We're almost halfway through August, and the midterm election cycle continues! There are multiple deadlines for primary voters to be aware of in the upcoming weeks, as well as deadlines for candidates intending to run in the November general election.
Candidate filing deadlines
Nine states 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 Aug. 15 and Aug. 28.
- Kentucky: Aug. 24 (statewide general write-in candidate filing deadline)
- Maine: Aug. 25 (statewide general write-in candidate filing deadline)
- Massachusetts: Aug. 25 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor)
- Missouri: Aug. 25 (statewide judicial retention candidate filing deadline)
- Ohio: Aug. 24 (statewide general write-in candidate filing deadline)
- Oregon: Aug. 18 (statewide unaffiliated and minor party incumbent candidate filing deadline) and Aug. 25 (statewide unaffiliated and minor party new candidate filing deadline)
- Texas: Aug. 17 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
- Utah: Aug. 28 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
- Wyoming: Aug. 24 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
Eighteen states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands had candidate filing deadlines in the past two weeks.
Candidates must meet various state-specific filing requirements and deadlines to appear on primary and general election ballots. These requirements, 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.
Voting in upcoming elections
There are four statewide elections taking place in the next two weeks:
- Alaska: Aug. 18 statewide primary election
- Florida: Aug. 18 statewide primary election
- Oklahoma: Aug. 25 statewide primary runoff election
- Wyoming: Aug. 18 statewide primary election
Three states have early voting periods that start in the next two weeks:
- Massachusetts: Early voting begins Aug. 22 for the Sept. 1 primary.
- Oklahoma: Early voting begins Aug. 20 for the Aug. 25 primary runoff.
- Rhode Island: Early voting begins Aug. 20 for the Sept. 9 primary.
Three states have voter registration deadlines in the next two weeks:
- Delaware: Aug. 22 is the last day to register to vote in the Sept. 15 primary.
- Massachusetts: Aug. 22 is the last day to register to vote in the Sept. 1 primary.
- Wyoming: Aug. 18 is the last day to register to vote in person in the Aug. 18 primary.
Three states have absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines in the next two weeks:
- Massachusetts: Aug. 25 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Sept. 1 primary.
- Rhode Island: Aug. 19 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Sept. 9 primary.
- Wyoming: Aug. 17 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or online for the Aug. 18 primary.
Click here to see our list of upcoming election dates and filing deadlines.