2026 Election Calendar: Every Key Date From Primaries to Election Day

March 20, 2026 · 5 min read

Complete 2026 Election Calendar: Primary Dates, Early Voting, and Registration Deadlines

The 2026 midterm election cycle is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent history. With control of the Senate, House of Representatives, and numerous gubernatorial seats on the ballot, voters need to stay informed about critical deadlines and voting dates. This comprehensive calendar breaks down every important date by state, including primary elections, voter registration deadlines, early voting periods, and mail ballot deadlines.

2026 Primary Election Calendar by Month

Primary elections in 2026 will be spread across the calendar year, beginning in early 2026 and continuing through the summer months. Here's the complete breakdown organized chronologically.

January 2026 Primary Elections

• January 20, 2026: Iowa Caucuses (Democratic and Republican)
• January 27, 2026: New Hampshire Primary

Iowa and New Hampshire traditionally kick off the primary season, with Iowa's caucus system attracting significant national attention. Candidates who perform well in these early contests often gain momentum heading into Super Tuesday.

February 2026 Primary Elections

• February 3, 2026: Nevada Caucuses and South Carolina Primary
• February 10, 2026: Super Tuesday states including California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Alabama, Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Minnesota
• February 17, 2026: Michigan, Washington, Maine, and Idaho primaries
• February 24, 2026: Kansas, Arizona, Mississippi, and Missouri primaries

March 2026 Primary Elections

• March 3, 2026: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont primaries
• March 10, 2026: Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, and Wyoming primaries
• March 17, 2026: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska primaries
• March 24, 2026: New Mexico primary
• March 31, 2026: West Virginia primary

April 2026 Primary Elections

• April 7, 2026: Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Maryland primaries
• April 28, 2026: Kentucky and Pennsylvania primaries

May 2026 Primary Elections

• May 5, 2026: Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia primaries
• May 12, 2026: Nebraska, South Dakota, and Arkansas primaries
• May 19, 2026: Kentucky, Oregon, and Idaho primaries
• May 26, 2026: Washington primary

June 2026 Primary Elections

• June 2, 2026: California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Mississippi primaries
• June 9, 2026: Maine, Iowa, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Dakota primaries
• June 16, 2026: Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming primaries
• June 30, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Delaware, and Kansas primaries

July and August 2026 Primary Elections

• July 14, 2026: Vermont and Connecticut primaries
• August 4, 2026: Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, and Washington primaries
• August 11, 2026: Florida and New York primaries
• August 18, 2026: Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Tennessee primaries
• August 25, 2026: Utah and Wyoming primaries

Voter Registration Deadlines by Category

Voter registration deadlines vary significantly by state. We've organized them into three main categories to help you understand when you need to register to vote in 2026.

30 Days Before Election States

The majority of states require voters to register at least 30 days before Election Day (October 4, 2026). These states include:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Same-Day Registration States

The following states allow voters to register on Election Day itself (November 3, 2026):

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Online Registration Deadlines

Most states that offer online voter registration close their online registration systems 5-15 days before Election Day. Check your state's specific deadline below:

• California: October 20, 2026
• Colorado: October 26, 2026
• Connecticut: October 24, 2026
• Delaware: October 17, 2026
• Florida: October 4, 2026
• Georgia: October 5, 2026
• Hawaii: October 8, 2026
• Idaho: November 3, 2026 (same-day)
• Illinois: November 3, 2026 (same-day)
• Indiana: October 5, 2026
• Iowa: October 24, 2026
• Kansas: October 13, 2026
• Louisiana: October 5, 2026
• Maine: November 3, 2026 (same-day)
• Maryland: October 13, 2026
• Massachusetts: October 24, 2026
• Michigan: October 26, 2026
• Minnesota: November 3, 2026 (same-day)
• Missouri: October 7, 2026
• Montana: October 31, 2026
• Nebraska: October 24, 2026
• Nevada: October 31, 2026
• New Hampshire: November 3, 2026 (same-day)
• New Jersey: October 13, 2026
• New Mexico: October 6, 2026
• New York: October 9, 2026
• North Carolina: October 3, 2026
• Ohio: October 5, 2026
• Oklahoma: October 9, 2026
• Oregon: October 26, 2026
• Pennsylvania: October 19, 2026
• South Carolina: October 3, 2026
• Tennessee: October 5, 2026
• Texas: October 5, 2026
• Utah: October 27, 2026
• Vermont: November 3, 2026 (same-day)
• Virginia: October 17, 2026
• Washington: October 26, 2026
• Wisconsin: November 2, 2026
• Wyoming: November 3, 2026 (same-day)

Early Voting Start Dates by State

Early voting periods vary by state, with some beginning as early as 45 days before Election Day. Here are the key early voting start dates for major states: