Andrew Burton-Getty Images North America—AFP
The key political dates of the U.S. election year ahead.
The first votes in the U.S. presidential election process will be cast on Feb. 1, in the heartland state of Iowa. Here are the key political dates in 2016, from primary debates and statewide caucus votes to national conventions and the big day on Nov. 8:
Jan. 28: Republican debate in Des Moines, Iowa
Jan. 31: Federal Election Commission reporting deadline for campaign year-end 2015 financial and fundraising figures
Feb. 1: Iowa caucuses
Feb. 6: Republican debate in Manchester, New Hampshire
Feb. 9: New Hampshire primaries
Feb. 11: Democratic debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Feb. 13: Republican debate in Greenville, South Carolina
Feb. 20: South Carolina Republican primary
Feb. 20: Nevada Democratic caucus
Feb. 23: Nevada Republican caucus
Feb. 26: Republican debate in Houston, Texas
Feb. 27: South Carolina Democratic primary
March 1: “Super Tuesday” primaries in 13 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado (Democrats), Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia.
March 5: Kansas caucuses, Kentucky Republican caucus, Louisiana Democratic primary, Maine Republican caucus, Nebraska Democratic caucus
March 6: Maine Democratic caucus
March 8: Hawaii Republican caucus, Idaho Republican primary, Michigan and Mississippi primaries
March 9: Democratic debate in Miami, Florida
March 10: Republican debate in Miami, Florida
March 12: Washington, D.C. Republican caucus
March 15: Primaries in five major states: Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio
March 22: Arizona and Utah primaries, Idaho Democratic caucus
March 26: Democratic caucuses in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington state
April 5: Wisconsin primaries
April 9: Wyoming Democratic caucus
April 19: New York primaries
April 26: Primaries in five northeastern states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island
May 3: Indiana primaries
May 10: Nebraska Republican primary, West Virginia primaries
May 17: Kentucky Democratic primary, Oregon primaries
May 24: Washington state Republican primary
June 7: Primaries in California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota.
June 14: Washington, D.C. Democratic primary. Final day of primaries.
July 18-21: Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio
July 25-28: Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September: Absentee or in-person early voting is expected to begin in several states
Sept. 26: First presidential debate at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio
Oct. 4: Vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia
Oct. 9: Second presidential debate at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri
Oct. 19: Third and final presidential debate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nov. 8: Election day, established by law as the Tuesday following the first Monday in November