2016 Presidential Election Schedule

2015

October: 

• 10/15: FEC Quarterly Filing Deadline
• 10/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• 10/27: FEC Pre-General Filing Deadline
• 10/28: Republican Debate. Host: CNBC – Boulder, Colorado

November: 

• 11/10: Republican Debate, Host: Fox Business/Wall Street Journal – Milwaukee
• 11/14: Democratic Debate, Host: CBS/KCCI/Des Moines Register – Des Moines, Iowa
• 11/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline

December: 

• 12/15: Republican Debate, Host: CNN/Salem Radio – Nevada
• 12/19: Democratic Debate, Host: ABC/WMUR – Manchester, New Hampshire
• 12/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline

2016

January

• 1/14: Republican Debate, Host: Fox Business Network – North Charleston, South Carolina
• 1/17: Democratic Debate, Host: NBC/Congressional Black Caucus Institute – Charleston, South Carolina
• 1/28: Republican Debate, Host: Fox News – Des Moines, Iowa
• 1/31: FEC Year-End Filing Deadline

February

• 2/1: Iowa Caucuses
• 2/4: Democratic Debate, Host: MSNBC – Manchester, New Hampshire
• 2/6: Republican Debate, Host: ABC News – Manchester, New Hampshire
• 2/9: New Hampshire Primary
• 2/11: Democratic Debate, Host: PBS – Wisconsin
• 2/13: Republican Debate, Host: CBS News – South Carolina
• 2/20: South Carolina Republican Primary
• 2/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• 2/20: Nevada Democratic Caucuses
• 2/23: Nevada Republican Caucuses
• 2/25: Republican Debate, Host: CNN/Telemundo/National Review – Houston
• 2/27: South Carolina Democratic Primary

March

• 3/1: Alabama Primary
• 3/1: Alaska Republican Caucuses
• 3/1: Colorado Democratic Caucuses
• 3/1: Arkansas Primary
• 3/1: Georgia Primary
• 3/1: Massachusetts Primary
• 3/1: Minnesota Caucuses
• 3/1: Oklahoma Primary
• 3/1: Tennessee Primary
• 3/1: Texas Primary
• 3/1: Vermont Primary
• 3/1: Virginia Primary
• 3/5: Kentucky Republican Caucuses
• 3/5: Kansas Caucuses
• 3/5: Louisiana Primary
• 3/5: Nebraska Democratic Caucuses
• 3/5: Maine Republican Caucuses
• 3/6: Maine Democratic Caucuses
• 3/6: Puerto Rico Primary
• 3/8: Hawaii Republican Caucuses
• 3/8: Idaho Republican Primary
• 3/8: Michigan Primary
• 3/8: Mississippi Primary
• 3/9 Democratic Debate, Host: Univision – Miami
• 3/10: Republican Debate, Host: CNN/Salem Radio – Florida
• 3/12: District of Columbia Republican Convention
• 3/12: Guam Republican Convention
• 3/15: Florida Primary
• 3/15: North Carolina Primary
• 3/15: Illinois Primary
• 3/15: Missouri Primary
• 3/15: Ohio Primary
• 3/15: Northern Marianas Republican Caucus
• 3/19: U.S. Virgin Islands Caucus
• 3/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• 3/22: Arizona Primary
• 3/22: American Samoa Republican Convention/Caucus
• 3/22: Idaho Democratic Caucuses
• 3/22: Utah Caucuses
• 3/26: Alaska Democratic Caucuses
• 3/26: Hawaii Democratic Caucuses
• 3/26: Washington Democratic Caucuses

 April: 

• 4/1: North Dakota Republican Convention/Caucuses
• 4/5: Wisconsin Primary
• 4/9: Colorado Republican Caucuses
• 4/9: Wyoming Democratic Caucuses
• 4/15: FEC Quarterly Filing
• 4/19: New York Primary
• 4/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• 4/26: Connecticut Primary
• 4/26: Delaware Primary
• 4/26: Maryland Primary
• 4/26: Pennsylvania Primary
  4/26: Rhode Island Primary

May:

• 5/3: Indiana Primary
• 5/10: Nebraska Republican Primary
• 5/10: West Virginia Primary

May:

• 5/17: Oregon Primary
• 5/17: Kentucky Democratic Primary
• 5/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• 5/24: Washington Republican Primary

June:

• 6/7: California Primary
• 6/7: Montana Primary
• 6/7: New Jersey Primary
• 6/7: New Mexico Primary
• 6/7: North Dakota Democratic Caucuses
• 6/7: South Dakota Primary
• 6/14: District of Columbia Primary
• 6/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline

July:

• 7/15: FEC Quarterly Filing
• 7/18: Republican National Convention – Cleveland
• 7/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• 7/25: Democratic National Convention – Philadelphia

September:

• 9/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• 9/26: Presidential Debate – Dayton, Ohio

October:

• 10/4: Vice Presidential Debate – Farmville, Virginia
• 10/9: Presidential Debate – St. Louis, Missouri
• 10/15: FEC Quarterly Filing
• 10/19: Presidential Debate – Las Vegas
• 10/20: FEC Monthly Filing Deadline
• Date TBD: FEC Pre-General Filing

November:

11/8: General Election

YOUR TASK:

1. When does the primary season begin and end?
2. Which events are expected first for both parties?
3. Are there groups of states that hold their primaries on the same days? Explain.
4. Are all states having a primary or caucus for both parties? Explain.
5. When is your state holding its primaries or caucuses?
6. Why does the schedule sometimes differ from one presidential primary season to another?
7. What traditionally happens during the nominating process for a party that has a sitting president up for re-election?
8. Explain the nomination process in your state.
9. Does your state hold primaries or caucuses or both?
10. How are delegates to the national conventions allocated in your state?
11. Is there anything unique about the process in your state?