Depends. For some MOC's, sending a nom packet in early shows integrity and stuff. Others, like my congressman, dont seem to care much about whether I turn my packet in two months early, or near the deadline. Call your MOC's and see if sending your packet in near the deadline is something that will affect your competitiveness.
This being said, try as best as you can to NOT send it on the deadline, try to get it in atleast a week early. Hope that helps. Good Luck!
In some areas, the deadline is the date the file is received at the MOC office not the postmark date. In some areas, if it is not at the MOC office by the deadline it is late and not even opened. You might want to verify with your MOC office if the deadline is a postmark date or a received by date.
Read your instructions VERY carefully and follow them to the letter. Each Senator and Congressperson has their own requests.
As an example, in our area candidates vying for a nomination are instructed that their packages must be received in the MOC office by a specific date, not postmarked.
At the recent Service Academy Congressional Event in our state one staffer from a Senator's office specified, "We must have your complete package in our office by 5 pm on October 16th. No late entries will be accepted." She also stated that package had to be complete by that day, as in everything they requested.
Is there a reason that you would have to wait until the posted deadline to submit your documentation?
I get asked, a lot, "What is the deadline is for submitting an application for admission?" I would much prefer that a student would ask - "What is the "liveline?" What is the earliest date I can submit an application?"
Ask the staff person in each of the offices that you are seeking a nomination from what the earliest date you can submit their required documentation - and get it in on that date!