Important Dates for the Party Conventions, Primary Elections and General Election
| September 2023 | |
|---|---|
September 12, 2023 |
First day the county chairs may accept applications for a place on the ballot, for the office of precinct chair. TEC § 172.023(b). |
| November 2023 | |
November 11, 2023 |
First day the Republican or Democratic Party candidate may file an application for a place on the primary ballot. TEC § 172.023(b). |
| December 2023 | |
December 1, 2023 |
If there is a vacancy for an unexpired term in a state or county office after the 10th day before the candidacy filing deadline, but on or before the 5th day before the deadline (on or after December 1 and on or before December 6), an application for the unexpired term is subject to an extended filing deadline. See entry at December 18, 2023. TEC § 202.004(a), (c). |
December 6, 2023 |
Last day a vacancy for an unexpired term may occur, for that seat to appear on the primary ballot. TEC § 202.004(a). |
December 10, 2023 |
Deadline for the county chair (or the secretary of the county executive committee) to post, on the political party's Internet website or where a candidate files their application, a notice containing the addresses at which the county chair and the secretary will be accepting applications on the last day for filing an application. TEC § 172.022(b). |
December 11, 2023 |
Last day Democratic or Republican Party candidates may file an application for a place on the primary ballot (6 p.m.). TEC § 172.023(a). Last day the county chairs may accept applications for the office of county or precinct chair (6 p.m.). TEC § 172.023(a). Last day minor party candidates may file applications and submit filing fee or petition in lieu of filing fee to applicable filing authority in order to be nominated by convention (6 p.m.). TEC § 181.033(a). A political party, by rule, may extend the filing deadline for applications for nomination for an office for which a candidate withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible. TEC § 181.033(b). |
December 12, 2023 |
If a candidate withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible by this date, the candidate’s name is omitted from the primary ballot. TEC §§ 172.057(a), 172.058(a). |
December 18, 2023 |
Deadline for the state or county chair, as applicable, to receive applications under an extended filing period due to a vacancy for an unexpired term in a state or county office, that occurred after the 10th day before the candidacy filing deadline, but on or before the 5th day before the deadline (on or after December 1 and on or before December 6, 2023), TEC § 202.004(a), (c). (This deadline is extended to Monday, December 18, 2023 by TEC § 1.006 due to the 5th day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election falling on Saturday, December 16.)
(This deadline is extended to Monday, December 18, 2023 by TEC § 1.006 due to the 5th day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election falling on Saturday, December 16.) NOTE: An application filed by mail with the state chair under this Extended Deadline provision is not timely, if received later than 5:00 p.m. on the Extended Deadline. Last day candidates may file a declaration of write-in candidacy for county or precinct chair if write-ins are authorized by the county executive committee (6 p.m.). TEC § 171.0231(d). (This deadline is extended to Monday, December 18, 2023 by TEC § 1.006 due to the 5th day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election falling on Saturday, December 16.) |
December 19, 2023 |
Deadline for the state chair to certify to the Secretary of State (SOS), the name of each candidate who files an application for a place on the primary ballot that complies with TEC § 172.021(b) on or before December 11, 2023. TEC § 172.028(a); 1 TAC 81.112(a)(4). |
December 20, 2023 |
Date SOS anticipates posting the certified list, provided by state chairs, of candidates who filed on or before December 11, 2023, on its public website. TEC § 172.028(a). Deadline for the state chair to notify the county chair of each county in which the candidate will appear on the ballot that the certified list has been posted by SOS. TEC § 172.028(b). See entry at December 21, 2023 for supplemental notification of certification of candidates who filed with the state chair on or before the Extended Deadline of December 18, 2023. Deadline for the state executive committee to set the date, hour, and place for convening the state convention. TEC §§ 174.092, 174.093. NOTE: TEC § 174.092(b) provides that the state executive committee must set the date, hour, and place for convening the state convention not later than the date the state chair delivers to the county chairs the certification of names to be placed on the general primary ballot. However, the state chair no longer certifies names of the district and statewide candidates for the primary ballot to county chairs. Instead, the state chair certifies candidate names to the Secretary of State, which posts candidate names on its website. TEC § 172.028(b) provides that the state chair must notify the county chair in each county not later than the 9th day after the regular filing deadline that the certification has been posted by Secretary of State. Accordingly, the calendar continues to show the 9th day after the regular filing deadline as the deadline for state executive committee to set the date, hour, and place for convening the state convention. Deadline for the chair to post notice on the commissioners court bulletin board 24 hours before the date, hour, and place of the ballot drawing if the drawing is conducted on December 21, 2023. If the party has a website, they must post notice on the party’s website. All candidates who provide an email address on their filing form must be notified electronically. TEC § 172.082(e). |
December 21, 2023 |
Deadline for the county chair or county chair’s designee to conduct the drawing for the order of candidates on the ballot at the county seat (unless the committee provides by resolution that the county executive committee is to conduct drawing). TEC § 172.082(c). Recommended deadline for the state chair to certify to SOS the list of candidates who filed an application that complies with Section 172.021(b) of the TEC after December 11, 2023 and on or before December 18, 2023. TEC §§ 172.028(a), 172.029. NOTE: The purpose of this recommendation is to ensure that candidates whose applications are filed in accordance with the Extended Deadlines under TEC § 202.004(a) and TEC § 172.054(b) are added to the list of certified candidates previously submitted by the state chair to the SOS. See entries at December 18, 2023 and December 27, 2023. |
December 27, 2023 |
Date by which Secretary of State anticipates posting on Secretary of State’s Internet website, that is viewable by the public, additions to the certified list of candidates provided by state chair that are the result of the additional candidates who filed on or before December 18, 2023 in accordance with the Extended Deadlines. TEC §§ 172.028(a), 172.029. Recommended date for state chair to notify county chair in each county in which the candidate’s name is to appear on the ballot that certification of additional candidates who filed by the Extended Deadline on or before December 18, 2023 has been posted by Secretary of State. TEC §§ 172.028(b), 172.056, See entries at December 18, 2023 and December 21, 2023. |
| January 2024 | |
January 1, 2024 |
First day for voters to submit an application for a ballot by mail for March 5 primary election, or for both the March 5 primary election and May 28 runoff primary election. TEC §§ 84.001(e), 84.007. |
January 3, 2024 |
Recommended deadline for the county chair and the state chair to electronically submit certain candidate information (including information on candidates for county and precinct chair) to the county election officer, the state chair, and the SOS. TEC § 172.029(c). Recommended date for the county chair to submit the ballot format to the primary committee for its approval, and for the county chair to order ballots. TEC §§ 86.004(b), 172.083. |
January 20, 2024 |
Deadline for the early voting clerk to mail ballots for the primary election to those overseas voters from whom the clerk has already received applications for ballots by mail or federal postcard applications (“FPCA”). TEC § 86.004(b). |
| February 2024 | |
February 5, 2024 |
Last day citizens may register to vote in March 5 primary election. TEC § 13.143(a). (This deadline is extended by TEC § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, February 4, 2024) |
February 20, 2024 |
First day of early voting by personal appearance for March 5 primary election. TEC § 85.001(a), (c). (This date is extended to Tuesday, February 20, 2024 by TEC § 1.006 because the 17th day before election day is Saturday, February 17, 2024 and Monday, February 19, 2024 is Presidents’ Day.) |
February 23, 2024 |
Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for March 5 primary election. TEC § 84.007(c). Last day for early voting clerk to receive an FPCA for March 5 primary election. TEC §§ 101.052(g), 114.004(c). Note: BOTH FPCAs and ABBMs must be received by the 11th day before election day. |
| March 2024 | |
March 1, 2024 |
Last day of early voting by personal appearance for March 5 primary election. TEC § 85.001(a). |
March 5, 2024 |
Primary election day. TEC § 41.007(a). |
March 6, 2024 |
First day independent candidates for offices not involved in runoff primary election may collect signatures for petitions in connection with applications. TEC § 142.009. |
March 11, 2024 |
Last day to post notice of county executive committee's meeting to canvass returns of primary election because canvass must take place on March 14, 2024. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before scheduled time of meeting. TEC § 172.116; Texas Government Code §§ 551.002, 551.041, 551.043. |
March 12, 2024 |
Precinct conventions held to elect delegates to county or district conventions of minor parties. TEC §§ 181.061(c), 182.005. |
March 14, 2024 |
Local canvass of the primary election by county chair and at least one member of the county executive committee, selected by the county executive committee, must be conducted on this date. TEC § 172.116(b). Last day to post notice of state executive committee’s meeting to canvass returns of primary election because state canvass must take place on March 17, 2024. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before the scheduled time of the meeting. TEC § 172.120; Texas Government Code §§ 551.002, 551.041, 551.043. |
March 16, 2024 |
County convention for minor parties that are nominating candidates for single-county district, county, or precinct offices. TEC §§ 181.061(c), 182.005. |
March 17, 2024 |
Deadline for state executive committee to conduct state canvass for all races with potential runoffs (races with three or more candidates). See entry under March 27, 2024. State chair must certify these candidates for statewide and district offices for placement on runoff primary election ballot to county chair as soon as practicable after canvass is completed. TEC §§ 172.120(b)(1), 172.121. |
March 20, 2024 |
Last day runoff primary candidates may withdraw from ballot (5 p.m.), if the state canvass was held on March 17, 2024. TEC § 172.059. |
March 21, 2024 |
Recommended deadline if state canvass is held on March 17, 2024 for state chair to certify candidates for statewide and district offices for placement on runoff primary ballot. TEC § 172.121. |
March 23, 2024 |
District convention for minor parties nominating candidates for multi-county district offices. TEC § 181.061(b). |
March 27, 2024 |
Deadline for state executive committee to conduct state canvass for races with no potential runoff. TEC § 172.120(b)(2). See entry under March 17, 2024. |
| April 2024 | |
April 3, 2024 |
Deadline for county chair to post notice on the Secretary of State’s website of the names of the persons elected as county chair and precinct chairs for the county. TEC § 172.118. |
April 29, 2024 |
Last day to register to vote in May 28 runoff primary election. TEC § 13.143(a). (This deadline is extended by TEC § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, April 28.) |
| May 2024 | |
May 17, 2024 |
Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for May 28 runoff primary election. TEC § 84.007(c). Last day for early voting clerk to receive an FPCA for May 28 runoff primary election. TEC §§ 101.052(g), 114.004(c). |
May 20, 2024 |
First day of early voting by personal appearance for May 28 runoff primary election. TEC § 85.001(b), (c). (This date is extended to Monday, May 20, 2024 by TEC § 1.006 because the 10th day before election day is Saturday, May 18, 2024.) |
May 24, 2024 |
Last day of early voting in person for May 28 runoff primary election. TEC § 142.009. |
May 28, 2024 |
Last day party chairs of new political parties may submit petitions and precinct convention lists to Secretary of State and to the appropriate county clerk (or other county election official) to secure placement of candidates on the November general election ballot. TEC §§ 181.005(a), 181.006(b)(3), 181.061(c), 182.003, 182.004. (This date is extended to Tuesday, May 28, 2024 by TEC § 1.006 because the 75th day after the date of the precinct conventions is Sunday, May 26, 2024, and Monday, May 27, 2024 is Memorial Day.) |
May 28, 2024 |
Runoff primary election day. TEC § 41.007(b). |
May 29, 2024 |
First day independent candidates for offices involved in runoff election may collect signatures for applications. TEC § 142.009. |
| June 2024 | |
June 3, 2024 |
Last day to post notice of meeting to canvass returns of runoff primary election because canvass must take place on June 6, 2024. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before scheduled time of meeting. TEC § 172.116; Texas Government Code §§ 551.002, 551.041, 551.043 |
June 6, 2024 |
Local canvass of the runoff primary election by county chair and at least one member of the county executive committee, selected by the county executive committee, must be conducted on this date. TEC § 172.116(b). |
June 7, 2024 |
Deadline for county clerk to submit canvassed returns for statewide and district offices to Secretary of State. TEC § 67.007(d). |
June 12, 2024 |
Last day to post notice of state executive committee’s meeting to canvass returns of runoff primary election if state canvass takes place on June 15, 2024. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before the scheduled time of the meeting. TEC § 172.120; Texas Government Code §§ 551.002, 551.041, 551.043. |
June 15, 2024 |
State canvass of the runoff primary election by the state chair. TEC § 172.120(b-1). |
June 17, 2024 |
New party officers take office. TEC § 171.022(c). |
June 27, 2024 |
Last day independent candidates may file applications and petitions (5 p.m.). TEC § 142.006. |
| July 2024 | |
July 20, 2024 |
First day candidates may file a declaration of write-in candidacy for November 5 general election. TEC § 146.025. |
| August 2024 | |
August 19, 2024 |
Last day candidates may file declaration of write-in candidacy for November 5 general election. TEC § 146.025. |
August 23, 2024 |
Last day candidates may withdraw from or be declared ineligible for general election. TEC §§ 145.032, 145.035. |
| October 2024 | |
October 7, 2024 |
Last day citizens may register to vote in November 5 general election. TEC § 13.143(a). (This deadline is extended by TEC § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, October 6, to the next business day.) |
October 21, 2024 |
First day of early voting by personal appearance for November 5 general election. TEC § 85.001(a). (This date is extended to Monday, October 21, 2024 by TEC § 1.006 because the 17th day before election day is Saturday, October 19, 2024.) |
October 25, 2024 |
Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for November 5 general election. TEC § 84.007(c). |
| November 2024 | |
November 1, 2024 |
Last day of early voting by personal appearance for November 5 general election. TEC § 85.001(a). |
November 5, 2024 |
General election day. TEC § 41.002. |
Note Concerning Conventions of Parties Holding Primary Elections
Precinct Conventions
Time and Place: Precinct conventions may be held at a time and place determined by rules adopted by the state executive committee of a political party. If precinct conventions are held on the general primary election day, the hour for convening may not be earlier than 7:00 p.m. or later than 9:00 p.m., but a convention may not convene until the last voter has voted at the precinct polling place. If precinct conventions are held on a day other than the general primary election day, the county executive committee must set the hour for convening or a time frame in which the convention must convene. TEC §§ 174.021, 174.022.
Notice Required: The county chair must post notice of the date, hour, and place for convening the precinct convention, on the county or the state party’s Internet website or another Internet location easily found through a search engine. If the county party does not maintain an Internet website, the chair shall post notice on the county commissioners court bulletin board. Notice must remain posted continuously for the 10 days leading up to the date of the convention. Because convention times are not yet determined, this calendar does not show any deadlines for posting such notices. Not later than the 10th day before the date of the precinct conventions, the county chair must deliver to the county election officer, written notice either on paper or in electronic form, of the date, hour, and place for convening each precinct convention. TEC § 174.023(a), (b).
County and Senatorial Conventions
Time and Place: The state executive committee, by rule, must specify the date and the county for the senatorial conventions. The political party may, by rule, allow a county to hold the precinct conventions before the county convention on the same day and at the same place. TEC §§ 172.021, 174.063(a).
Notice Required: Notice of the hour and date for convening the county convention must be posted electronically on the county or the state party’s Internet website or on the bulletin board used for posting notice of meetings of the commissioners court. Notice must remain posted continuously for the 10 days leading up to the date of convention. Because convention times are not yet determined, this calendar does not show any deadlines for posting such notices. Not later than the 10th day before the date of the county and the senatorial convention, the county chair must deliver, to the county election officer, written notice either on paper or in electronic form, of the date, hour, and place for convening county and senatorial convention. TEC § 174.064(a), (b).
State Conventions
The biennial state convention must be convened on a date selected by the state executive committee. The state convention date is no longer limited to June or July. The state executive committee must set the date of the state convention not later than the date the state chair delivers to the county chairs, the certification of candidate names for the primary election ballot. See entry at December 21, 2023. Accordingly, this calendar does not show any deadline or period for holding the state convention. Notice of the date, hour, and place for convening the state convention must be posted by the state chair on the party’s Internet website, before the date of the party’s precinct conventions. TEC §§ 174.092, 174.093.
