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State legislative elections
From Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is creating an archive of every state legislative election for every year and state.
Elections by year
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Elections by state
Alabama
| “ | Senators were elected for three years, one third annually, until 1846 when the term was increased to four years, one half every second year. Since 1902 the entire Senate has been elected at the same time. The House was elected annually until 1845 when the term was increased to two years. In 1902 the term was increased again, this time to four years.[1][2] | ” |
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Alaska
| “ | Senators have been elected since statehood for four year terms; terms overlap, with one-half of the Senate elected every two years. All are elected at the same time when a new apportionment occurs. Representatives serve a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Arizona
| “ | Members of both houses have always been elected for two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Arkansas
| “ | Senators have always been elected for four-year terms; terms overlap so that one-half the Senate is elected every two years. Representatives have always been elected for a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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California
| “ | Senators were initially elected for a term of two years, with overlapping terms so that half the body was elected annually. Effective in 1863 the term was increased to four years, half the body every two years. Assemblymen were elected annually until 1863 when the term was increased to two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Colorado
| “ | Senators have been elected for a term of four years, with overlapping terms (one-half elected every two years). the House of Representatives is elected for a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Connecticut
| “ | The upper house -- called the Assistants until 1819, when it was changed to the Senate -- served a one-year term. This was increased to two years in 1876, with one-half the body elected annually. Beginning in 1886 all senators were elected at the same time. The lower house, the Assembly, was elected for six months until 1819 when the term was made one year. It became two years in 1886.[1][2] | ” |
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Delaware
| “ | The Legislative Council, as the upper house was originally called, was elected for a term of three years until 1832 when it was increased to four years, the present length of service. The Assembly -- the name initially given to the other house -- was elected annually until 1832 when the term became two years, which it has remained ever since. The legislative chambers took their present names, Senate and House of Representatives, in 1792.[1][2] | ” |
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Florida
| “ | Senators were initially elected for a term of two years (one-half the body elected every year) until 1848 when the term was increased to four years one-half elected every two years. House members were originally elected every year; the term was increased to two years in 1848.[1][2] | ” |
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Georgia
| “ | Members of the unicameral legislature served a one-year term. When a bicameral legislature was established in 1789, the House of Representatives, as the lower house was called, was also elected for a one-year term. the term was changed to its present length of two years in 1843. Senators (the Senate was established by the constitution of 1789) served a three-year term, reduced to one year in 1795 but increased to four years by the constitution in 1868. The constitution of 1877 established the present term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Hawaii
| “ | Senators since statehood have served terms of four years, part of the body elected every two years. Representatives have served a two-year term since statehood.[1][2] | ” |
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Idaho
| “ | Members of both houses have always been elected for a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Illinois
| “ | Senators were elected for a term of four years until 1872; with overlapping terms, one-half the body was elected every two years. In 1872 senators were divided into three classes with two out of three elections for a four-year term and one for a two-year term. At the beginning of a new apportionment cycle all senators are elected. Thereafter one-third and then two-thirds of the Senate are elected followed by two-thirds and one-third again. However, in 1966 all senators were elected for four years. House members have always served a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Indiana
| “ | Under the 1816 constitution, senators were elected for a three-year term; one-third of the body was elected each year. Under the 1851 constitution the term was increased to four years, with one-half elected every two years; this is the present procedure. The House was at first elected annually, but terms were increased to two years by the 1851 constitution.[1][2] | ” |
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Iowa
| “ | Senators have always been elected for a four-year term; terms overlap so that one-half the body is elected every two years. Members of the House have since statehood served a two-year term.[1][2] | ” |
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Kansas
| “ | Senators were originally elected for two years until 1876 when the term was increased to four years. Representatives were initially elected for one year, increased to two years in 1876.[1][2] | ” |
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Kentucky
| “ | Senators have always been elected for a four-year term. Initially, one-quarter of the body was elected annually. Since the constitution of 1850, one-half of the Senate has been elected every two years. The House was elected annually until 1851, when the term was increased to two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Louisiana
| “ | Senators since statehood have been elected for a term of four years. Initially they served overlapping terms, one-half the body elected every two years. Since 1880 they have all been elected at the same time. The House was initially elected for two years, increased to four years in 1880.[1][2] | ” |
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Maine
| “ | Members of both houses were elected annually until 1880 when the term was increased to two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Maryland
| “ | Senators were initially indirectly elected for five years. The term was increased to six years in 1838, with one-third of the body up for election every two years. In 1850 the term was set at four years, the present length, one-half the body every two years, until 1926 when all legislators were elected at the same time for four years. Members of the House of Delegates were elected annually until 1847 when the term was increased to two years. Effective with the election of 1926 the term became four years, as it remains today.[1][2] |
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Massachusetts
| “ | Members of both houses were elected annually until 1920 when the term was increased to two years, the present length.[1][2] | ” |
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Michigan
| “ | Senators were originally elected for two years; terms overlapped, with one-half the body elected every year until 1852 when rules were changed so that all were elected at the same time. The term was increased to four years in 1966; again, all senators are elected at the same election. House members were elected annually until 1850 when the term was increased to two years. Members elected in 1850 carried over until 1852.[1][2] | ” |
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Minnesota
| “ | Senators were elected for a two-year term, with one-half the body elected annually, until 1880, when the term was increased to four years. House members were initially elected annually. In 1880 the term was increased to two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Mississippi
| “ | Senators were at first elected for three years, with one-third of the body elected each year. in 1832 the term was increased to four years, one-half the body every two years. Since 1890 all senators have been elected at the same time. House members were elected annually under the original constitution. The term was increased to two years in 1832 and four years in 1890.[1][2] | ” |
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Missouri
| “ | Senators since statehood have been elected for a term of four years; terms overlap so that half the body is elected every two years. House members have always been elected for a two-year term.[1][2] | ” |
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Montana
| “ | Senators have always been elected for a four-year term, one-half the body elected every two years. Representatives serve for two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Nebraska
| “ | Members of both houses were elected for a term of two years. With the institution of the unicameral legislature in 1936, all members are elected for four years, with one-half the body elected every two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Nevada
| “ | Senators have been elected for a term of four years, with one-half the body elected every two years. Assemblymen serve a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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New Hampshire
| “ | Both houses were elected for a term of one year until 1877 when the present term of two years was established.[1][2] | ” |
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New Jersey
| “ | Members of the Council, which later became the Senate, were elected for a term of one year. In 1844 the state's second constitution provided for a three-year term, with overlap so that one-third of the body was elected annually. In 1947 the term was increased to four years, the present length. Assemblymen were elected for a one-year term until 1947 when the term was increased to its present length, two years. New Jersey was the last state to have a one-year legislative term.[1][2] | ” |
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New Mexico
| “ | Senators since statehood have been elected for four years, all at the same time, except on two occasions when reapportionment required another election at the two-year mark. The extra elections were held in 1966 and 1976. Representatives since statehood have been elected for a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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New York
| “ | Senators were elected for a four-year term until 18747, when the present term of two years was initiated. The Assembly was elected annually until 1938 when the term was increased to two years, the present length of service. New York was the next to last state to elect their lower house for a term of one year. New Jersey continued to do so until 1947.[1][2] | ” |
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North Carolina
| “ | Both houses were elected annually until 1836 when the term was increased to two years, the present term.[1][2] | ” |
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North Dakota
| “ | Senators have always been elected for a term of four years, with one-half the body elected every two years. The term for representatives was two years but effective in 1998 increased to four years, with one-half the body elected every two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Ohio
| “ | Senators were originally elected for two years; one-half the body was elected annually. Beginning in 1851 all Senators were elected at the same election. A 1956 amendment increased the term to four years, with one-half elected every two years. The House was initially elected for a one-year term, which was increased to two years by the 1850 constitution. All legislators selected in 1905 served a three-year term to permit future elections to be held in even-numbered years.[1][2] | ” |
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Oklahoma
| “ | Senators, since statehood, have been elected for four years; one-half the body is up for election every two years. Representatives have been elected for a two-year term since statehood.[1][2] | ” |
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Oregon
| “ | Senators have always been elected for a term of four years, with one-half the body up for election every two years. Representatives have always been elected for a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Pennsylvania
| “ | The 1776 constitution created a unicameral legislature called a House of Representatives. The term was one year: in 1874 it was increased to its present length, two years. Meanwhile, in 1790 a second constitution created the Senate. Members of this body were elected for four years. The term was reduced to three years by the constitutional convention of 1837. The four-year term was restored in 1874 by another convention and this has been the term every since.[1][2] | ” |
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Rhode Island
| “ | House members were elected for a term of six months until 1843 when the term was increased to one year. The term reached its present length of two years in 1912. Members of the Senate, known until 1799 as the Assistants, were elected annually until 1912 when the term was increased to two years.[1][2] | ” |
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South Carolina
| “ | Members of the Senate -- under the short-live 1776 constitution called the Legislative Council -- were elected by and from the General Assembly for two years. The Senate created by the constitution of 1778 was elected for a term of two years. The term was increased to four years, one-half the body elected every two years, beginning in 1868. This is the term today, but since 1972 all Senators have been elected at the same time.[1][2] | ” |
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South Dakota
| “ | Members of both houses have always served a two-year term.[1][2] | ” |
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Tennessee
| “ | Senators were originally elected for a two-year term, increased to four years in 1870; one-half of the members are up for election every two years. Members of the House have always been elected for a two-year term.[1][2] | ” |
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Texas
| “ | With the exception of 1869-1875, Senators have been elected for a term of four years, with one-half the body elected every two years. Between 1869 and 1875 they were elected for six years, one-third every two years. House members have always been elected for two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Utah
| “ | Senators are elected for a term of four years, with one-half the body elected every two years. Representatives are elected for a term of two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Vermont
| “ | The legislature was unicameral until 1836, when a Senate was created. The term was set at one year, increased to two years in 1870. The House was elected annually and also was increased to two-year terms in 1870.[1][2] | ” |
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Virginia
| “ | Senators have always been elected for a term of four years; initially one-fourth of the body was elected annually. Beginning in 1851 one-half of the Senate was chosen every second year. Since 1903 all Senators have been elected at the same time. The House of Delegates was originally elected for a one-year term, increased to two years in 1851. This is the current term.[1][2] | ” |
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Washington
| “ | Senators have always served a four year term, with one-half the body elected every two years. Representatives since statehood have been elected for a two-year term.[1][2] | ” |
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West Virginia
| “ | Initially House members were elected annually. Senators originally were elected for two years, with one-half the body elected every year. Since 1872 senators have been elected for four years (one-half the body every two years), and House members are elected for a two-year term.[1][2] | ” |
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Wisconsin
| “ | Senators were originally elected for two years, with one-half the body elected every year. The term increased to four years in 1882, one-half elected every two years. Assemblymen were elected annually until 1882, when the term was increased to two years.[1][2] | ” |
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Wyoming
| “ | Senators have always been elected for four years, with one-half the body elected every two years. Representatives have always been elected for two years, since statehood.[1][2] | ” |
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 Dubin, M. J. (2007). Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures: A Year by Year Summary, 1796-2006. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc."
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 2.48 2.49 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
