidential primary election shall be held on the same date as the primary election is held in this state. [Statutory Chapters in New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978] |
| New York | • (--2007) In each year in which electors of president and vice president of the United States are to be elected an additional primary election, to be known as the spring primary, shall be held on the first Tuesday in March unless otherwise changed by an act of the legislature, for the purpose of electing delegates to the national convention, members of state and county committees and assembly district leaders and associate assembly district leaders. [CHAPTER SEVENTEEN OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS, ELECTION LAW, Article 8, Title 1, Section 8-100. 1. (a)] • (2007--) In each year in which electors of president and vice president of the United States are to be elected, an additional primary election, to be known as the winter primary, shall be held on the first Tuesday in February unless otherwise changed by an act of the legislature, for the purpose of electing delegates to the national convention. [CHAPTER SEVENTEEN OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS, ELECTION LAW, Article 8, Title 1, Section 8-100. 1. (a)] |
| Ohio | • at the same time as the State Primary (Tuesday next after 1st Monday in March) in Presidential Election years [OH Revised Code 3513.12] |
| Oklahoma | • (--2003) 2d Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years [OK Statutes 26-20-101] • (2003--) A. A Presidential Preferential Primary for recognized political parties shall be held on the first Tuesday in February in each of the years in which the President and Vice President of the United States are to be elected. B. If one or more states having a mutual boundary with this state establish a single date for a regional primary, the State Election Board is authorized to change the date of the Oklahoma primary to the date established for the regional primary [OK Statutes 26-20-101] |
| Oregon | • at the same time as the State Primary [3d Tuesday in May (OR Revised Statutes 254.056(2)] in Presidential Election years [implied by the language of OR Revised Statutes 248.315(1)] |
| Pennsylvania | • at the same time as the State Primary in Presidential Election years (4th Tuesday in April... but see NOTE re: State Primary) [Unconsolidated PA Statutes 25-2753(a)] |
| Rhode Island | • (1996--) 1st Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years [General Laws of RI 17-12.1-1] |
| South Carolina | • NOTE: State Committee of Party wishing to hold a Presidential (either Preference or Advisory) Primary alone determines the date and polling hours of same [Code of Laws of SC 7-11-20 & 7-11-25] |
| South Dakota | • at the same time as the State Primary [1st Tuesday in June of even-numbered years (SD Codified Laws 12-2-1)] in Presidential Election years [SD Codified Laws 12-5-3.11-- which provides that, in the absence of any other method of choosing National Convention delegates and alternates by a Party, said positions shall be elected in the State Primary] |
| Tennessee | • (--2003) 2d Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years [TN Code 2-13-205] • (2003-2007) On the second Tuesday in February before presidential electors are elected, a presidential preference primary shall be held for each statewide political party. [TN Code 2-13-205] • (2007--) On the first Tuesday in February before presidential electors are elected, a presidential preference primary shall be held for each statewide political party. [TN Code 2-13-205] |
| Texas | • 1st Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years [TX Election Code 41.007(c)] |
| Utah | • (--2006) Friday next after 1st Monday in March of Presidential Election years [UT Code 20A-9-802(1)(a)] • (2006--) There is established a Western States Presidential Primary election to be held on the first Tuesday in February in the year in which a presidential election will be held. [UT Code 20A-9-802(1)(a)] |
| Virginia | • (2004--) Primaries for the nomination of candidates for the office of President of the United States to be voted on at the November 2004 general election, and the November general election in each presidential election year thereafter, shall be held on the second Tuesday in February preceding the November general election. [Code of Virginia § 24.2-544.A] |
| Vermont | • 1st Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years [VT Statutes 2701] |
| Washington | • 4th Tuesday in May of Presidential Election years... however, the Secretary of State may propose an alternative date no later than 1 August of the preceding year [Revised Code of WA 29.19.020(1) RCW 29A.56.020(1)]... or a Major Party state committee may propose an alternative date no later than 1 September of the preceding year [Revised Code of WA 29.19.020(2) RCW 29A.56.020(2)]... provided that any such alternative date then be approved by two-thirds vote of a committee- one consisting of the Secretary of State (who chairs said committee), the chair and vice-chair of each Major Party and the Party leaders of each house of the Legislature- no later than 1 October of the preceding year. [Revised Code of WA 29.19.020(3) RCW 29A.56.020(3)] |
| Wisconsin | • "Spring primary" ... held on the 3rd Tuesday in February ... to express preferences for the person to be the presidential candidate for each party in a year in which electors for president and vice president are to be elected. [WI Statutes 5.02(22)] |
| West Virginia | • at the same time as the State Primary [2d Tuesday in May of even-numbered years (WV Code 3-5-1)] in Presidential Election years [WV Code 3-5-3] |
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