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General Election |
| State | Statutory Election Information |
| State Primary | |
| Alaska | • 4th Tuesday in August of every even-numbered year [AK Statutes 15.25.020] |
| 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.... 17-16-36.(b) If no candidate receives a majority of all of the votes cast in the primary election ... then there shall be held a second primary election on the sixth Tuesday following the primary election.... • (2006--) Section 17-13-3. Primary elections, except special primary elections and presidential preference primaries ... shall be held on the first Tuesday in June. Section 17-13-18. (b) If no candidate receives a majority of all of the votes cast ..., then there shall be held a second primary election on the sixth Tuesday following the primary election. |
| Arkansas | • per AR Code 7-7-203(a), what the statutes call a "General Primary Election" is held on the 2nd Tuesday in June prior to the General Election. [NOTE: this is, in fact, what would normally be called a "Runoff Election"]; per AR Code 7-7-203(b), what the statutes call a "Preferential Primary Election" is held exactly three (3) weeks prior to the so-called "General Primary Election". [NOTE: this is, in fact, what would normally be called a "(First) Primary Election" in those States with Runoff Elections] |
| Arizona | • (--2007) 8th Tuesday before any General or Special Election [AZ Revised Statutes 16-201]... except, Local Primary may be held no later than 30 days before a scheduled municipal election. [AZ Revised Statutes 16-203] • (2008-2009) 9th Tuesday prior to a general or special election [AZ Revised Statutes Title 16, Chapter 2, Article 1, 16-201]... except, Local Primary may be held no later than 30 days before a scheduled municipal election. [AZ Revised Statutes Title 16, Chapter 2, Article 1, 16-203] • (2009--) 10th Tuesday prior to a general or special election [AZ Revised Statutes Title 16, Chapter 2, Article 1, 16-201 SB 1074 s/13 July 2009]... except, Local Primary may be held no later than 30 days before a scheduled municipal election. [AZ Revised Statutes Title 16, Chapter 2, Article 1, 16-203] |
| California | • (--2004) 1st Tuesday in March of even-numbered years [CA Elections Code 1000c, 1201a] • (2005--) The first Tuesday after the first Monday in June in even-numbered years. [CA Elections Code 1000c, 1201a] Special Elections: The Governor shall call ... special elections .. within 14 calendar days of the occurrence of the vacancy [CA Elections Code 10700] A special election to fill a vacancy in the office of Representative in Congress, State Senator, or Member of Assembly shall be conducted on a Tuesday at least 112 days, but not more than 126 days, following the issuance of an election proclamation by the Governor ... [CA Elections Code 10703 (a)] A special primary ... shall be held ... on the eighth Tuesday or, if the eighth Tuesday is the day of or the day following a state holiday, the ninth Tuesday preceding the day of the special general election .... [CA Elections Code 10704 (a)] [or when] A statewide or local election ... is scheduled for the ninth Tuesday preceding the day of the special general election. [CA Elections Code 10704 (b)(2)] |
| Colorado | • 2nd Tuesday in August of even-numbered years [CO Revised Statutes 1-4-101(1)] |
| Connecticut | • (--2004) CONNECTICUT utilizes a system of so-called "challenge primaries" (a term used by political scientists to describe the process but not found among the actual wording of the statutes)...
• (2004--) CONNECTICUT utilizes a system of so-called "challenge primaries" (a term used by political scientists to describe the process but not found among the actual wording of the statutes)...
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| District of Columbia | • ... primary elections ... shall be held on the 1st Tuesday after the 2nd Monday in September ... [D.C. Official Code Division I. Title 1. Chapter 10. Elections. Subchapter I. Regulation of Elections. §1-1001.10(3)(A) and (C)] |
| Delaware | • Primary elections for all political parties shall be conducted on the second Tuesday in September. [Delaware Code, Title 15, Chapter 13, § 3101 (3)] |
| Florida | • (--2006) the Tuesday exactly 9 weeks before the General Election (FL Statutes 100.061) NOTE: Through the 2000 Elections, FLORIDA scheduled a potential "Second Primary" (that is, a runoff in all cases where no candidate achieved a majority of the vote in the Primary scheduled as above)- authorized by FL Statutes 100.091- for four weeks after the Primary (that is, 5 weeks before the General Election). In 2001, however, temporary uncodified legislation did away with this "Second Primary" for the 2002 Elections only while subsequent legislation, adopted in 2004, did away with Section 100.091 altogether. Thus, Florida no longer has a "second ballot" or runoff Primary system and has joined the majority of the States of the Union in making their Primary "first past the post" (that is, nomination by simple plurality). • (2007--) In each year in which a general election is held, a primary election for nomination of candidates of political parties shall be held on the Tuesday 10 weeks prior to the general election. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast in each contest in the primary election shall be declared nominated for such office. [FL Statutes 100.061] |
| Georgia | • 3d Tuesday in July in even-numbered years (Official Code of GA 21-2-150(a) ) except: when the above date falls during a week when one of the two Major Parties is holding its National Nominating Convention-- in which case: 2d Tuesday in July (Official Code of GA 21-2-150(b)(1) ) or when the above date (that in OCG 21-2-150(a) ) is in a year immediately following the release of US Census data re: the reapportionment/redistricting of Members of Congress or of the General Assembly (GA's legislature)-- in which case: next to last Tuesday in August (Official Code of GA 21-2-150(b)(2) ) [NOTE: the provision in OCG 21-2-150(b)(2)- the August primary date- is in force in 2002; for 2004, the July primary date will- presumably- be resumed] If no candidate should receive a majority of the vote in the primary held per the various sections of OCG 21-2-150, a "runoff" will be held on the date 21 days following the date of the State primary. |
| Guam | • The primary shall be held ... on the first Saturday of September in every even-numbered year. [Guam Code Annotated. Title 3: Elections Chapter 16: Conduct of Primary elections. §16201] The Organic Act of Guam, 48 U. S. C. §1422, provides, inter alia, that "[i]f no [slate of] candidates [for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Guam] receive[s] a majority of the votes cast in any election, ... a runoff election shall be held." |
| Hawaii | • 2nd to last Saturday in September in even-numbered years. (HI Revised Statutes 12-2) |
| Iowa | • The primary election by all political parties shall be held ... on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June in each even-numbered year. [Merged Iowa Code & Supplement 43.7] |
| Idaho | • (--2010) A primary election shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in May, 1980, and every two (2) years thereafter on the above-mentioned Tuesday. [ID Code 34-601(1)] • (2011--) A primary election shall be held on the third Tuesday in May, 2012, and every two years thereafter on the above-mentioned Tuesday. [ID Code 34-601(1)] |
| Illinois | • (--2007) 3d Tuesday in March in even-numbered years. (IL Compiled Statutes 10-5/2A-1.1(a) ) • (2007--) In even-numbered years ... an election to be known as the general primary election shall be held on the first Tuesday in February (IL Compiled Statutes 10-5/2A-1.1(a) ) |
| Indiana | • 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in May in even-numbered years. (IN Code 3-10-1-3) |
| Kansas | • 1st Tuesday in August in even-numbered years [KS Statutes 25-203] |
| Kentucky | • (KRS 118.025(3)) 1st Tuesday after 3rd Monday in May. (KRS 118.245) (1) The candidate for office, other than the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, receiving the highest number of votes in a primary election for the office for which he is a candidate shall be the nominee of his party for that office and shall receive the certificate of nomination. (2) A slate of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor that receives not less than forty percent (40%) of its party's votes cast shall be the nominee of its party for those offices and that slate of candidates shall receive the certificate of nomination; except that if two (2) slates of candidates receive forty percent (40%) or more of their party's votes, the slate receiving the higher number of votes shall be its party's nominee, and no runoff primary shall be conducted. (KSR 118.025 (4)) A runoff primary shall be held thirty-five (35) days after the date of the May primary, if it shall be necessary, pursuant to KRS 118.245, unless that date falls on a holiday; in that case, a runoff primary shall be held on the succeeding Tuesday. However, if either a primary election is contested or a recount of the votes cast in a primary is requested, a runoff primary shall be held on the first Tuesday following the thirty-fifth day following the conclusion of any contest proceeding or recount, if it shall be necessary, unless that date falls on a holiday; in that case, a runoff primary shall be held on the succeeding Tuesday. |
| Louisiana | • (--2006) for Federal office: 1st Saturday in October of even-numbered years [La. Revised Statutes 18:402B(1) (Note: Federal courts have ruled that this date violates Federal statute 2 USC 7 because it allows for candidates to be formally elected to Congress prior to the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, the date set for Congressional elections by that Federal statute) for State office: 2d to last Saturday in October of odd-numbered years [La. Revised Statutes 18:402A(1)] (this is the so-called "Open Primary" in which all candidates- regardless of Party- run against each other "all up" on one ballot; if a candidate should receive at least a majority of the total vote in this Primary, he/she is declared to have been elected and there is no election for the office in question come the General Election) • (2007--) SENATE BILL NO. 18 §1275.2 B. [RS 18:402 B (1)] Congressional first party primary elections shall be held on the first Saturday in September of an election year. [RS 18:402 B (2)] Congressional second party primary elections shall be held on the first Saturday in October of an election year. SENATE BILL NO. 18 §1275.14. A. In the event that no candidate receives a majority vote in the first party primary, the two candidates from each political party, who received the greatest number of votes in the first party primary shall be voted on in the second party primary. RS 18.402.G. Prohibited days. No election of any kind shall be held in this state on any of the days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkoth, Shimini Atzereth, Simchas Torah, the first two days and the last two days of Passover, Shavuoth, Fast of AV, the two days preceding Labor Day or the three days preceding Easter. If the date of any election falls on any of the above named days, the election shall be held on the same weekday of the preceding week. If the date of the election for a second party primary is advanced pursuant to this Subsection, the first party primary shall also be advanced by the same number of weeks. |
| Massachusetts | • State primaries shall be held on the seventh Tuesday preceding biennial state elections and on the fourth Tuesday preceding special state elections, except that primaries before special elections for senator or representative in congress shall be held on the sixth Tuesday preceding said elections. [The General Laws of Massachusetts, Title VIII, Chapter 53: Section 28.] |
| Maryland | • [Election Law §8–201] (a)(1) There shall be a statewide primary election in every even-numbered year. (2) A primary election shall be held: (i) in the year in which the Governor is elected, on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September. |
| Maine | • 2nd Tuesday of June of each general election year [Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Subchapter 1, section 339] |
| Michigan | • Tuesday immediately following the 1st Monday in August next preceding a General Election for a given office for which candidates are to be nominated in the Primary [MI Act 116 of 1954-168.534] |
| Minnesota | • The state primary shall be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September in each even-numbered year. [204D.03 Subdivision 1] |
| Missouri | • 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in August in even-numbered years [MO Revised Statutes 115.121.2] |
| Mississippi | • For local and state elections: The first primary shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of August preceding any regular or general election; and the second primary shall be held three (3) weeks thereafter. Any candidate who receives the highest popular vote cast for the office which he seeks in the first primary shall thereby become the nominee of the party for such office; provided also it be a majority of all the votes cast for that office. If no candidate receive such majority of popular votes in the first primary, then the two (2) candidates who receive the highest popular vote for such office shall have their names submitted as such candidates to a second primary, and the candidate who leads in such second primary shall be nominated to the office. When there is a tie in the first primary of those receiving next highest vote, these two (2) and the one (1) receiving the highest vote, none having received a majority, shall go into the second primary, and whoever leads in such second primary shall be entitled to the nomination. (Mississippi Code Ann. § 23-15-191) For Federal elections: ... the first primary election for Congressmen shall be held on the first Tuesday in June of the years in which congressmen are elected, and the second primary, when one is necessary, shall be held three (3) weeks thereafter. Each year in which a presidential election is held, the congressional primary shall be held as provided in Section 23-15-1081 (second Tuesday in March -Ed). (Mississippi Code Ann. § 23-15-1031) ... Any candidate who receives the highest popular vote cast for the office which he seeks in the first primary shall thereby become the nominee of the party for such office; provided also it be a majority of all the votes cast for that office. If no candidate receive such majority of popular votes in the first primary, then the two (2) candidates who receive the highest popular vote for such office shall have their names submitted as such candidates to a second primary, and the candidate who leads in such second primary shall be nominated to the office. When there is a tie in the first primary of those receiving next highest vote, these two (2) and the one (1) receiving the highest vote, none having received a majority, shall go into the second primary, and whoever leads in such second primary shall be entitled to the nomination. (Mississippi Code Ann. § 23-15-191) ... when a political party elects to conduct a presidential preference primary, the first primary election for congressmen, and senators, if senators are to be elected, shall be held on the second Tuesday in March, and the second primary, when one is necessary, shall be held three (3) weeks thereafter ... (Mississippi Code Ann. § 23-15-1083) |
| Montana | • 13-1-107. Times for holding primary elections. (1) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding the general election provided for in 13-1-104(1), a primary election shall be held throughout the state. [Montana Code Annotated] |
| North Carolina | • On Tuesday next after the first Monday in May preceding
each general election to be held in November [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-1. b.] If ... there is more than one person seeking nomination, the substantial plurality shall be ... forty percent (40%) .... the aspirant who obtains a substantial plurality shall be declared the nominee ... If two candidates receive a substantial plurality, the candidate receiving the highest vote shall be declared the nominee. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (a)(1)] If .. no aspirant receives a substantial plurality ... the aspirant receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared nominated ... unless the aspirant receiving the second highest number of votes shall request a second primary .... In the second primary only the two aspirants who received the highest and next highest number of votes shall be voted for. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (b)(1)] If a second primary is required ... the ... board ... shall order that it be held seven weeks after the first primary. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (3)(e)] |
| North Dakota | • Second Tuesday in June [NDCC § 16.1-11-01] |
| 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 (1) nominating all candidates to be voted for at the statewide general election except (a) candidates who were unopposed at the primary election and not required to be on the ballot and (b) candidates who petition on the ballot or are nominated by their political party, ... [State of Nebraska Statutes Section 32-401] |
| New Hampshire | • The state primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in September of every even-numbered year. [RSA 653:8] |
| New Jersey | • (1968--) The Tuesday immediately following the first Monday in June in even-numbered years. [19:2-1] ... 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 in which the adjustments are to occur. (A3186, 25 September 2008) [19:2-1] |
| New Mexico | • 1-8-11. Primary Election Law; time of holding primary. A primary election shall be held in each county in this state on the first Tuesday in June of each even-numbered year. [Statutory Chapters in New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978] |
| Nevada | • (--2009) The primary election must be held on the 12th Tuesday before the general election in each even-numbered year. [NRS 293.175 1.] • (2009--) The primary election must be held on the second Tuesday in June of each even-numbered year. [NRS 293.175] (Governor Gibbons signed SB 162 on 28 May 2009. The bill becomes effective 1 October 2009 and moves the primary from August to the second Tuesday in June). |
| New York | • A primary election, to be known as the fall primary, shall be held on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in September before every general election unless otherwise changed by an act of the legislature [CHAPTER SEVENTEEN OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS, ELECTION LAW, Article 8, Title 1, Section 8-100. 1. (a)] |
| Ohio | • Tuesday next after 1st Monday in May of non-Presidential Election years; Tuesday next after 1st Monday in March of Presidential Election years [OH Revised Code 3513.01(A)] |
| Oklahoma | • (--2003) 4th Tuesday in August of even-numbered years [OK Statutes 26-1-102] (if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the State Primary: Runoff-- 3d Tuesday in September following State Primary [OK Statutes 26-1-103]) • (2007--) A Primary Election shall be held on the last Tuesday in July of each even-numbered year... [OK Statutes 26-1-102] If ... no candidate ... receives a majority ... the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes ... shall be placed on the ... ballot ... at a Runoff Primary Election to be held on the fourth Tuesday of August ... [OK Statutes 26-1-103]) |
| Oregon | • 3d Tuesday in May of even-numbered years [OR Revised Statutes 254.056(2)] For non-partisan offices only: If a candidate receives a majority of the vote in the May primary, that candidate is elected. Otherwise, the top two vote getters go to a runoff in November. [OR Revised Statutes 249.088] |
| Pennsylvania | • even-numbered years...
3d Tuesday in May of non-Presidential Election years; 4th Tuesday in April of Presidential Election years [Unconsolidated PA Statutes 25-2753(a)... (NOTE: the 2000 State Primary [and, by extension (see above), PA's Presidential Primary] was specifically set for 4 April, which was the 1st Tuesday in April of that year, in section 25-2753(b1))] |
| Rhode Island | • 2d Tuesday after 1st Monday in September of even-numbered years [General Laws of RI 17-15-1]. Party designation. – (a) Whenever any person registers to vote, that person may designate his or her party affiliation, or that person may designate that he or she is not affiliated with any political party. ... (c) Whenever any person participates [votes -Ed] in a party primary, that act shall serve as identifying the person as being affiliated with the party... [General Laws of RI 17-9.1-23] |
| South Carolina | • 2d Tuesday in June of even-numbered years [Code of Laws of SC 7-13-15 (7-13-40)] "Second Primary" (a "runoff" where no candidate in the Primary has received at least a majority of the vote): two weeks after the State Primary (that is, the 4th Tuesday in June of even-numbered years) [Code of Laws of SC 7-13-50 (7-13-40)] |
| South Dakota | • (--2005) ... first Tuesday in June of every even-numbered year. [SD Codified Laws 12-2-1]. If no candidate for United States Senate, congressman, or Governor in a race involving three or more candidates receives thirty-five percent of the votes of his party, a secondary election shall be held two weeks from the date of the first primary election. At the secondary election the only persons voted for shall be the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at the first election. [SD Codified Laws 12-6-51.1]. • (2005--) The primary election ... shall be held ... on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June of every even-numbered year. [SD Codified Laws 12-2-1]. If no candidate for United States Senate, congressman, or Governor in a race involving three or more candidates receives thirty-five percent of the votes of his party, a secondary election shall be held two weeks from the date of the first primary election. At the secondary election the only persons voted for shall be the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at the first election. [SD Codified Laws 12-6-51.1]. |
| Tennessee | • 1st Thursday in August [TN Code 2-13-202] (NOTE: this date happens to be the one set aside for that known as the "regular August election" at which "judicial and other civil officers" are elected per TN Constitution Art. VII, sec. 5 and TN Code 2-3-202; TN Code 2-13-202 mandates the nomination of State and Federal officers at this "regular August election") |
| Texas | • "General Primary": 1st Tuesday in March of even-numbered years [TX Election Code 41.007(a)] "Runoff Primary" (re: races in which no candidate has received a majority of the vote in the "General Primary"): 2d Tuesday in April of even-numbered years [TX Election Code 41.007(b)] |
| Utah | • 4th Tuesday in June of even-numbered years [UT Code 20A-9-403(1)(a)] |
| Virginia | • (2004--) Primaries for the nomination of candidates for offices to be voted on at the general election date in November shall be held on the second Tuesday in June next preceding such election, except that beginning with the year 2004 and in presidential election years thereafter, primaries to choose among presidential candidates may be held as provided below in Article 7 (§ 24.2-544 et seq.) of this chapter on the second Tuesday in February. Primaries for the nomination of candidates for offices to be voted on at the general election date in May shall be held on the first Tuesday in March next preceding such election, except that beginning with the year 2004 and in presidential election years thereafter, primaries for the nomination of candidates for offices to be voted on at the general election date in May shall be held as described below in Article 7 of this chapter on the second Tuesday in February. [Code of Virginia § 24.2-515] |
| Virgin Islands | • Party primary elections shall be held in the Virgin Islands on the second Saturday of September for the purpose of choosing candidates for nomination to public offices to be voted for at the ensuing general election. [Title 18 Chapter 11 §232] |
| Vermont | • 2d Tuesday in September of even-numbered years [Vt. Statutes 2351] |
| Washington | • (--2006) 3d Tuesday in September or 7th Tuesday next preceding the General Election, whichever occurs first [Revised Code of WA 29.13.070] • (2007--) 3rd Tuesday in August [RCW 29A.04.311] |
| Wisconsin | • 2d Tuesday in September [WI Statutes 10.78(4)(c)1] • "Spring primary" ... held on the 3rd Tuesday in February to nominate nonpartisan candidates ... and 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)] "Spring election" ... held on the first Tuesday in April to elect ... nonpartisan ... [WI Statutes 5.02(21)] |
| West Virginia | • 2d Tuesday in May of even-numbered years [WV Code 3-5-1] |
| Wyoming | • Tuesday next after 3d Monday in August of even-numbered years [WY Statutes 22-2-104(b)] |
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