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**2026 POLITICAL CALENDAR** 40 NORTH PEARL STREET – SUITE 5, ALBANY, NEW YORK 12207 (518) 474-6220 For TDD/TTY, call the NYS Relay 711 www.elections.ny.gov Primary Election General Election June 23, 2026 November 3, 2026 KEY PRIMARY ELECTION DATES Feb 1 Certification of offices to be filled at 2026 General Election by SBOE and CBOEs. §§4-106(1), Feb 10 PARTY CALLS: Last day for State & County party chairs to file a statement of party positions to be filled at Primary Election. §2-120(1) June 13 - 21 Days of Early Voting for Primary Election. §8-600(1) June 23 Primary Election. §8-100(1)(a) VOTER REGISTRATION – PRIMARY ELECTION Feb 20 List of Registered Voters: Publication of February enrollments. §5-604 June 13 Voter Registration Deadline: Application must be received by this date to be eligible to vote in Primary Election. §§5-210, 5-211, 5-212 June 8 Change of Address for Primary Election must be received by this date. §5-208(3) CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT Feb 14 A change of enrollment RECEIVED by BOE not later than Feb 14 or after June 30 is effective immediately. Any change of enrollment made between Feb 15 - June 30, shall be effective June 30. §5-304(3) DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES – PRIMARY May 1 Last day to file early voting communication plan with SBOE. 9 6211.7(c) May 9 Last day to designate early voting sites for primary elections. §§8-600(4)(e)(i) CERTIFICATION OF PRIMARY BALLOT Apr 29 Certification of primary ballot by SBOE of designations filed in its office. §4-110 Apr 30 Certification of primary ballot by CBOEs of designations filed in its office. §4-114 CANVASS OF PRIMARY RESULTS July 6 Canvass of Primary Election returns by CBOEs. §9-200(1) July 6 Verifiable Audit of Voting Systems. §9-211(1) July 13 Recanvass of Primary returns. §9-208(1) ABSENTEE/EARLY VOTING BY MAIL – PRIMARY June 13 Last day to RECEIVE application or letter of application by mail or online portal for primary ballot. §§8-400(2)(c), 8-700(2)(c), June 22 Last day to apply in person for primary ballot. §§8-400(2)(c), 8-700 June 23 Last day to postmark primary election ballot. Must be received by CBOE no later than June 30th. §§8-412(1), 8-710 June 23 Last day to deliver primary ballot in person to your county board or a poll site in your county, by close of polls. §§8-412(1), 8-710 MILITARY/SPECIAL FEDERAL VOTERS – PRIMARY May 8 Deadline to transmit ballots to eligible Military/Special Federal/UOCAVA Voters. §§10-108(1), 11-204(4) June 13 Last day for BOE to RECEIVE application for Military/Special Federal/UOCAVA ballot for primary if not previously registered. §§10- 106(5), 11-202(1)(a) June 16 Last day for BOE to RECEIVE application for Military/Special Federal/UOCAVA ballot for primary if already registered. §§10-106(5), 11-202(1)(b) June 22 Last day to apply personally for Military ballot for primary if previously registered. §10-106(5) June 23 Last day to postmark Military/Special Federal/ UOCAVA ballot for primary. Date by which it must be received by BOE is June 30th. §§10-114(1), 11-212 PARTY NOMINATION OTHER THAN PRIMARY Feb 3 - 24 Holding state committee meetings for nominations for statewide office. §6-104(6) Feb 24 First day to hold a town caucus. §6-108(1) July 3 Last day to decline all party nominations after primary loss. §6-146(6) July 7 Last day to fill vacancy after declination by primary loser. §6-158(3) July 13 Last day to file authorization of substitution after declination by primary loser. §6-120(3) July 23 Last day for filing nominations from town or village caucus or party committee. §6-158(6) July 23 Last day to file certificates of nomination to fill vacancies created pursuant to §§6-116, 6-104. §6-158(6) July 27 Last day to accept or decline a nomination for office made based on §6-116. §6-158(7) July 27 Last day to file authorization of nomination made based on §6-116. §6-120(3) July 31 Last day to fill a vacancy after a declination made based on §6-116. §6-158(8) DESIGNATING PETITIONS – PRIMARY Feb 24 - Apr 2 Dates for circulating designating petitions. §6-134(4) Mar 30 - Apr 6 Dates for filing designating petitions. §6-158(1) Apr 10 Last day to authorize designations. §6-120(3) Apr 10 Last day to accept or decline designations. §6-158(2) Apr 14 Last day to fill a vacancy after a declination. §6-158(3) Apr 20 Last day to file authorization of substitution after declination of a designation. §6-120(3) OPPORTUNITY TO BALLOT PETITIONS Mar 21 First day for signing OTB petitions. §6-164 Apr 9 Last day to file OTB petitions. §6-158(4) Apr 13 Last day for member of committee to receive notices to file acceptance. §6-166(3) Apr 16 Last day to file OTB petition if designated candidate has declined. §6-158(4) Apr 20 Last day for member of committee to receive notices to file acceptance if declination filed by a candidate. §6-166(3) SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGNATING AND OPPORTUNITY TO BALLOT PETITIONS (§6-136) 5% of the active enrolled voters of the political party in the political unit or the following, whichever is less: For any office to be filled by all the voters of: • The entire state 15,000 (with at least 100 or 5% of enrolled voters from each of one-half of the congressional districts) • New York City 7,500* • Any county or borough of NYC. 4,000* • A municipal court district within NYC. 1,500* • Any city council district within NYC. 900* • Cities/counties having more than 250,000 2,000 • Cities/counties having more than 25,000 but not more than 250,000 inhabitants 1,000 • Any city, county, councilmanic or county legislative districts in any city other than NYC. 500 • Any congressional district 1,250 • Any state senatorial district 1,000 • Any assembly district 500 • Any county legislative district 500 Any political subdivision contained within another political subdivision, except as herein provided, requirement is not to exceed the number required for the larger subdivision; a political subdivision containing more than one assembly district, county or other political subdivision, requirement is not to exceed the aggregate of the signatures required for the subdivision or parts of subdivision so contained. *NOTE: Section 1057-b of the New York City Charter supersedes New York Election Law signature requirements for Designating and OTB petitions and independent nominating petitions with respect to certain New York City offices. All Dates Subject to Change by the State Legislature Revised 12/09/2025 ---PAGE BREAK--- KEY GENERAL ELECTION DATES Feb 1 Certification of offices to be filled at 2026 General Election by SBOE and CBOE. §4-106(1), Oct 24 - Nov 1 Days of Early Voting for the General Election. §8-600(1) Nov 3 General Election. §8-100(1)(c) VOTER REGISTRATION – GENERAL ELECTION Oct 24 Registration Deadline for General Election: Last day application must be received by BOE to be eligible to vote in General Election. §§5-210, 5-211, 5-212 Oct 19 Change of Address for General Election: received by BOE by this date must be processed. §5-208(3) DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES – GENERAL March 15 Last day to designate General Election polling places for each election district for ensuing year. §4-104(1) May 1 Last day to designate early voting sites for the general election. 9 6211.1(a) May 1 Last day to file early voting communication plan with SBOE. 9 6211.7(c) VACANCY IN OFFICE Aug 3 A vacancy occurring three months before a General Election in any year in any office are authorized to be filled at a General Election. §6-158(14) REFERENDA/PROPOSITIONS/PROPOSALS Aug 3 For any election conducted by a CBOE, the clerk of such subdivision shall provide the CBOE with a certified text copy of any referendum, proposition, or proposal at least three months before the General Election. §4-108(b) JUDICIAL DISTRICT CONVENTIONS Minutes of a convention must be filed within 72 hours (3 days) of adjournment. §6-158(6) Aug 6 - 12 Dates for holding Judicial conventions. §6-158(5) Aug 13 Last day to file certificates of nominations. §6-158(6) Aug 17 Last day to decline nomination. §6-158(7) Aug 21 Last day to fill vacancy after a declination. §6-158(8) CERTIFICATION OF GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT Sept 9 Certification of General Election ballot by SBOE of nominations filed in its office. §4-112(1) Sept 10 Certification of General Election ballot by CBOE of nominations and questions. §4-114 CANVASS OF GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS Nov 18 Recanvass of General Election returns. §9-208(1) Nov 18 Verifiable Audit of Voting Systems. §9-211(1) Nov 28 Certification and transmission of Canvass of General Election returns by CBOEs. §9-214(1) Dec 15 Last day for State Board of Canvassers to meet to certify General Election. §9-216(2) ABSENTEE/EARLY VOTING BY MAIL – GENERAL Oct 24 Last day for board of elections to RECEIVE application or letter of application by mail or online portal for General Election ballot. §§8-400(2)(c), 8-700 Nov 2 Last day to apply in person for General Election ballot. §§8-400(2)(c), 8-700 Nov 3 Last day to postmark General Election ballot. Must be received by CBOE no later than Nov 10th. §§8-412(1), 8-710 Nov 3 Last day to deliver General Election ballot in person to CBOE or poll site within county by close of polls on Election Day. §§8-412(1), 8-710 MILITARY/SPECIAL FEDERAL VOTERS – GENERAL Sept 18 Deadline to transmit ballots to eligible Military/Special Federal/UOCAVA voters. §§10- 108(1), 11-204(4) Oct 24 Last day for BOE to RECEIVE application for Military/Special Federal/UOCAVA ballot for general if not previously registered. §§10-106(5), 11-202(1)(a) Oct 27 Last day for BOE to RECEIVE application for Military/Special Federal/UOCAVA ballot for general if already registered. §§10-106(5), 11- 202(1)(b) Nov 2 Last day to apply personally for Military ballot for general if previously registered. §10-106(5) Nov 3 Last day to postmark Military/Special Federal/UOCAVA ballot for general. Date by which it must be received by BOE is Nov. 16th. §§10-114(1), 11-212 INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITIONS Apr 14 First day for signing independent nominating petitions. §6-138(4) May 19 - 26 Dates for filing independent nominating petitions. §6-158(9) May 29 Last day to accept or decline a nomination. §6-158(11) June 1 Last day to fill vacancy after a declination. §6-158(12) June 26 Last day to decline after acceptance if nominee loses party primary. §6-158(11) FILING REQUIREMENTS (§1-106): Documents required to be filed with the SBOE or CBOEs outside of New York City will be deemed timely filed if sent by mail or overnight delivery service, in an envelope postmarked or showing receipt by the overnight delivery service prior to midnight of the last day for filing, and received no later than two business days after the last day for filing. Failure of the post office or authorized overnight delivery service to deliver such document no later than two business days after the last day for filing shall be a fatal defect. All papers shall be filed between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM unless otherwise provided. On the last day for filing, the Westchester County Board of Elections is open between the hours of 9:00 AM and midnight. If the last day for filing shall fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the next business day shall become the last day for filing. All documents required to be filed with New York City Board of Elections must be actually received on or before the last day for filing. The New York City Board of Elections is open until midnight on the last day for filing. SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITIONS (§6-142) 1% of the total votes (excluding blank and void) cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election in the political unit for any office to be voted for by all the voters of: • The entire state 45,000 (with at least 500 or 1% of enrolled voters from each of one-half of the congressional districts) 5% of the total votes (excluding blank and void) cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election in the political unit; except not more than 3,500 signatures shall be required for an office to be filled in any political subdivision outside New York City, and not more than the following for any office to be voted for by all the voters of: • Any county or portion outside 1,500 • New York City 7,500* • Any county or borough or any two counties or boroughs within NYC 4,000* • Any city council district within NYC • Any municipal court district 3,000 • Any congressional district 3,500 • Any state senatorial district 3,000 • Any assembly district 1,500 Any political subdivision contained within another political subdivision, except as herein provided, requirement is not to exceed the number for the larger subdivision. *NOTE: Section 1057-b of the New York City Charter supersedes New York Election Law signature requirements for Designating and OTB petitions and independent nominating petitions with respect to certain New York City offices. All Dates Subject to Change by the State Legislature Revised: 12/09/2025