Ballotpedia Preferred Source

Three weeks out from the November election, write-in candidate and voter participation deadlines approach

By

Stefan Martinez-Ruiz
Image of several stickers with the words "I voted"

With three weeks until the November midterm elections, remaining write-in candidate filing deadlines and voter participation deadlines are coming up fast.

Write-in candidate filing deadlines

Six states and the Virgin Islands have write-in candidate filing deadlines between Oct. 13 and Oct. 23:

  • Maryland: Oct. 15 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • Michigan: Oct. 23 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • Minnesota: Oct. 15 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • Missouri: Oct. 23 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • Nebraska: Oct. 23 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • North Dakota: Oct. 13 (statewide write-in candidate filing deadline)
  • Virgin Islands: Oct. 19 (territory-wide write-in 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.

Most states allow voters to write in the name of a candidate who does not appear on the ballot in a general election. In 31 states, write-in candidates must file before the election in order for their votes to be counted.

Voter participation deadlines

24 states and the Virgin Islands have early voting periods that start between Oct. 13 and Oct. 23:

  • Alaska: Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Arkansas: Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Colorado: Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Connecticut: Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Delaware: Early voting begins Oct. 22 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Georgia: Early voting begins Oct. 13 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Hawaii: Early voting begins Oct. 20 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Idaho: Early voting begins Oct. 13 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Iowa: Early voting begins Oct. 14 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Kansas: Early voting begins Oct. 14 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Louisiana: Early voting begins Oct. 20 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Maryland: Early voting begins Oct. 22 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Massachusetts: Early voting begins Oct. 17 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Missouri: Early voting begins Oct. 20 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Nevada: Early voting begins Oct. 17 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • North Carolina: Early voting begins Oct. 15 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Rhode Island: Early voting begins Oct. 14 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • South Carolina: Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Tennessee: Early voting begins Oct. 14 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Texas: Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Utah: Early voting begins Oct. 20 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Virgin Islands: Early voting begins Oct. 16 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Washington: Early voting begins Oct. 16 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • West Virginia: Early voting begins Oct. 21 for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Wisconsin: Early voting begins Oct. 20 for the Nov. 3 general election.

22 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have voter registration deadlines between Oct. 13 and Oct. 23:

  • Alabama: Oct. 19 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • California: Oct. 19 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Connecticut: Oct. 16 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • District of Columbia: Oct. 13 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Guam: Oct. 19 is the last day to register in person or online to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Idaho: Oct. 23 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Illinois: Oct. 18 is the last day to register online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Iowa: Oct. 19 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Kansas: Oct. 13 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Louisiana: Oct. 13 is the last day to register online to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Maine: Oct. 13 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Maryland: Oct. 13 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Michigan: Oct. 19 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Minnesota: Oct. 13 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Nebraska: Oct. 16 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Oct. 23 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • New Jersey: Oct. 13 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Oregon: Oct. 13 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Pennsylvania: Oct. 19 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • South Dakota: Oct. 19 is the last day to register in person or by mail to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Utah: Oct. 23 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Virginia: Oct. 23 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • West Virginia: Oct. 13 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Wisconsin: Oct. 14 is the last day to register by mail or online, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Wyoming: Oct. 19 is the last day to register by mail, and Nov. 3 is the last day to register in person to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.

16 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands have absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines between Oct. 13 and Oct. 23:

  • Arizona: Oct. 23 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • District of Columbia: Oct. 19 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Florida: Oct. 22 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Georgia: Oct. 23 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Idaho: Oct. 23 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Indiana: Oct. 22 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Iowa: Oct. 19 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Kentucky: Oct. 20 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot by mail for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Missouri: Oct. 21 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot by mail or online, and Nov. 2 is the last day to request a ballot in person for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Nebraska: Oct. 23 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • New Mexico: Oct. 20 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • North Carolina: Oct. 20 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Oklahoma: Oct. 19 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Rhode Island: Oct. 13 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • South Carolina: Oct. 23 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Texas: Oct. 23 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Virgin Islands: Oct. 20 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Virginia: Oct. 23 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.

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