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Five statewide candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks

By

Stefan Martinez-Ruiz

As we enter May, the 2026 primary election calendar continues to come into view.

Four states and the Virgin Islands have statewide candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks. The map and bulleted list below show which states have candidate filing deadlines scheduled between May 9th and May 22nd.

  • Alabama: May 19 (statewide minor party/independent candidate filing deadline)
  • Arizona: May 22 (statewide primary write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • California: May 19 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • North Dakota: May 19 (primary write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • Virgin Islands: May 19 (territory-wide candidate and minor party/independent candidates filing deadline)

Looking Back

Five states and Guam had candidate filing deadlines in the past two weeks:

  • Arkansas: May 1 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
  • Guam: May 1 (territorywide candidate filing deadline for governor, lieutenant governor, senator, and delegate)
  • Nebraska: May 1 (statewide primary write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • Ohio: May 4 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
  • South Dakota: April 28 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
  • Washington: May 8 (statewide candidate filing deadline)

Candidates must meet various state-specific filing requirements and deadlines to appear on primary and general election ballots. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether and how candidates can make it onto the ballot. These laws are set at the state level and apply to candidates running for state and federal offices.

Upcoming elections

There are 13 statewide elections taking place in the next two weeks:

  • Alabama: May 19 statewide primary election
  • Georgia: May 19 statewide primary election
  • Idaho: May 19 statewide judicial general elections
  • Idaho: May 19 statewide primary
  • Kentucky: May 19 statewide primary election
  • Louisiana: May 16 statewide party primary
  • Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education District 1: May 16 Special election primary for Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education District 1
  • Louisiana Supreme Court District 1: May 16 Supreme Court special primary
  • Nebraska: May 12 statewide primary election
  • North Carolina: May 12 statewide primary runoff
  • Oregon: May 19 statewide primary election
  • Pennsylvania: May 19 statewide primary election
  • West Virginia: May 12 statewide primary election

Voter participation deadlines

Four states have early voting periods that start in the next two weeks:

  • Iowa: Early voting begins May 13 for the June 02 primary.
  • Kentucky: Early voting begins May 14 for the May 19 primary.
  • Maine: Early voting begins May 10 for the June 09 primary.
  • Texas: Early voting begins May 18 for the May 26 primary runoff.

Nine states have voter registration deadlines in the next two weeks:

  • California: May 18 is the last day to register to vote by mail or online in the June 2 primary.
  • Idaho: May 8 is the last day to register to vote by mail or online in the May 19 primary. In-person voter registration is available through May 19.
  • Iowa: May 18 is the last day to register to vote by mail or online in the June 2 primary. In-person voter registration is available through June 2.
  • Maine: May 19 is the last day to register to vote by mail or online in the June 9 primary. In-person voter registration is available through June 9.
  • Nevada: May 12 is the last day to register to vote by mail in the June 9 primary. Voter registration in person or online is available through June 9.
  • New Jersey: May 12 is the last day to register to vote in the June 2 primary.
  • Oklahoma: May 22 is the last day to register to vote in the June 16 primary.
  • South Carolina: May 8 is the last day to register to vote in-person, May 10 is the last day to register to vote online, and May 11 is the last day to register to vote by mail for both the June 9 primary and the June 23 primary runoff.
  • South Dakota: May 18 is the last day to register to vote in-person or by mail in the June 2 primary.

Eight states have absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines in the next two weeks:

  • Alabama: May 14 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in-person and May 12 is the last day to request a ballot by mail for the May 19 primary.
  • Georgia: May 8 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the May 19 primary.
  • Idaho: May 8 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the May 19 primary.
  • Iowa: May 18 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in-person or online for the June 2 primary.
  • Louisiana: May 12 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the May 16 primary.
  • New Mexico: May 19 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the June 2 primary.
  • Pennsylvania: May 12 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the May 19 primary.
  • Texas: May 15 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in-person or online for the May 26 primary runoff.

Click here to see our list of upcoming election dates and filing deadlines.