1 For the few entities who do not have a first day to file: For the May 2, 2026 election, Wednesday, January 14, 2026 is the deadline to post notice of candidate filing deadline for local political subdivisions that do not have a first day to file for their candidates. For the November 3, 2026 election, Saturday, July 18, 2026 is the deadline to post notice of candidate filing deadline for local political subdivisions that do not have a first day to file for their candidates. See Section 141.040(a)(2) of the Election Code.

Local political subdivisions include: cities, school districts, water districts, hospital districts, and any other local government entity that conducts elections. Many of these elections are conducted on the May uniform election date.

² Filing deadlines:  generally, the filing deadline is the 78th day prior to Election Day. The Election Code may provide a different special election filing deadline. See Section 201.054 of the Texas Election Code (the “Code”).  Write-in deadlines for general and special elections vary. See the long calendar for this election date for details. The write-in deadline for most local (city, school, other) special elections is now the same day as the filing deadline for application for a place on the ballot. Section 201.054.

³ If no candidate for a four-year term has filed an application for a place on the ballot for a city office, the filing deadline for that office is extended to 5 p.m. of the 57th day before the election.  For the May 2, 2026 election, this is Friday, March 6, 2026. See Section 143.008 of the Election Code.

⁴ Different deadlines apply to the last day to receive ballots sent by the following: 1) non-military and military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and submitted a regular state Application for Ballot by Mail (“ABBM”), 2) non-military voters who mailed ballots from overseas and who submitted a Federal Postcard Application (“FPCA”), and (3) military voters and members of the Texas National Guard, who mailed ballots domestically or from overseas and who submitted an FPCA. See Secs. 86.007, 101.001 and 101.057 of the Election Code.

⁵ Section 2051.152 of the Government Code requires all political subdivisions with the authority to impose a tax maintain a publically accessible Internet website and post the date and location of the next election for officers of the political subdivision and the requirements and deadline for filing for candidacy of each elected office of the political subdivision, which shall be continuously posted for at least one year before the election day for the office.

Please contact the Elections Division of the Office of the Texas Secretary of State at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) for additional information.