Key (sometimes underappreciated) 2020 election dates

April 1, 2020: Census Day, the date on which everyone reports where they live (which will be compiled and submitted to Congress in late 2020) for purposes of reapportionment of members of the House of Representatives, among other purposes.

May 11, 2020: That’s the deadline for independent presidential candidates to file nominating petitions in Texas. Petitioners must secure 89,693 signatures, and signature gathering may begin March 3. In the event a candidate outside the established parties wants to secure a nationwide candidacy, this is among the earliest deadlines (North Carolina recently moved up its deadline to March, and in July 2020 the Fourth Circuit approved that move).

July 20, 2020: This is six months before Inauguration Day (January 20, 2021), and the deadline for the National Popular Vote Compact to take effect in the 2020 presidential election. If 270 electoral votes’ worth of states have signed up by this date, the Compact takes effect; otherwise, sign-ons will be for later presidential elections.

November 3, 2020: Election Day for President and Vice President, and Election Day for members of Congress.

December 8, 2020: The date for states to make a “conclusive” determination, in the eyes of Congress, “of any controversy or contest concerning the appointment of” presidential electors.

December 14, 2020: The date presidential electors convene in each state and the District of Columbia to formally vote for the next President and Vice President of the United States

January 3, 2021: The date the new term of members of Congress begins.

January 6, 2021: The presumptive meeting of Congress to count electoral votes for president, resolve any disputes, and choose a candidate in the event of a tie or of no candidate receiving a majority.

January 20, 2021: Inauguration Day for the next term for the offices of President and Vice President.