Important Dates for the 2026 Election Cycle!

Pre-General Election 

October 5, 2026: Last day to issue the call for a November special election.

October 23, 2026: Deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November general election.

October 27, 2026: Deadline to designate election day poll watchers and for notice of intent to tabulate early.

October 27, 2026: Deadline to publish consolidation notice.

October 30, 2026: Last day of advance voting.

October 31, 2026: Deadline to submit poll watcher designation letters.

October 31, 2026: Deadline to conduct logic and accuracy testing.

November 2, 2026: Registration deadline for December Federal Runoff.

November 3, 2026:  General Election Day: (Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.).

November 3, 2026: Ballot cast report due by 11:59 p.m.

Post-General Election

November 4, 2026: Provisional ballot documentation due to the registrar by 9:00 a.m.

November 6, 2026: Deadline for provisional voter documentation (5:00 p.m.) and UOCAVA ballot receipt.

November 9, 2026 (5:00 p.m.): Deadline for county certification of November General Election returns.

November 9, 2026 (5:00 p.m.): Absentee ballot cure deadline for missing signatures or mismatched information.

November 13 – 17, 2026: Period to conduct the mandatory risk-limiting audit for the General Election.

November 16, 2026: Deadline to designate poll watchers for advance voting in the December Runoff Election.

November 16, 2026: Deadline to publish the advance voting notice for the December Runoff Election.

November 20, 2026: Deadline to request an absentee ballot for the December Runoff Election.

November 20, 2026: Deadline for official state certification of election returns by the Secretary of State.

November 20, 2026: Deadline to send copies of poll watcher designation letters to the state and county.

November 20, 2026: Deadline to conduct logic and accuracy testing.

November 23, 2026: December runoff election advance voting begins (or prior to this date).

November 24, 2026: Deadline for notice of intent to tabulate early.

November 24, 2026: Deadline to publish consolidation notice.

November 24, 2026: Deadline to designate election day poll watchers.

November 25, 2026: Last day of advance voting.

November 28, 2026: Deadline to conduct logic and accuracy testing.

November 28, 2026: Deadline to submit election day poll watcher designation letters.

December 1, 2026: RUNOFF ELECTION DAY (Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.).

Post-Runoff Election

December 2, 2026 (9:00 a.m.): Ballot Cast Report Due: A comprehensive report consisting of all provisional, absentee-by-mail, and standard ballots cast must be compiled by 11:59 p.m. following the close of polls.

December Runoff Election Provisional Ballot Documentation Due to Registrar: County election superintendents must send provisional voter certificates, registration forms, and the provisional numbered list to the registrar by 9:00 a.m. the morning after the election.

December 3, 2026 (11:59 p.m.): November General Reconciliation Report Due: No later than 30 days post-certification of the general election, counties must transmit an electronic reconciliation report comparing total votes cast to total voters credited in each precinct.

December 4, 2026 (5:00 p.m.): December Runoff Provisional Voter Documentation: Last day for voters to present required identification or documentation to validate a provisional ballot. UOCAVA Ballot Receipt Deadline: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ballots postmarked by election day must be received by this deadline to be counted.Absentee Ballot Cure Deadline: Final cutoff for voters to fix any missing signature or identity discrepancy errors on their absentee ballot.

December 7, 2026 (5:00 p.m.) Deadline for County Certification of December Runoff Election: Results must be certified by the local county superintendent and immediately submitted to the Secretary of State's office.

December 10 through December 14, 2026 Conduct Risk Limiting Audit: Local election officials must conduct a mandatory risk-limiting audit on a randomly selected federal or statewide contest.

December 18, 2026 Deadline for State Certification of Returns: The final statutory deadline for the Secretary of State's office to certify the total state votes cast for all federal and statewide offices