March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election: Basic Timeline
Disclaimer: The dates listed below are not guaranteed to be correct and are still subject to change, particularly if new legislation is passed.
Note: In general, for dates that fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or county holiday, use the next regular business day for transactions. County holidays during this period include:
- Nov. 10, 2023 - Veterans Day (Observed)
- Nov. 23, 2023 - Thanksgiving Day
- Nov. 24, 2023 - Day After Thanksgiving
- Dec. 25, 2023 - Christmas Day
- Jan. 1, 2024 - New Year's Day
- Jan. 15, 2024 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Feb. 12, 2024 - Lincoln's Birthday
- Feb. 19, 2024 - Presidents' Day
- Apr. 1, 2024 - César Chávez Day (Observed)
| Date(s) | Event |
|---|---|
| 9/14/23 | Signatures in Lieu filing period opens for all offices with filing fees |
| 9/14/23 - 11/8/23 | Signatures in Lieu filing period for all offices with filing fees |
| 9/29/23 | Candidate nominations filing period opens for party central committee offices only |
| 9/29/23 - 12/8/23 | Candidate nominations filing period for party central committee offices only |
| 10/30/23 | Declarations of Intention filing period opens for judicial candidates only |
| 10/30/23 - 11/8/23 | Declarations of Intention filing period for judicial candidates only |
| 11/8/23 | Declarations of Intention filing period closes for judicial candidates only |
| 11/8/23 | Signatures in Lieu filing period closes for all offices with filing fees |
| 11/9/23 | Extension period opens for Declarations of Intention (only applies to judicial offices that had an incumbent who did not file a Declaration of Intention) |
| 11/9/23 - 11/13/23 | Extension period for Declarations of Intention (only applies to judicial offices that had an incumbent who did not file a Declaration of Intention) |
| 11/13/23 | Extension period closes for Declarations of Intention (only applies to judicial offices that had an incumbent who did not file a Declaration of Intention) |
| 11/13/23 | Candidate nominations filing period opens for NON-party central committee offices |
| 11/13/23 - 12/8/23 | Candidate nominations filing period for NON-party central committee offices |
| 12/8/23 | Candidate nominations filing period closes for party central committee offices |
| 12/8/23 | Candidate nominations filing period closes for NON-party central committee offices |
| 12/8/23 | Deadline for governing bodies to submit measures |
| 12/8/23 | Tax rate statement deadline (bond measures only) |
| 12/11/23 | Measure letter assignments |
| 12/11/23 | Extension period opens for candidate nominations (only applies to offices that had an incumbent who did not file for re-election) |
| 12/11/23 - 12/13/23 | Extension period for candidate nominations (only applies to offices that had an incumbent who did not file for re-election) |
| 12/13/23 | Extension period closes for candidate nominations (only applies to offices that had an incumbent who did not file for re-election) |
| 12/13/23 | Deadline to amend/withdraw measures |
| 12/14/23 | Random alphabet drawing |
| 12/15/23 | Argument deadline |
| 12/15/23 | Impartial analysis due |
| 12/22/23 | Rebuttal deadline (only if opposing arguments are filed) |
| 1/8/24 | Write-in period begins |
| 1/8/24 - 2/20/24 | Write-in period |
| 1/20/24 | Deadline to send ballots to currently registered military/overseas voters |
| 1/25/24 | Approximate date County Voter Information Guides begin being mailed |
| 2/5/24 | Voting by mail opens; first day voters can pick up Vote-by-Mail ballots at the Registrar of Voters Office |
| 2/5/24 | First day Registrar of Voters may begin to process Vote-by-Mail ballots |
| 2/6/24 | Official Ballot Drop Boxes open |
| 2/6/24 - 3/4/24 | Official Ballot Drop Boxes are open daily 24/7 |
| 2/20/24* | Standard voter registration deadline* |
| 2/20/24 | Write-in period closes |
| 2/21/24 | Conditional (a.k.a. “same day”) voter registration period opens |
| 2/21/24 - 3/5/24 | Conditional (a.k.a. “same day”) voter registration period |
| 2/24/24 | 11-Day Vote Centers open |
| 2/24/24 - 3/4/24 | 11-day Vote Centers are open daily from 9 a.m .to 5 p.m. |
| 2/27/24 | Last day to request a ballot be mailed |
| 3/2/24 | 4-Day Vote Centers open |
| 3/2/24 - 3/4/24 | 4-Day Vote Centers are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| 3/5/24 | Election Day: All Vote Centers (both 11-Day and 4-Day) are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| 3/5/24 | Official Ballot Drop Boxes close at 8 p.m. |
| 3/5/24 | Conditional (a.k.a. “same day”) voter registration period closes |
| 3/12/24 | Vote-by-Mail ballots which are postmarked on or before Election Day must be received by this date in order to be counted |
| 4/2/24 | Deadline to transmit presidential election results to SOS |
| 4/4/24 | Deadline to certify election results |
*The standard voter registration deadline moves from Feb. 19 to Feb. 20 because Feb. 19 is Presidents' Day.