Dates Set for State Rep. Special Election

The Secretary of State has established the dates for the special state primary and election for the 12th Essex Representative District seat vacated by Leah Cole.

The primary is February 2, 2016 and the general election is March 1, 2016. The election will be the same day as the presidential primary.

Cole, a Republican who was first elected in a special election in 2013, stepped down from the legislature in September to devote her time to a nursing career.

Here are the dates you need to know for the election:

September 29, 2015 Last day for a person running in the state primary to enroll in a party or for a person running only in the state election to unenroll from a party, except for newly registered voters.

December 22, 2015 5:00 P.M. last day and hour for submitting nomination papers to local Registrars of Voters or Election Commissioners for the certification of signatures.

December 28, 2015 Certification of nomination papers must be completed.

December 29, 2015 5:00 P.M. last day and hour for filing nomination papers, including enrollment certificate and State Ethics Commission receipt, with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

December 31, 2015 5:00 P.M. last day and hour for filing withdrawals of or objections to all nomination papers and certificates of nomination with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

January 6, 2016 5:00 P.M. last day and hour for filling vacancies caused by
withdrawals for primary candidates.

January 13, 2016 Last day to register voters for the state primary; registration hours 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (except in towns under 1500 registered voters, registration hours 2:00- 4:00 P.M. and 7:00-8:00 P.M.).

February 2, 2016 State Primary

February 8, 2016 5:00 P.M. last day and hour for filing withdrawals of or objections to nominations made at the state primary and for filing written
acceptances by write-in or sticker candidates who won in the state primary with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

February 10, 2016 Last day to register voters for the state election; registration hours 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (except in towns under 1500 registered voters, registration hours 2:00- 4:00 P.M. and 7:00-8:00 P.M.).

February 11, 2016 5:00 P.M. last day and hour for filling vacancies caused by withdrawals at the state primary.

March 1, 2016 State Election