 County Conventions held March 17, 2018, District Conventions held March 24, 2018, and a State Convention held April 14, 2018.
(meta data) TITLE: Important Dates for the Party Conventions, Primary Elections and General Election Election Outlook: The Secretary of State Reminds Texans to Plan Their Trip to the Polls | More about Identification Requirements for Voting | Am I Registered to Vote? | Voter Information | Voting Issues for Texas Harvey Evacuees | 2018 Texas Election Security Update Home | About the Office | Press Releases | Site Index | Help | Contacts | Web Survey | En Español Search for this: Business Services Notary, Apostilles & Authentications Rules & Open Meetings International Relations Forms & Other Services Current Election Information Voter Registration Agencies Conducting Elections Candidate Information Officials and Officeholders Election Results Voter Education & Seminar Information Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funding Election Funds Management Forms, Resources and Legal Library Voting Systems Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Contact Us # Important Dates for the Party Conventions, Primary Elections and General Election Introductory Note Concerning Conventions of Parties Holding Primary Elections ## Precinct Conventions Time and Place: Precinct conventions may be held at a time and place determined by rules adopted by state executive committee of a political party. If precinct conventions are held on general primary election day, the hour set for convening conventions may not be earlier than 7:00 p.m. or later than 9:00 p.m., but a convention may not convene until the last voter has voted at the precinct polling place. If precinct conventions are held on a day other than general primary election day, county executive committee must set the hour for convening or a time frame in which the convention must convene. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 174.021 & 174.022. Notice Required: County chair must post notice of date, hour, and place for convening precinct convention on county or state party's Internet website or other Internet location easily found through a search engine. If county party does not maintain an Internet website, chair shall post notice on the county commissioners court bulletin board. Notice must remain posted continuously for the 10 days immediately preceding the date of convention. Because convention times are not yet determined, this calendar does not show any deadlines for posting such notices. Not later than the 10th day before the date of precinct conventions, county chair must deliver to county election officer written notice, either on paper or in electronic form, of date, hour, and place for convening each precinct convention. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 174.023(a), (b). ## County and Senatorial Conventions Time and Place: State executive committee by rule must specify date county and senatorial conventions will be held. Political party may by rule allow a county to hold precinct conventions before county convention on same day and at same place as county convention. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 172.021 & 174.063(a). Notice Required: Notice of hour and date for convening county convention must be posted electronically on county or state party's Internet website or on the bulletin board used for posting notice of meetings of the commissioners court. Notice must remain posted continuously for the 10 days immediately preceding the date of convention. Because convention times are not yet determined, this calendar does not show any deadlines for posting such notices. Not later than the 10th day before the date of county and senatorial convention, county chair must deliver to county election officer written notice, either on paper or in electronic form, of date, hour, and place for convening county and senatorial convention. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §174.064(a), (b). ## State Conventions Biennial state convention must be convened on a date selected by state executive committee. State convention date is no longer limited to one in June or July. State executive committee must set date of state convention not later than date state chair delivers to county chairs certification of names for placement on the primary election ballot. See entry at December 18, 2017. Accordingly, this calendar does not show any deadline or time frame for holding state convention. Notice of date, hour, and place for convening state convention must be posted by state chair on party's Internet website before date of party's precinct conventions. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 174.092 & 174.093. ### September 2017 First day county chairs may accept applications for a place on the ballot for office of precinct chair. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(b). ### November 2017 First day Republican or Democratic Party candidate may file an application for a place on the primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(b). First day county chairs may accept applications for a place on the primary ballot for office of county chair. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(b) First day independent candidates may file declaration of intent to run. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 142.002(b), 172.023. ### December 2017 If a vacancy for an unexpired term in an office of state or county government occurs after the 10th day before the date of the regular filing deadline, but on or before the 5th day before the date of the regular filing deadline (on or after December 2 and on or before December 6), an application for the unexpired term is subject to an extended filing deadline. See entry at December 18, 2017. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(a), (c). Last day a vacancy for an unexpired term may occur and appear on the primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(a). Deadline for county chair (or secretary of county executive committee) to post on political party's Internet website or in the location where a candidate files for a place on the ballot a notice containing the address(es) at which county chair and secretary will be available to receive applications on the last day for filing an application. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.022(b) Last day Democratic or Republican Party candidate may file an application for a place on the primary ballot (6 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(a). NOTE: This deadline is also applicable to applications for a place on the primary election ballot to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term in an office of the state or county government that occurred on or before the 10th day before the date of the regular filing deadline. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(b) See entry at December 18, 2017 for Extended Deadlines Last day county chairs may accept applications for a place on the ballot for office of county or precinct chair (6 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.023(a) Last day independent candidates may file declaration of intent to run (6 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 142.002, 172.023(a). Last day minor party candidates may file applications to be nominated by convention (5 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.033(a) A political party by rule may extend the filing deadline for applications for nomination for an office for which a candidate who has made application withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.033(b) If a candidate withdraws, dies or is declared ineligible by this date, the name is omitted from the primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 172.057(a) & 172.058(a) Deadline for state or county chair, as applicable, to receive applications for a place on the general primary election ballot for an unexpired term for a vacancy in an office of the state or county government that occurs after the 10th day (December 1, 2017) before the date of the regular filing deadline, but on or before the 5th day (December 6, 2017) before the date of the regular filing deadline (6 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 202.004(a), (c). (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.006 from the 5th day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election, which falls on Saturday, December 16.) Extended Deadline (6 p.m.) for state or county chair to receive an application for a place on the general primary election ballot for an office if a candidate who has made an application that complies with the applicable requirements: dies on or after the fifth day before the date of the regular filing deadline (December 6, 2017) and on or before the first day after the date of the regular filing deadline (December 12, 2017); holds the office for which the application was made and withdraws or is declared ineligible on the date of the regular filing deadline (December 11, 2017) or on the first day after the date of the regular filing deadline (December 12, 2017); or withdraws or is declared ineligible on the date of the regular filing deadline (December 11, 2017) or on the first day after the date of the regular filing deadline (December 12, 2017), and at the time of the withdrawal or declaration of ineligibility no other candidate has made an application that complies with the applicable requirements for the office sought by the withdrawn or ineligible candidate. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.054(b) (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.006 from the 5th day after the date of the regular filing deadline for the general primary election, which falls on Saturday, December 16.) NOTE: An application filed by mail with state chair under this Extended Deadline provision is not timely if received later than 5:00 p.m. on the Extended Deadline. Recommended deadline for state chair to certify to Secretary of State for placement on the general primary election ballot the name of each candidate who files with chair an application that complies with Section 172.021(b) of the Texas Election Code on or before December 11, 2017. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(a) NOTE: The Texas Election Code does not provide a deadline for state chairs to make their certification. However, because a new law enacted by the 2015 Legislature requires state chairs to notify county chairs no later than the 9th day after the regular filing deadline that the list of district and statewide candidates for the primary has been posted on Secretary of State's website, it is reasonable to request state chairs to make the certification no later than December 18, 2017 so that the information can be posted to Secretary of State's website on or before December 20, 2017, the 9th day after the regular filing deadline. See entry at December 21, 2017 for certification of candidates who file with state chair an application that complies with Section 172.021(b) of the Texas Election Code on or before the Extended Deadline of December 18, 2017. Date by which Secretary of State anticipates posting on Secretary of State's Internet website that is viewable by the public certified list of candidates who filed on or before December 11, 2017 provided by state chairs. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(a). Deadline for state chair to notify county chair in each county in which the candidate's name is to appear on the ballot that certification of candidates who filed on or before December 11, 2017 has been posted by Secretary of State. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(b). See entry at December 21, 2017 for supplemental notification of certification of candidates who filed with state chair on or before the Extended Deadline of December 18, 2017. Deadline for state executive committee to set date, hour, and place for convening state convention. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 174.092 & 174.093. NOTE: Section 174.092(b) of the Texas Election Code provides that state executive committee must set date, hour, and place for convening state convention not later than the date state chair delivers to county chairs certification of names for placement on the general primary ballot. However, Section 172.028(a) of the Texas Election Code was amended by House Bill 3103, 2013 Legislative Session, to provide that the state chair no longer certifies names of the district and statewide candidates for the primary ballot to county chairs. Instead, state chair certifies candidate names to Secretary of State and Secretary of State posts candidate names on his website. Section 172.028(b) of the Texas Election Code was amended by Senate Bill 1703, 2015 Legislative Session, to provide that state chair must notify county chair in each county not later than the 9th day after the regular filing deadline that certification has been posted by Secretary of State. Accordingly, the calendar continues to show the 9th day after the regular filing deadline as the deadline for state executive committee to set the date, hour, and place for convening the state convention. Deadline for chair to post notice on the party's website 24 hours preceding the date, hour, and place of ballot drawing if ballot drawing is conducted on December 21, 2017. If the party does not maintain an Internet website, the party must post notice on the commissioners court bulletin board. All candidates who provide an email address on their filing form must be notified electronically of drawing. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.082(e). NOTE: Section 172.082(e) was amended in 2017 by House Bill 1735 to require that the notice be posted on the party's internet website, and only on the commissioners court bulletin board if the party does not maintain a website. Deadline for county chair to conduct drawing for candidate order on ballot (unless committee provides by resolution that the county executive committee is to conduct drawing). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.082(c), as amended by House Bill 1735, 2017 Legislative Session NOTE: Section 172.082(b) was amended in 2017 by House Bill 1735 to allow the county chair to conduct the ballot drawing, unless the county executive committee provides by resolution that the drawing shall be conducted by the county executive committee. Additionally, section 172.082(c) was amended by House Bill 1735 to no longer require that the ballot drawing be conducted in the county seat. Recommended deadline for state chair to certify to Secretary of State for placement on the general primary election ballot the name of each candidate who files with chair an application that complies with Section 172.021(b) of the Texas Election Code after December 11, 2017 and on or before December 18, 2017. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 172.028(a), 172.029. NOTE: The purpose of this recommendation is to ensure that candidates whose applications are filed in accordance with the Extended Deadlines under Section 202.004(a), (c) of the Texas Election Code, as amended by Senate Bill 904, 2013 Legislative Session, and Section 172.054(b) of the Texas Election Code, as amended by Senate Bills 904 and 910, 2013 Legislative Session, are added to the list of certified candidates previously submitted by state chair to Secretary of State. See entries at December 12, 2017 and December 28, 2017. Date by which Secretary of State anticipates posting on Secretary of State's Internet website, that is viewable by the public, additions to the certified list of candidates provided by state chair that are the result of the additional candidates who filed on or before December 18, 2017 in accordance with the Extended Deadlines. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 172.028(a), 172.029. Recommended date for state chair to notify county chair in each county in which the candidate's name is to appear on the ballot that certification of additional candidates who filed by the Extended Deadline on or before December 18, 2017 has been posted by Secretary of State. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.028(b) See entries at December 11, 2017 and December 18, 2017. Recommended deadline for county chair and state chair to electronically submit certain candidate information (including information on candidates for county and precinct chair) to county election officer, state chair, and Secretary of State. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.029(c) Recommended date for county chair to submit the ballot format to primary committee for its approval, for primary committee to approve ballot format, and for county chair to order ballots. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 86.004(b), 172.083. ### January 2018 First day for voters to submit application for ballot by mail for March 6 primary election, or for both the March 6 primary election and May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 84.001(e), 84.007. Last day for party with state organization which intends to make nominations by convention to register with Secretary of State. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.0041 Deadline for early voting clerk to mail ballots for the primary election to those overseas voters from whom the clerk has already received applications for ballots by mail or federal postcard applications ("FPCA"). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 86.004(b). ### February 2018 Last day citizens may register to vote in March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(a) (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, February 4.) First day of early voting by personal appearance for March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 85.001(a), (c). (This date is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.006 from the 20th, which is a Saturday, and as February 19, 2017 is President's Day) Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 84.007(c). Last day for early voting clerk to receive an FPCA for March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 101.052(g), 114.004(c). ### March 2018 Last day of early voting by personal appearance for March 6 primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 85.001(a) Primary election day. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 41.007(a). First day independent candidates for offices not involved in runoff primary election may collect signatures for petitions in connection with applications. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 142.009. Last day to post notice of county executive committee's meeting to canvass returns of primary election because canvass must take place on March 15, 2018. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before scheduled time of meeting. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.116; Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 551.002, 551.041 & 551.043 Precinct conventions held to elect delegates to county or district conventions of minor parties. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 181.061(c), 182.005. Local canvass of the primary election by county chair and at least one member of the county executive committee, selected by the county executive committee, must be conducted on this date. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.116(b), as amended by Senate Bill 1073, 2015 Legislative Session NOTE: House Bill 1735, 2017 legislative session, amended section 172.083 of the code to require that the ballot order for a runoff election will be the same as the general election. As thus, a second ballot drawing for the runoff election is no longer required. Last day to post notice of state executive committee's meeting to canvass returns of primary election because state canvass must take place on March 18, 2018. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before the scheduled time of the meeting. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.120; Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 551.002, 551.041 & 551.043 County convention for minor parties that are nominating candidates for single-county district, county, or precinct offices. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 181.061(c), 182.005. Deadline for state executive committee to conduct state canvass for all races with potential runoffs (races with three or more candidates). See entry under March 28, 2018. State chair must certify these candidates for statewide and district offices for placement on runoff primary election ballot to county chair as soon as practicable after canvass is completed. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§172.120(b)(1) & 172.121. Last day runoff primary candidates may withdraw from ballot (5 p.m.), if the state canvass was held on March 18, 2018. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.059. Recommended deadline if state canvass is held on March 18, 2018 for state chair to certify candidates for statewide and district offices for placement on runoff primary ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.121. District convention for minor parties nominating candidates for multi-county district offices. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.061(b) Deadline for state executive committee to conduct state canvass for races with no potential runoff. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.120(b)(2) See entry under March 18, 2018. ### April 2018 Deadline for county chair to post on the secretary of state's website the names of persons elected as county chair and precinct chair for the county. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.118. NOTE: House Bill 1735, 2017 legislative session, amended section 172.118 so that written notice is no longer required to be delivered to the state chair or county clerk. Instead, this information is posted to the secretary of state's website. Deadline for early voting clerk to mail ballots for the runoff primary election to those overseas voters from whom the clerk has already received applications for ballots by mail or FPCAs. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 86.004(b). State convention for minor party that is nominating candidates for statewide offices. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 181.061(a) Last day to register to vote in May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(a) (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, April 22.) ### May 2018 Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 84.007(c). Last day for early voting clerk to receive an FPCA for May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 101.052(g), 114.004(c). First day of early voting by personal appearance for May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 85.001(b), (c) Last day of early voting by personal appearance for May 22 runoff primary election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 85.001(a) Runoff primary election day. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 41.007(b). First day independent candidates for offices involved in runoff election may collect signatures for applications. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 142.009. Last day to post notice of meeting to canvass returns of runoff primary election because canvass must take place on May 31, 2018. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before scheduled time of meeting. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.116; Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 551.002, 551.041 & 551.043 Last day minor party chairs may submit petitions and precinct convention lists to Secretary of State and to the appropriate county clerk (or other county election official) for placement on the November general election ballot. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 181.005(a), 181.006(b)(3), 181.061(c), 182.003 & 182.004. (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.006 because the 75th day after the precinct conventions falls on Sunday, May 27.) Local canvass of the runoff primary election by county chair and at least one member of the county executive committee, selected by the county executive committee, must be conducted on this date. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.116(b). ### June 2018 Last day to post notice of state executive committee's meeting to canvass returns of runoff primary election if state canvass takes place on June 9, 2018. Notice must be posted at least 72 hours before the scheduled time of the meeting. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.120; Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 551.002, 551.041 & 551.043 Deadline for state executive committee to conduct state canvass. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§172.120(b-1). New party officers take office. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 171.022(c). Deadline for county chair to post on the secretary of state's website the names of persons elected as county chair and precinct chair for the county. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.118. NOTE: House Bill 1735, 2017 legislative session, amended section 172.118 so that written notice is no longer required to be delivered to the state chair or county clerk. Instead, this information is posted to the secretary of state's website. Last day independent candidates may file applications and petitions (5 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 142.006. Deadline for state chair to deliver state executive committee's tabulation of runoff primary election to Secretary of State and to certify list of candidates for statewide and district offices who received the necessary votes for nomination at the runoff primary election to Secretary of State, if state executive committee canvassed on June 19, 2018. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 172.120(f), 172.122). ### July 2018 Deadline by which former county chair must transfer party bank accounts and records to new county chair; it is a Class C misdemeanor if the former county chair fails to transfer the records. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 171.028. First day candidates may file declaration of write-in candidacy for November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 146.025. ### August 2018 Last day to order November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 3.003, 3.005. Last day candidates may file declaration of write-in candidacy for November 6 general election (5 p.m.). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 146.025. Last day candidates may withdraw from or be declared ineligible for general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 145.032, 145.035. ### October 2018 Last day citizens may register to vote in November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(a) (This deadline is extended by Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 13.143(e) from the 30th day before election day, which falls on Sunday, October 7, to the next business day after Columbus Day, which is Monday, October 8.) First day of early voting by personal appearance for November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 85.001(a). Last day for early voting clerk to receive application for ballot by mail for November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 84.007(c). Last day for early voting clerk to receive FPCA for November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 101.052(g), 114.004(c). ### November 2018 Last day of early voting by personal appearance for November 6 general election. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 85.001(a) General election day. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 41.002. SOSDirect -Business Filings Business Copies and Certificates Uniform Commercial Code Texas Businesses Against Trafficking VoteTexas.gov - Voter Information Register to Vote & Voter I.D. Website Policies Open Records Statewide Search Texas Homeland Security Where the Money Goes Fraud Reporting Texas Veterans Portal
train39382
2018 Texas elections
Abstract.
The 2018 general election was held in the U.S. state of Texas on November 6, 2018. All of Texas's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Texas's thirty-six seats in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican and Democratic Parties nominated their candidates by primaries held March 6, 2018.  Convention Parties nominated their candidates at a series of conventions.