Franking Blackout Dates
A Member may not send any unsolicited mass mailing or mass communication less than 90 days immediately before the date of any primary or general election (whether regular, special, or runoff) in which the Member is a candidate for public office.
Please Note: Primaries are subject to change. The General Election Blackout for Members, Delegates and the Resident Commissioner begins August 5, 2020. Some states may have runoff date restrictions.
The dates outlined below are for reference purpose only. Blackout dates were collected from publicly available information from each state, territory, and the District of Columbia elections’ office. All information is subject to change.
It is the Member’s responsibility to comply with the law and should be aware of any election in which they are a candidate for office.
Franking Blackout Rules and Guidance
This page is up-to-date as of April 1, 2020. Please contact the Franking Office at x59337 for more information.
Blackout Dates:
Find the list of 2019 congressional primary election dates and the "blackout" date on which the corresponding 90-day pre-election cutoff period begins. Since primary and blackout dates may change as a result of state actions, all updates pertaining to the 90-day blackout period will be posted on the Committee’s site once we are notifed.
2020 Congressional Primaries (Alphabetical)
|
State |
Congressional Primary Date |
90 Day Blackout Begins |
|
Alabama |
03/03/2020 |
12/04/2019 |
|
Alaska |
08/18/2020 |
05/20/2020 |
|
American Samoa |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Arizona |
08/04/2020 |
05/06/2020 |
|
Arkansas |
03/03/2020 |
12/04/2019 |
|
California |
03/03/2020 |
12/04/2019 |
|
Colorado |
06/30/2020 |
04/01/2020 |
|
Connecticut |
09/11/2020 |
06/13/2020 |
|
District of Columbia |
06/02/2020 |
03/04/2020 |
|
Delaware |
09/15/2020 |
06/17/2020 |
|
Florida |
08/18/2020 |
05/20/2020 |
|
Georgia* |
06/09/2020* |
03/11/2020* |
|
Guam |
08/29/2020 |
05/31/2020 |
|
Hawaii |
08/08/2020 |
05/10/2020 |
|
Idaho |
05/19/2020 |
02/19/2020 |
|
Illinois |
03/17/2020 |
12/18/2019 |
|
Indiana* |
06/02/2020* |
03/04/2020* |
|
Iowa |
06/02/2020 |
03/04/2020 |
|
Kansas |
08/04/2020 |
05/06/2020 |
|
Kentucky* |
06/23/2020* |
03/25/2020* |
|
Louisiana |
11/03/2020 |
08/05/2020 |
|
Maine* |
07/14/2020* |
04/15/2020* |
|
Maryland* |
06/02/2020* |
03/4/2020* |
|
Massachusetts |
09/01/2020 |
06/03/2020 |
|
Michigan |
08/04/2020 |
05/06/2020 |
|
Minnesota |
08/11/2020 |
05/13/2020 |
|
Mississippi |
03/10/2020 |
12/11/2019 |
|
Missouri |
08/04/2020 |
05/06/2020 |
|
Montana |
06/02/2020 |
03/04/2020 |
|
Nebraska |
05/12/2020 |
02/12/2020 |
|
Nevada |
06/09/2020 |
03/11/2020 |
|
New Hampshire |
09/08/2020 |
06/10/2020 |
|
New Jersey* |
07/07/2020* |
04/08/2020* |
|
New Mexico |
06/02/2020 |
03/04/2020 |
|
New York |
06/23/2020 |
03/25/2020 |
|
North Carolina |
03/03/2020 |
12/04/2019 |
|
North Dakota |
06/09/2020 |
03/11/2020 |
|
N. Mariana Islands |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Ohio* |
04/28/2020* |
01/29/2020* |
|
Oklahoma |
06/30/2020 |
04/01/2020 |
|
Oregon |
05/19/2020 |
02/19/2020 |
|
Pennsylvania* |
06/02/2020* |
03/03/2020* |
|
Puerto Rico |
Pending |
|
|
Rhode Island |
09/08/2020 |
06/10/2020 |
|
South Carolina |
06/09/2020 |
03/11/2020 |
|
South Dakota |
06/02/2020 |
03/04/2020 |
|
Tennessee |
08/06/2020 |
05/08/2020 |
|
Texas |
03/03/2020 |
12/04/2019 |
|
Utah |
06/23/2020 |
03/25/2020 |
|
Vermont |
08/11/2020 |
05/13/2020 |
|
Virginia* |
06/23/2020* |
03/25/2020* |
|
Virgin Islands |
08/01/2020 |
05/03/2020 |
|
Washington |
08/04/2020 |
05/06/2020 |
|
West Virginia* |
06/09/2020* |
03/10/2020* |
|
Wisconsin |
08/11/2020 |
05/13/2020 |
|
Wyoming |
08/18/2020 |
05/20/2020 |
2020 General Election: 11/03/2020
90-day Blackout: 08/05/2020
*Blackout dates have been updated to reflect the postponement of some states' primary elections due to emergency measures related to COVID-19.
Last Updated: 5/19/2020
Source: Secretary of State websites and Federal Election Commission.
Note: Dates listed are tentative and are subject to change.