Important Dates for the Party Conventions, Primary Elections and General Election

September 2017

First day county chairs may accept applications for a place on the ballot for office of precinct chair. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(b).

November 2017

First day Republican or Democratic Party candidate may file an application for a place on the primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(b).

First day county chairs may accept applications for a place on the primary ballot for office of county chair. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(b).

December 2017

If a vacancy for an unexpired term in an office of state or county government occurs after the 10th day before the date of the regular filing deadline, but on or before the 5th day before the date of the regular filing deadline (on or after December 2 and on or before December 6), an application for the unexpired term is subject to an extended filing deadline. See entry at December 18, 2017. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(a), (c).

Last day a vacancy for an unexpired term may occur and appear on the primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(a).

Deadline for county chair (or secretary of county executive committee) to post on political party's Internet website or in the location where a candidate files for a place on the ballot a notice containing the address(es) at which county chair and secretary will be available to receive applications on the last day for filing an application. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.022(b).

Last day Democratic or Republican Party candidate may file an application for a place on the primary ballot (6 p.m.).  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(a).

NOTE: This deadline is also applicable to applications for a place on the primary election ballot to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term in an office of the state or county government that occurred on or before the 10th day before the date of the regular filing deadline. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(b). See entry at December 18, 2017 for Extended Deadlines

Last day county chairs may accept applications for a place on the ballot for office of county or precinct chair (6 p.m.).  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(a).

Last day independent candidates may file declaration of intent to run (6 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 142.002, 172.023(a).

Last day minor party candidates may file applications to be nominated by convention (5 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.033(a). A political party by rule may extend the filing deadline for applications for nomination for an office for which a candidate who has made application withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.033(b).

If a candidate withdraws, dies or is declared ineligible by this date, the name is omitted from the primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 172.057(a) & 172.058(a)

Deadline for state or county chair, as applicable, to receive applications for a place on the general primary election ballot for an unexpired term for a vacancy in an office of the state or county government that occurs after the 10th day (December 1, 2017) before the date of the regular filing deadline, but on or before the 5th day (December 6, 2017) before the date of the regular filing deadline (6 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(a), (c). (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.006 from the 5th day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election, which falls on Saturday, December 16.)

Extended Deadline (6 p.m.) for state or county chair to receive an application for a place on the general primary election ballot for an office if a candidate who has made an application that complies with the applicable requirements:

• dies on or after the fifth day before the date of the regular filing deadline (December 6, 2017) and on or before the first day after the date of the regular filing deadline (December 12, 2017);
• holds the office for which the application was made and withdraws or is declared ineligible on the date of the regular filing deadline (December 11, 2017) or on the first day after the date of the regular filing deadline (December 12, 2017); or
• withdraws or is declared ineligible on the date of the regular filing deadline (December 11, 2017) or on the first day after the date of the regular filing deadline (December 12, 2017), and at the time of the withdrawal or declaration of ineligibility no other candidate has made an application that complies with the applicable requirements for the office sought by the withdrawn or ineligible candidate. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.054(b).

(This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.006 from the 5th day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election, which falls on Saturday, December 16.)

NOTE: An application filed by mail with state chair under this Extended Deadline provision is not timely if received later than 5:00 p.m. on the Extended Deadline.

Recommended deadline for state chair to certify to Secretary of State for placement on the general primary election ballot the name of each candidate who files with chair an application that complies with Section 172.021(b) of the Texas Election Code on or before December 11, 2017. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(a).

Date by which Secretary of State anticipates posting on Secretary of State’s Internet website that is viewable by the public certified list of candidates who filed on or before December 11, 2017 provided by state chairs. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(a).

Deadline 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 candidates who filed on or before December 11, 2017 has been posted by Secretary of State. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(b). See entry at December 21, 2017 for supplemental notification of certification of candidates who filed with state chair on or before the Extended Deadline of December 18, 2017.

Deadline for state executive committee to set date, hour, and place for convening state convention. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 174.092 & 174.093.

NOTE: Section 174.092(b) of the Texas Election Code provides that state executive committee must set date, hour, and place for convening state convention not later than the date state chair delivers to county chairs certification of names for placement on the general primary ballot. However, Section 172.028(a) of the Texas Election Code was amended by House Bill 3103, 2013 Legislative Session, to provide that the state chair no longer certifies names of the district and statewide candidates for the primary ballot to county chairs. Instead, state chair certifies candidate names to Secretary of State and Secretary of State posts candidate names on his website.  Section 172.028(b) of the Texas Election Code was amended by Senate Bill 1703, 2015 Legislative Session, to provide that state chair must notify county chair in each county not later than the 9th day after the regular filing deadline that 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 chair to post notice on the party’s website 24 hours preceding the date, hour, and place of ballot drawing if ballot drawing is conducted on December 21, 2017. If the party does not maintain an Internet website, the party must post notice on the commissioners court bulletin board.  All candidates who provide an email address on their filing form must be notified electronically of drawing.  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.082(e).

NOTE: Section 172.082(e) was amended in 2017 by House Bill 1735 to require that the notice be posted on the party’s internet website, and only on the commissioners court bulletin board if the party does not maintain a website.

Deadline for county chair to conduct drawing for candidate order on ballot (unless committee provides by resolution that the county executive committee is to conduct drawing). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.082(c), as amended by House Bill 1735, 2017 Legislative Session.

NOTE: Section 172.082(b) was amended in 2017 by House Bill 1735 to allow the county chair to conduct the ballot drawing, unless the county executive committee provides by resolution that the drawing shall be conducted by the county executive committee. Additionally, section 172.082(c) was amended by House Bill 1735 to no longer require that the ballot drawing be conducted in the county seat.

Recommended deadline for state chair to certify to Secretary of State for placement on the general primary election ballot the name of each candidate who files with chair an application that complies with Section 172.021(b) of the Texas Election Code after December 11, 2017 and on or before December 18, 2017. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 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 Section 202.004(a), (c) of the Texas Election Code, as amended by Senate Bill 904, 2013 Legislative Session, and Section 172.054(b) of the Texas Election Code, as amended by Senate Bills 904 and 910, 2013 Legislative Session, are added to the list of certified candidates previously submitted by state chair to Secretary of State. See entries at December 12, 2017 and December 28, 2017.

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, 2017 in accordance with the Extended Deadlines. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 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, 2017 has been posted by Secretary of State. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(b). See entries at December 11, 2017 and December 18, 2017.

Recommended deadline for county chair and state chair to electronically submit certain candidate information (including information on candidates for county and precinct chair) to county election officer, state chair, and Secretary of State.  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.029(c).

January 2018

First day for voters to submit application for ballot by mail for March 6 primary election, or for both the March 6 primary election and May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 84.001(e), 84.007.

Last day for party with state organization which intends to make nominations by convention to register with Secretary of State. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.0041.

Deadline for 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”).  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 86.004(b).

February 2018

Last day citizens may register to vote in March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(a). (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, February 4.)

First day of early voting by personal appearance for March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 85.001(a), (c).  (This date is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.006 from the 20th, which is a Saturday, and as February 19, 2017 is President’s Day)

Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 84.007(c). 

March 2018

Last day of early voting by personal appearance for March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 85.001(a).

Primary election day.  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 41.007(a).

First day independent candidates for offices not involved in runoff primary election may collect signatures for petitions in connection with applications. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 142.009.

Last day to post notice of county executive committee's meeting to canvass returns of primary election because canvass must take place on March 15, 2018. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before scheduled time of meeting.  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.116; Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 551.002, 551.041 & 551.043.

Precinct conventions held to elect delegates to county or district conventions of minor parties. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 181.061(c), 182.005.

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. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.116(b), as amended by Senate Bill 1073, 2015 Legislative Session.

NOTE: House Bill 1735, 2017 legislative session, amended section 172.083 of the code to require that the ballot order for a runoff election will be the same as the general election. As thus, a second ballot drawing for the runoff election is no longer required.

County convention for minor parties that are nominating candidates for single-county district, county, or precinct offices.  Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 181.061(c), 182.005.

Recommended deadline if state canvass is held on March 18, 2018 for state chair to certify candidates for statewide and district offices for placement on runoff primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.121.

Deadline for state executive committee to conduct state canvass for races with no potential runoff. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.120(b)(2). See entry under March 18, 2018.

April 2018

Deadline for county chair to post on the secretary of state’s website the names of persons elected as county chair and precinct chair for the county. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.118.

Deadline for early voting clerk to mail ballots for the runoff primary election to those overseas voters from whom the clerk has already received applications for ballots by mail or FPCAs. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 86.004(b).

State convention for minor party that is nominating candidates for statewide offices. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.061(a).

Last day to register to vote in May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(a). (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, April 22.)

May 2018

Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 84.007(c).

June 2018

Deadline for county chair to post on the secretary of state’s website the names of persons elected as county chair and precinct chair for the county. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.118.

NOTE: House Bill 1735, 2017 legislative session, amended section 172.118 so that written notice is no longer required to be delivered to the state chair or county clerk. Instead, this information is posted to the secretary of state’s website.

July 2018

Deadline by which former county chair must transfer party bank accounts and records to new county chair; it is a Class C misdemeanor if the former county chair fails to transfer the records. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 171.028.

August 2018

Last day to order November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 3.003, 3.005.

October 2018

Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 84.007(c).

November 2018