Ballot Access

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates

Ballot access for presidential candidates
Select a state below to learn more about ballot access requirements for candidates in that state.

Ballot access requirements for political parties in the United States
List of political parties in the United States
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

Ballot access rules regulate the conditions under which a ballot measure, candidate, or political party is entitled to appear on voters' ballots. Ballot access laws are established and enforced by the states. Ballot access processes can vary depending on the state and type of access being sought.^[1]

Ballot measures[edit]

See also: States with initiative or referendum

A ballot measure is defined as any question or issue of government that is placed before voters on a ballot to approve or reject. Ballot measures can be local or statewide and can encompass anything from constitutional amendments and city charters to statutes and bond issues.

Depending on state laws, measures can be placed on the ballot in a number of ways. The ballot initiative process allows voters to initiate, or propose, ballot measures to be put to a vote on the ballot by collecting signatures through a petition drive. The legislative referral process allows a state legislature to put a piece of legislation on a ballot for voter approval or rejection. In some states ballot measures can be placed on ballots by commission referral, constitutional convention, or automatic ballot referral.

Every state but Delaware allows citizens to vote on legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and 23 states allow citizens to vote on legislatively referred state statutes. Only Arizona and Florida have provide for commission referrals. The ballot initiative process is used by 26 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and 18 of those states allow voters to initiate constitutional amendments. Constitutional conventions can also be used to put ballot measures before the people.

Candidates[edit]

See also: Ballot access for major and minor party candidates

Candidates are defined as individuals seeking public office. Most states separate candidates into different categories, including political party candidate, independent or unaffiliated candidate, and write-in candidates. Political party candidates must identify with a state-recognized political party. In order to get on a ballot, a political party candidate may have to follow additional rules set by his or her political party. Independent or unaffiliated candidates do not identify with a political party. Write-in candidates can be independent or political party candidates, depending on the laws of the state in which they reside. Write-in candidates often file later than other candidates and are placed on the ballot only if voters directly write their names on their ballots.^[2]

Candidates can be placed on the ballot in a number of ways. Political party candidates can gain ballot access by nomination through a convention or primary election. Independent candidates most often have to use the petition method, collecting a specified number of signatures in order to be placed on the ballot. Some states also require political party candidates to use this method. A write-in candidate sometimes has to file with the state or county, announcing his or her intention to be a write-in candidate.^[2]

Political parties[edit]

See also: List of political parties in the United States

Although there are dozens of political parties in the United States, only certain parties are entitled to have the names of their candidates for office printed on election ballots. In order to qualify for ballot placement, a party must meet certain requirements that vary from state to state. For example, in some states a party may have to file a petition in order to qualify for ballot placement. In other states, a party must organize around a candidate for a specific office; that candidate must, in turn, win a percentage of the vote in order for the party to be granted ballot status. In still other states, an aspiring political party must register a certain number of voters.

External links[edit]

Ballot Access News
United States Constitution from Cornell Law School

Footnotes[edit]

↑ U.S. Constitution, "Article I, Section 4," accessed December 16,2013
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 This information is based on research conducted by Ballotpedia staff in December 2013. This included phone calls to the 50 states and analysis of state government websites.

[1] U.S. Constitution, "Article I, Section 4," accessed December 16,2013

[moreresearch-2] 2.0 ^2.1 This information is based on research conducted by Ballotpedia staff in December 2013. This included phone calls to the 50 states and analysis of state government websites.