The 2018 election cycle officially kicks off at noon Friday, when nomination papers for this year's state primaries and general election will be available.

Potential candidates for state legislative offices and county posts will have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 to submit their paperwork to local officials to have their signatures certified. For federal and statewide office hopefuls, the deadline is a week later, May 8. State and federal candidates not running with a party affiliation have until July 31.

One U.S. Senate seat – now held by Sen. Elizabeth Warren – and all nine Congressional seats will be on the ballot, as will the constitutional offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor. All 200 seats in the state Legislature will be up, for two-year terms.

The signature-gathering requirements range from 150 for a state representative to 10,000 for U.S. senator, governor and lieutenant governor, and attorney general .

Primaries are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 4, and the state election is Nov. 6.

Nomination papers will be available in the elections division of Secretary of State William Galvin's office, room 1705 in the state office building at One Ashburton Place in Boston, as well as regional offices in Fall River and Springfield. - Katie Lannan/SHNS