March 4, 2008, Primary Election Important Dates

October 4, 2007  (90th day before statutory filing deadline)

First day to file an application for the office of precinct chair.

County chair must review each application within five days after the date the application is received.  If the application is rejected, the chair must immediately deliver written notice of the reason for the rejection to the candidate. 

December 3, 2007

First day to file an application for a place on the primary ballot for an office other than precinct chair.

December 3, 2007  (30th day before write-in deadline for county or precinct chair)

First day to file declaration of write-in candidacy for county or precinct chair. 

December 31, 2007 – January 1, 2008

If a candidate who has filed an application for place on ballot for the office of precinct chair dies or is declared ineligible on these dates, the original deadline for filing declaration of write-in candidacy for that office is extended. 

January 2, 2008 (62nd day before election)

Filing deadline – 6:00 p.m.  Applications for a place on the general primary election ballot must be received by the state or county chair.  Postmark by this deadline without actual receipt by the state or county chair is not sufficient.

Last day for candidate to withdraw from ballot.

5:00 p.m. – Last day for a write-in candidate for the office of county or precinct chair to file a declaration of write-in candidacy.

January 4, 2008 (60th day before election day)

Last day to file application if the original filing deadline is extended due to withdrawal or vacancy in office.

First day to receive applications for ballots to be voted by mail.

January 7, 2008  (57th day before election)

Last day for State Chair to certify names of candidates for statewide and multi-county district offices.

Last day to file a declaration of write-in candidacy for office of county or precinct chair if the filing deadline was extended due to death or ineligibility. This deadline is extended to the 57th day since the 59th day falls on a Saturday.

January 11, 2008  (53rd day before election)

Last day for county executive committee to conduct ballot drawing.

January 12, 2008

Deadline for county chair to deliver copies of the list of candidates to the county clerk, the state chair, and the Secretary of State.

Deadline for state chair to deliver his or her list of candidates to the Secretary of State.

January 19, 2008  (45th day before election)

Recommended first day to mail early voting ballots to voters who have requested them.

February 4, 2008  (29th day before election, extended)

Last day citizens may register to vote in the primary election or change voter registration information to be effective for the primary election.

February 19, 2008  (14th day before election)

Early voting in person begins.  Deadline extended due to legal state holiday.

February 29, 2008  (4th day before election)

Last day to vote early in person.

March 4, 2008  Primary Election Day

7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Early voting clerk's office is open.

March 13 or 14, 2008  (9th or 10th day after election)

County Executive Committee must canvass returns of election no earlier than 6:00 p.m., March 13, 2008 and no later than 1:00 p.m., March 14, 2008. 

Ballot drawing must be conducted for candidates involved in runoff election for county and precinct offices.

March 19, 2008  (22nd day before election) (by rule)

State Executive Committee to canvass returns for state and district offices.  State Executive Committee to certify candidates as soon as possible.

State Executive Committee to certify to county chairs names of candidates to be printed on the run-off ballot.

March 20, 2008

First day for County Executive Committee to post notice of the drawing for place on primary runoff ballot for statewide and district candidates.

March 31-April 4, 2008  (8th-4th day before runoff election)

Early voting period for primary runoff election. 

April 8, 2008  Primary Runoff Election Day. 

7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Early voting clerk's office is open.

April 17 or 18, 2008  (9th or 10th day after runoff election)

County Executive Committee must canvass election returns no earlier than 6:00 p.m., Thursday April 17, 2008 and no later than 1:00 p.m., April 18, 2008.

May 7 or 8, 2008  (19th and 20th day after local canvass at county seat for runoff election)

Last day for County Chair to certify nominees from the primary runoff election for placement on general election ballot.  The exact day is based on the 20th day after the canvass actually took place.