New Hampshire candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for New Hampshire state candidates file with New Hampshire Secretary of State.
4 more deadlines follow in this cycle.
Electbase emails you before every deadline — 14, 7, and 2 days out — and stays current as the official schedule changes.
Get deadline remindersIncluded in every Electbase plan · See pricingThis page also covers New Hampshire candidate-filing (ballot access) deadlines for 2027–2028 — the process of becoming a qualified candidate, distinct from the campaign-finance reporting below. Here's how to run for office in New Hampshire: what to file, when, and with whom.
7 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a New Hampshire state candidate files with New Hampshire Secretary of State for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Sep 8, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-election | NH 12-Week Pre-Primary Report Wednesday 12 weeks before the September 8 primary. |
— – Jun 14, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | NH 3-Week Pre-Primary Report Wednesday 3 weeks before the primary. |
— – Aug 16, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | NH Pre-Primary Report Wednesday before the primary. |
— – Aug 30, 2026 | |
| Post-election | NH Post-Primary Report Second Wednesday after the primary. |
— – Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | NH 3-Week Pre-General Report Wednesday 3 weeks before the November 3 general. |
— – Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | NH Pre-General Report Wednesday before the general. |
— – Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Post-election | NH Post-General Report Fourth Wednesday after the general; covers through the Tuesday before. |
— – Nov 24, 2026 |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Reports for candidates for governor, executive council, state senator, state representative, or county office whose receipts OR expenditures exceed $1,000 (under $1,000 need not file). Deadlines are 5:00 p.m. Coverage-start dates are not published per row (each report covers from the prior report). The 2025 off-year reports are outside this cycle. A pre-registration itemized statement and independent-expenditure reports apply separately.
New Hampshire candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in New Hampshire — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from New Hampshire Secretary of State. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2027
Municipal
Municipal Mayor/Council
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Files with: Town/City Clerk
2026-2027 Political Calendar · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The filing deadline for Municipal Mayor/Council in Municipal (statewide framework) for the 2027 New Hampshire Municipal/Town Elections is not yet a confirmed date (election not yet scheduled); check with Town/City Clerk. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
School Board
School Board Member — All independent school districts
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Files with: School District Clerk (corresponds to town clerk for nonpartisan systems)
RSA 669 - Town Elections (School District Elections) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The filing deadline for School Board Member in School Districts (statewide framework) for the 2027 New Hampshire School Board Elections is not yet a confirmed date (election not yet scheduled); check with School District Clerk (corresponds to town clerk for nonpartisan systems). Source: New Hampshire Legislature.
2028
Federal
U.S. President
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 9, 2028
Files with: New Hampshire Secretary of State
Fee: $250 filing fee for independent presidential candidates · Signatures: At least 3,000 signatures of registered New Hampshire voters
Running for Office – President · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. President in Statewide for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) closes Jul 9, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens May 14, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
U.S. Senate
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 9, 2028
Files with: New Hampshire Secretary of State
Fee: $100 filing fee · Signatures: At least 5,000 signatures of registered New Hampshire voters
2026 Filing for Office - New Hampshire Secretary of State · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. Senate in Statewide for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) closes Jul 9, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens May 14, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
U.S. House of Representatives — Districts 1 and 2
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 9, 2028
Files with: New Hampshire Secretary of State
Fee: $50 filing fee · Signatures: At least 1,000 signatures of registered New Hampshire voters from the district
2026 Filing for Office - New Hampshire Secretary of State · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) closes Jul 9, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens May 14, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
Statewide
Governor
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 9, 2028
Files with: New Hampshire Secretary of State
Fee: $100 filing fee · Signatures: At least 3,000 signatures of registered New Hampshire voters
2026 Filing for Office - New Hampshire Secretary of State · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Governor in Statewide for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) closes Jul 9, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens May 14, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
Executive Council — Districts 1-5
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 9, 2028
Files with: New Hampshire Secretary of State
Fee: $25 filing fee · Signatures: At least 1,500 signatures of registered New Hampshire voters from the district
2026 Filing for Office - New Hampshire Secretary of State · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Executive Council in Statewide for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) closes Jul 9, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens May 14, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
State Legislative
State Senate — 24 districts
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 9, 2028
Files with: Town or City Clerk of candidate's domicile
Fee: $10 filing fee · Signatures: 500 signatures of registered voters in the district
2026 Filing for Office - New Hampshire Secretary of State · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) closes Jul 9, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens May 14, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
State House of Representatives — 400 seats/districts
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 9, 2028
Files with: Town or City Clerk of candidate's domicile
Fee: $2 filing fee · Signatures: 100 signatures of registered voters in the town/district
2026 Filing for Office - New Hampshire Secretary of State · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for State House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) closes Jul 9, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens May 14, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State.
County
County Commissioner — Varies by county
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Files with: County Clerk or Secretary of State (depending on county)
New Hampshire Election Laws - County Election Authority · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The filing deadline for County Commissioner in County (statewide) for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) is not yet a confirmed date (awaiting local confirmation); check with County Clerk or Secretary of State (depending on county). Source: New Hampshire Legislature.
County Sheriff
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Files with: County Clerk or Secretary of State
New Hampshire Election Laws - County Election Authority · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The filing deadline for County Sheriff in County (statewide) for the 2028 United States General Election (Nov 5, 2028) is not yet a confirmed date (awaiting local confirmation); check with County Clerk or Secretary of State. Source: New Hampshire Legislature.
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Electbase compiles these dates from official state sources as a workflow aid. It is not legal advice. Confirm every deadline with your filing authority before you rely on it.
Last updated August 27, 2026