When To Vote
Important 2012 Election Dates (Revised by Federal Court Orders)
April | June (Primary Runoff) | May (Limited Uniform) | November
April 3, 2012 - Primary Election Date
Federal Court Order of December 16, 2011
A more detailed calendar is at our Candidates Guide |
| Authority conducting elections |
*Political Party County Chairs |
| First Day to File for Place on Ballot |
First day of “first time period”:
November 28, 2011 (September 13, 2011 for Precinct Chair) (COURT ORDERS)
First Day of “second time period”: To Be Determined (at a later date by court order) |
| Last Day to File for Place on Ballot |
Last day of “first time period”:
December 19, 2011 (COURT ORDER)
Last Day of “second time period”: February 1, 2012 (COURT ORDER) |
| First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
(does not apply to FPCA) |
February 3, 2012 |
| Last Day to Register to Vote |
March 5, 2012 (Monday, which is next business day after statutory deadline) |
| First Day of Early Voting |
March 19, 2012 |
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
(Received, not Postmarked) |
March 27, 2012 |
| Last Day of Early Voting |
March 30, 2012 |
June 5, 2012 - Primary Runoff Election Date
Federal Court Order of December 16, 2011
A more detailed calendar is at our Candidates Guide |
| Authority conducting elections |
*Political Party County Chairs |
First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
(does not apply to FPCA) |
April 6, 2012 (if did not request runoff ballot on application for primary ballot) |
| Last Day to Register to Vote |
May 7, 2012 (Monday, which is next business day after statutory deadline) |
| First Day of Early Voting |
May 29, 2012 (Tuesday, which is next business day after Memorial Day) |
Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
(Received, not Postmarked) |
May 29, 2012
(Received, not Postmarked) |
| Last Day of Early Voting |
June 1, 2012 |
May 12, 2012 – Limited Uniform Election Date
| Authority conducting elections |
*Local political subdivisions other than counties |
| |
(NEW LAW: County-ordered elections may not be held on this date; however, County Election Officials may, at their own discretion, contract with local political subdivisions to provide election services.) |
| First Day to File for Place on General Election Ballot (for cities and schools ONLY) (filing deadline for other political subdivisions may vary)* |
February 4, 2012
(Even though the first day to file falls on a Saturday, this does not require the filing authority to hold weekend office hours to receive candidate applications.) |
| Last Day to File for Place on Ballot, ifregular filing deadline* |
March 5, 2012 (NEW LAW: 71st day before election day; falls on state holiday March 2, 2012; moves to Monday, which is next business day after statutory deadline)
***March 16, 2012 (see note below relating to four-year terms) |
| Last Day to Order General Election (or Special Election on a Measure)* |
March 5, 2012 (NEW LAW: 71st day before election day; falls on state holiday March 2, 2012; moves to Monday, which is next business day after statutory deadline) |
| First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail |
March 13, 2012 |
| Last Day to Register to Vote |
April 12, 2012 |
| First Day of Early Voting |
April 30, 2012 |
| Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked) |
May 4, 2012 (Friday, which is first preceding business day before statutory deadline) |
| Last Day of Early Voting |
May 8, 2012 |
November 6, 2012 - Uniform Election Date
| Authority conducting elections |
County Clerk/Elections Administrator/
*Local political subdivisions |
| First Day to File for Place on General Election Ballot (for cities and schools ONLY) (filing deadline for other political subdivisions may vary)* |
July 21, 2012
(Even though the first day to file falls on a Saturday, this does not require the filing authority to hold weekend office hours to receive candidate applications.) |
| Last Day to Order General Election (or Special Election on a Measure)* |
August 20, 2012 (NEW LAW: 78th day before election day) |
| Last Day to File for Place on General Election Ballot (for local political subdivisions ONLY)* |
August 20, 2012 (NEW LAW: 78th day before election day) |
| First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (does not apply to FPCA) |
September 7, 2012 |
| Last Day to Register to Vote |
October 9, 2012 (Tuesday, which is next business day after Columbus Day) |
| First Day of Early Voting |
October 22, 2012 (Monday, which is next business day after statutory deadline) |
| Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received, not Postmarked) |
October 30, 2012
(Received, not Postmarked) |
| Last Day of Early Voting |
November 2, 2012 |
*Filing deadlines:
- Generally, the filing deadline is the 71st day prior to Election Day (78th day prior to November General Election in even-numbered years); however, the Election Code may provide a different special election filing deadline. See Section 201.054 of the Texas Election Code.
- Local political subdivisions, other than cities or school districts, might not have a "first day" to file. Write-in deadlines for general and special elections also vary; the deadline for most local (city, school, other) general elections is now the same day as the filing deadline for application for a place on the ballot; special election write-in rules vary, see long calendars for details.
- If no candidate for a four-year term has filed an application for a place on the ballot for a city office, the filing deadline for that office is extended to 5 p.m. of the 57th day before the election. See Section 143.008 of the Texas Election Code.
