Democratic Timing Penalties and Bonuses

On 2 December 2022, the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee announced their recommendations for the "pre-window" 2024 Presidential Primary states.

  • South Carolina on Saturday 3 February 2024 (at another point in the meeting, the date mentioned was Tuesday 6 February).
  • Nevada and New Hampshire on Tuesday 6 February (at another point in the meeting, the date mentioned was Tuesday 13 February).
  • Georgia on Tuesday 13 February (at another point in the meeting, the date was Tuesday 20 February).
  • Michigan on Tuesday 27 February.

The remaining states can begin on the first Tuesday in March (5 March 2024) through the second Tuesday in June (11 June).

By 5 January 2023, each of the early states must show that they are taking the necessary steps to meet the above dates. If they fail to do so, they will be required to move to the 5 March to 11 June window.

All states must submit their delegate selection plans for their "first determining step" by 1 March 2023. The full Delegate Selection Plans are due 3 May 2023.


The DNC RBC met virtually on Wednesday 25 January 2023 at 6p EST to vote on extending the New Hampshire and Georgia waiver compliance deadline. The deadlines were so extended to 3 June 2023 by a vote of 25-0. South Carolina, Nevada, and Michigan have met the requirements.

The Democratic National Committee held its Winter 2023 meeting on 2-4 February 2023. On 4 February, the DNC ratified the RBC's recommendations on the pre-window waivers for the 2024 presidential nominating calendar.


References: Call for Convention for the 2024 Democratic National Convention (10 September 2022) and Delegate Selection Rules for the 2024 Democratic National Convention (10 September 2022).

Delegate selection primaries, caucuses, and conventions will begin on the first Tuesday in March (Stage I - 5 March 2024). 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 26 March 2024 (Stage I cluster), a 15% bonus is awarded when clusters of 3 or more neighboring states begin on the same date [Call to Convention I.C.].

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
Chronologically
(sort)
Jurisdiction
(sorted by)
Start Date
Start Date
Issue
Stage Date
Bonus
Cluster
Bonus
New HampshireTuesday 23 January 2024Must be 6 February   
South CarolinaSaturday 3 February 2024    
NevadaTuesday 6 February 2024    
MichiganTuesday 27 February 2024    
AlabamaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
American SamoaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
ArkansasTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
CaliforniaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
ColoradoTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
IowaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
MaineTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
MassachusettsTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
MinnesotaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
North CarolinaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
OklahomaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
TennesseeTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
TexasTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
UtahTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
VermontTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
VirginiaTuesday 5 March 2024 Stage I  
HawaiiWednesday 6 March 2024 Stage I  
Democrats AbroadTuesday 12 March 2024 Stage I  
GeorgiaTuesday 12 March 2024 Stage I  
MississippiTuesday 12 March 2024 Stage I  
Northern MarianasTuesday 12 March 2024 Stage I  
WashingtonTuesday 12 March 2024 Stage I  
ArizonaTuesday 19 March 2024 Stage I  
FloridaTuesday 19 March 2024 Stage I  
IllinoisTuesday 19 March 2024 Stage I  
KansasTuesday 19 March 2024 Stage I  
OhioTuesday 19 March 2024 Stage I  
LouisianaSaturday 23 March 2024 Stage I  
MissouriSaturday 23 March 2024 Stage I  
North DakotaSaturday 30 March 2024 Stage I  
ConnecticutTuesday 2 April 2024 Stage II cluster10%15%
DelawareTuesday 2 April 2024 Stage II cluster10% 
New YorkTuesday 2 April 2024 Stage II cluster10%15%
Rhode IslandTuesday 2 April 2024 Stage II cluster10%15%
WisconsinTuesday 2 April 2024 Stage II cluster10% 
AlaskaSaturday 13 April 2024 Stage II cluster10% 
WyomingSaturday 13 April 2024 Stage II cluster10% 
PennsylvaniaTuesday 23 April 2024 Stage II cluster10% 
Puerto RicoSunday 28 April 2024 Stage II cluster10% 
IndianaTuesday 7 May 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
MarylandTuesday 14 May 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
NebraskaTuesday 14 May 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
West VirginiaTuesday 14 May 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
KentuckyTuesday 21 May 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
OregonTuesday 21 May 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
IdahoThursday 23 May 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
District of ColumbiaTuesday 4 June 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
MontanaTuesday 4 June 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
New JerseyTuesday 4 June 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
New MexicoTuesday 4 June 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
South DakotaTuesday 4 June 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
GuamSaturday 8 June 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
Virgin IslandsSaturday 8 June 2024 Stage III cluster20% 
UnassignedMonday 19 August 2024 (presumably)    
 

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.

 


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Delegate Counts
  Democratic Pledged and Unpledged Summary   --   Republican Pledged and Unpledged Summary  
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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  
....
  Estimating the Delegate Count  
....

 
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  
 
  (download)