If you're asking when does us election start, you're probably not just looking for a single date. Honestly, "Election Day" is kind of a misnomer now. It’s more like an election season.
While the next big one—the 2028 Presidential Election—is officially set for November 7, 2028, the machinery is already humming. If you think it’s too early to talk about this, you’ve clearly missed the red hats popping up at rallies and the frantic emails from the DNC and RNC.
Basically, the "start" depends on who you are. Are you a candidate? It started months ago. Are you a voter in a state with robust mail-in options? It starts in September 2028. Are you someone who just wants to see the results and go to bed? Well, that might not even happen on election night.
The Long Runway: When the Campaign Actually Begins
Candidates don't just wake up in November and hope for the best.
Technically, the 2028 cycle "started" the moment the 2024 results were certified. By late 2025, people like Vice President JD Vance and various Democratic governors were already being gauged in straw polls.
If we’re looking at the formal timeline, things get real in the spring of the year before the election. That’s 2027. This is when the Federal Election Commission (FEC) starts seeing a flood of official filings. Usually, candidates want to announce about a year and a half before the first Tuesday in November to build up a war chest of cash.
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The Primary Gauntlet (January – June 2028)
This is the real start for most political junkies. The primaries and caucuses are where the parties thin the herd.
Currently, there’s a lot of drama about which state goes first. The Democrats have been trying to shake things up, moving South Carolina to the front of the line to prioritize diversity. Meanwhile, New Hampshire has a state law saying they must be first. It's a mess.
- Iowa and New Hampshire: Usually kick things off in January or February.
- Super Tuesday: A massive block of states (often including California and Texas) votes in early March. This is usually when we find out who the actual nominees will be.
- The Conventions: These happen in July or August. They’re basically giant, televised pep rallies where the VP picks are officially introduced.
When Can You Actually Cast a Ballot?
If you’re a voter, the question of when does us election start usually means "when can I vote?"
The answer: Much earlier than you think.
Thanks to the expansion of early voting and mail-in balloting, "Election Day" is now just the deadline. In 2028, some states will start sending out ballots to overseas and military voters as early as mid-September.
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For most people, the windows look like this:
- Mail-in Ballots: Often arrive in mailboxes 30 to 45 days before the election.
- In-Person Early Voting: Usually starts in mid-to-late October. States like Georgia and North Carolina often have high turnout during this "Advance Voting" period.
- The Actual Day: November 7, 2028. Polls usually open at 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM local time.
Why November 7th?
It seems random, right? Why a Tuesday? Why the "Tuesday after the first Monday"?
It’s an old law from 1845. Back then, the US was an agrarian society. Lawmakers didn't want the election to fall on November 1st because that was All Saints' Day, and it was also when merchants usually did their books for the previous month.
They chose Tuesday because it gave people time to travel to the county seat on Monday after church on Sunday. It’s a bit of an archaic holdover, but it’s what we’ve got.
The Post-Election "Start"
The voting ends on November 7, but the process doesn't.
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After you vote, the Electoral College takes over. These electors meet in their respective states on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December (December 18, 2028).
Then, the new Congress meets on January 6, 2029, to count those votes. If everything goes smoothly, the winner is inaugurated on January 20, 2029.
Actionable Steps for the 2028 Cycle
Don't wait until the news starts screaming at you in 2028 to get your house in order.
- Check your registration now. People get purged from voter rolls all the time. Use Vote.org or your Secretary of State’s website to make sure you're still active.
- Track the Midterms. The 2026 midterms (November 3, 2026) are the best indicator of how the 2028 election will go. Keep an eye on the "Swing States"—Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia.
- Request a mail-in ballot early. If you’re planning to vote by mail, don't wait until October 2028. USPS delays can be real, and you don't want your civic duty lost in the sorting bin.
Stay alert. The 2028 election is a marathon, not a sprint, and the starting gun has already fired for those paying attention.