With the summer fast approaching, the electoral heat is also rising as more and more states will soon hold their primary elections.
Sixteen states have statewide candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks. The map above and bulleted list below show which states have candidate filing deadlines scheduled between May 23 and June 5.
- Alaska: June 1 (statewide candidate filing deadline)
- Hawaii: June 2 (statewide candidate filing deadline)
- Illinois: May 26 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
- Iowa: June 2 (statewide unaffiliated and minor party candidate filing deadline)
- Kansas: June 1 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- Kentucky: June 2 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
- Maine: June 1 (statewide unaffiliated and minor party candidate filing deadline)
- Massachusetts: May 26 (statewide candidate filing deadline for Governor's Council, state Senate, and state House races) and June 2 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor's races)
- Minnesota: June 2 (statewide candidate filing deadline)
- Montana: June 1 (statewide unaffiliated and minor party candidate filing deadline)
- New Jersey: June 2 (statewide unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
- New York: May 26 (unaffiliated candidate filing deadline)
- Vermont: May 28 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- Virginia: May 26 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline for U.S. House races)
- Wisconsin: June 1 (statewide candidate filing deadline)
- Wyoming: May 29 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
Looking Back
Four states and the Virgin Islands had candidate filing deadlines in the past two weeks:
- 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)
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.
Voting in upcoming elections
There are seven statewide elections taking place in the next two weeks:
- California: June 2 statewide primary election
- Iowa: June 2 statewide primary election
- Montana: June 2 statewide primary election
- New Jersey: June 2 statewide primary election
- New Mexico: June 2 statewide primary election
- South Dakota: June 2 statewide primary election
- Texas: May 26 statewide primary runoff election
Voter participation deadlines
Three states have early voting periods that start in the next two weeks:
- Nevada: Early voting begins May 23 for the June 9 primary.
- New Jersey: Early voting begins May 26 for the June 2 primary.
- South Carolina: Early voting begins May 26 for the June 9 primary.
Seven states and D.C. have voter registration deadlines in the next two weeks:
- Alabama: June 1 is the last day to register to vote by mail or online in the June 16 primary. In-person voter registration is available through May 29.
- California: June 2 is the last day to register to vote in person in the June 2 primary.
- District of Columbia: May 26 is the last day to register to vote by mail or online in the June 16 primary. In-person voter registration is available through June 16.
- Iowa: June 2 is the last day to register to vote in person in the June 2 primary.
- Louisiana: May 27 is the last day to register to vote by mail or in person in the June 27 primary. Online voter registration is available through June 6.
- Maryland: June 2 is the last day to register to vote by mail or online in the June 23 primary. In-person voter registration is available through June 23.
- Montana: June 2 is the last day to register to vote in person in the June 2 primary.
- New Mexico: June 2 is the last day to register to vote in person in the June 2 primary.
Seven states and D.C. have absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines in the next two weeks:
- District of Columbia: June 1 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the June 16 primary.
- Georgia: June 5 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the June 16 primary.
- Maine: June 4 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the June 9 primary.
- Montana: June 1 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail for the June 2 primary.
- New Jersey: May 26 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot by mail or online and June 1 is the last day to request a ballot in person for the June 2 primary.
- Oklahoma: June 1 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot for the June 16 primary.
- South Carolina: May 29 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail for the June 9 primary and the June 23 primary runoff.
- South Dakota: June 1 is the last day to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail for the June 2 primary.
Click here to see our list of upcoming election dates and filing deadlines.