Philadelphia's Four-Year Election Cycle

There are three types of elections:  General, Municipal and Primary

General elections are held in all even-numbered years on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November. These are for national and state offices.

Municipal elections are held in all odd-numbered years on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November. These are for local and judicial offices.

Primary elections are held on the third Tuesday of May in all years, except in Presidential election years when they are held on the fourth Tuesday of April. These elections are held by political parties to nominate candidates for office and party officials.

2005, 2009, 2013, 2017  
    National:
      None
    State:
      Appellate Justices & Judges
    Local:
      District Attorney
      City Controller
      Trial Judges:  Common Pleas, Municipal, Traffic Court
      Judges of Election
      Inspectors of Election
    Party:
      None

2006, 2010, 2014, 2018  

See the 2006 list of important dates and deadlines

    National:
      One United States Senator (In 1998, 2004, 2010...)
      United States Representatives
    State:
      Governor
      Lieutenant Governor
      State Senators (even numbered districts)
      State Representatives
    Local:
      None
    Party:
      Republican State and City Committeepeople
      (elected in Primary election)
      Democratic State and City Committeepeople
      (elected in Primary election)
2007, 2011, 2015, 2019  

See the 2007 list of important dates and deadlines

    National:
      None
    State:
      Appellate Justices & Judges
    Local:
      Mayor
      City Councilmembers
      City Commissioners
      Clerk of Quarter Sessions
      Register of Wills
      Sheriff
      Trial Judges:  Common Pleas, Municipal and Traffic Court
    Party:
      None
2008, 2012, 2016, 2018 
    National:
      President and Vice President
      United States Senator (2000, 2006, 2012...)
      United States Representatives
    State:
      Attorney General
      Auditor General
      Treasurer
      State Senators (in odd numbered districts)
      State Representatives
    Local:
      None
    Party:
      Delegates to National Convention
      (elected in Primary Election)
      Republican State Committeepeople
      (elected in Primary Election)

Terms of Office of Elected Officials (in years)

National Offices: President - 4; Vice President - 4; US Senate - 6; US Congress - 2

State Offices: Governor - 4; Lieutenant Governor - 4; Attorney General - 4; Auditor General - 4; Treasurer - 4; State Senate - 4; State House - 2; Appellate Justices and Judges - 10

Local Offices: Mayor - 4; City Controller - 4; District Attorney - 4; City Council - 4; Treasurer - 4; City Comission - 4; Clerk of Quarter Sessions - 4; Registrar of Wills - 4; Sheriff - 4; Trial Judges Common Pleas Court- 10; Trial Judges Municipal Court - 6; Trial Judges for Traffic Court - 6; Judges of Elections - 4; Inspectors of Elections - 4

Party Offices: State Committee - 2; City Divisional Committee - 4; Convention Delegates - serve only at National Convention.

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