Ballot access for major and minor party candidates
Ballot access |
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Ballot access for major and minor party candidates |
Ballot access for presidential candidates |
List of political parties in the United States |
State information |
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Note: This page is not intended to serve as a manual for candidates. Individuals who are interested in running for office should contact their state election agencies for more information about specific filing processes and requirements.
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There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
For additional information about ballot access requirements for presidential candidates, see this article.
Political parties
As of April 2016, there were at least 28 distinct ballot-qualified political parties in the United States. There were 214 state-level parties. Some parties are recognized in multiple states. For example, both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are recognized in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. These two parties account for 102 of the 214 total state-level parties.[1][2]
Only parties that have qualified for ballot status in their respective states are included in this tally. In order to become ballot-qualified, a party must meet certain requirements. For example, in some states, a party's candidate for a specific office must win a certain percentage of the vote in order for the party to be ballot-qualified in the state. In other states, a political party must register a certain number of voters in order to achieve ballot status.[1]
Three minor parties were recognized in more than 10 states as of April 2016:[1]
- Libertarian Party: 33 states
- Green Party: 21 states[3]
- Constitution Party: 15 states
The table below lists the distinct ballot-qualified political parties in the United States as of April 2016. Please note that some states have provisions for parties to place presidential candidates on the ballot; this is not equivalent to full ballot qualification, which is what is tallied in this table. For information about which parties qualified for presidential ballot access in 2016, see here.[1]
Total state affiliates for each political party, April 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
Political party | Number of states | |
America First Party | 1 | |
America's Party | 1 | |
American Party | 1 | |
American Shopping Party | 1 | |
Americans Elect Party | 1 | |
Conservative Party | 1 | |
Constitution Party | 15 | |
Democratic Party | 51 | |
Ecology Party | 1 | |
Grassroots Party | 1 | |
Green Party | 21 | |
Justice Party | 1 | |
Labor Party | 1 | |
Legal Marijuana Now Party | 1 | |
Libertarian Party | 33 | |
Liberty Union Party | 1 | |
Moderate Party | 1 | |
Mountain Party | 1 | |
Natural Law Party | 1 | |
Party for Socialism and Liberation | 1 | |
Peace and Freedom Party | 1 | |
Progressive Party | 2 | |
Reform Party | 4 | |
Republican Party | 51 | |
United Citizens Party | 1 | |
Various parties calling themselves "Independent" or "Independence" parties |
14 | |
Women's Equality Party | 1 | |
Working Families Party | 4 | |
TOTAL | 214 | |
Note: The Constitution Party's 15 state-level affiliates include Nevada's Independent American Party and Michigan's U.S. Taxpayers Party. |
The number of ballot-qualified political parties fluctuates regularly, as parties gain or lose qualified status. In addition, some states distinguish between "major" parties and "minor" parties. Specific differences between major and minor parties differ from state to state. For example, in all states, major parties are granted access to primary elections. Some states, however, do not permit minor parties to participate in primary elections. Consequently, minor party candidates in these states can run only in general elections.[1]
The table below lists the ballot-qualified political parties in each state as of April 2016.[1]
Ballot-qualified parties by state, April 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
State | Political party | |
Alabama | Democratic Party | |
Alabama | Republican Party | |
Alaska | Alaskan Independence Party | |
Alaska | Democratic Party | |
Alaska | Libertarian Party | |
Alaska | Republican Party | |
Arizona | Democratic Party | |
Arizona | Green Party | |
Arizona | Libertarian Party | |
Arizona | Republican Party | |
Arkansas | Democratic Party | |
Arkansas | Libertarian Party | |
Arkansas | Republican Party | |
California | American Independent Party | |
California | Democratic Party | |
California | Green Party | |
California | Libertarian Party | |
California | Peace and Freedom Party | |
California | Republican Party | |
Colorado | American Constitution Party | |
Colorado | Democratic Party | |
Colorado | Green Party | |
Colorado | Libertarian Party | |
Colorado | Republican Party | |
Connecticut | Democratic Party | |
Connecticut | Green Party | |
Connecticut | Independent Party of Connecticut | |
Connecticut | Libertarian Party | |
Connecticut | Republican Party | |
Connecticut | Working Families Party | |
Delaware | Democratic Party | |
Delaware | Independent Party of Delaware | |
Delaware | Libertarian Party | |
Delaware | Republican Party | |
Florida | America's Party | |
Florida | Constitution Party | |
Florida | Democratic Party | |
Florida | Ecology Party | |
Florida | Green Party | |
Florida | Independence Party | |
Florida | Independent Party | |
Florida | Libertarian Party | |
Florida | Party for Socialism and Liberation | |
Florida | Reform Party | |
Florida | Republican Party | |
Georgia | Democratic Party | |
Georgia | Republican Party | |
Hawaii | American Shopping Party | |
Hawaii | Constitution Party | |
Hawaii | Democratic Party | |
Hawaii | Green Party | |
Hawaii | Independent Party | |
Hawaii | Libertarian Party | |
Hawaii | Republican Party | |
Idaho | Constitution Party | |
Idaho | Democratic Party | |
Idaho | Libertarian Party | |
Idaho | Republican Party | |
Illinois | Democratic Party | |
Illinois | Republican Party | |
Indiana | Democratic Party | |
Indiana | Libertarian Party | |
Indiana | Republican Party | |
Iowa | Democratic Party | |
Iowa | Republican Party | |
Kansas | Democratic Party | |
Kansas | Libertarian Party | |
Kansas | Republican Party | |
Kentucky | Democratic Party | |
Kentucky | Republican Party | |
Louisiana | Democratic Party | |
Louisiana | Green Party | |
Louisiana | Libertarian Party | |
Louisiana | Reform Party | |
Louisiana | Republican Party | |
Maine | Democratic Party | |
Maine | Green Independent Party | |
Maine | Republican Party | |
Maryland | Democratic Party | |
Maryland | Green Party | |
Maryland | Libertarian Party | |
Maryland | Republican Party | |
Massachusetts | Democratic Party | |
Massachusetts | Green-Rainbow Party | |
Massachusetts | Republican Party | |
Massachusetts | United Independent Party | |
Michigan | Democratic Party | |
Michigan | Green Party | |
Michigan | Libertarian Party | |
Michigan | Natural Law Party | |
Michigan | Republican Party | |
Michigan | U.S. Taxpayers Party | |
Minnesota | Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |
Minnesota | Grassroots Party | |
Minnesota | Green Party | |
Minnesota | Independence Party | |
Minnesota | Legal Marijuana Now Party | |
Minnesota | Libertarian Party | |
Minnesota | Republican Party | |
Mississippi | America First Party | |
Mississippi | Constitution Party | |
Mississippi | Democratic Party | |
Mississippi | Green Party | |
Mississippi | Justice Party | |
Mississippi | Libertarian Party | |
Mississippi | Reform Party | |
Mississippi | Republican Party | |
Missouri | Constitution Party | |
Missouri | Democratic Party | |
Missouri | Libertarian Party | |
Missouri | Republican Party | |
Montana | Democratic Party | |
Montana | Libertarian Party | |
Montana | Republican Party | |
Nebraska | Democratic Party | |
Nebraska | Libertarian Party | |
Nebraska | Republican Party | |
Nevada | Democratic Party | |
Nevada | Independent American Party | |
Nevada | Libertarian Party | |
Nevada | Republican Party | |
New Hampshire | Democratic Party | |
New Hampshire | Republican Party | |
New Jersey | Democratic Party | |
New Jersey | Republican Party | |
New Mexico | Constitution Party | |
New Mexico | Democratic Party | |
New Mexico | Green Party | |
New Mexico | Independent American Party | |
New Mexico | Libertarian Party | |
New Mexico | Republican Party | |
New York | Conservative Party | |
New York | Democratic Party | |
New York | Green Party | |
New York | Independence Party | |
New York | Reform Party | |
New York | Republican Party | |
New York | Women's Equality Party | |
New York | Working Families Party | |
North Carolina | Democratic Party | |
North Carolina | Libertarian Party | |
North Carolina | Republican Party | |
North Dakota | Democratic Party | |
North Dakota | Libertarian Party | |
North Dakota | Republican Party | |
Ohio | Democratic Party | |
Ohio | Green Party | |
Ohio | Republican Party | |
Oklahoma | Democratic Party | |
Oklahoma | Libertarian Party | |
Oklahoma | Republican Party | |
Oregon | Americans Elect Party | |
Oregon | Constitution Party | |
Oregon | Democratic Party | |
Oregon | Independent Party of Oregon | |
Oregon | Libertarian Party | |
Oregon | Pacific Green Party | |
Oregon | Progressive Party | |
Oregon | Republican Party | |
Oregon | Working Families Party | |
Pennsylvania | Democratic Party | |
Pennsylvania | Republican Party | |
Rhode Island | Democratic Party | |
Rhode Island | Moderate Party | |
Rhode Island | Republican Party | |
South Carolina | American Party | |
South Carolina | Constitution Party | |
South Carolina | Democratic Party | |
South Carolina | Green Party | |
South Carolina | Independence Party | |
South Carolina | Labor Party | |
South Carolina | Libertarian Party | |
South Carolina | Republican Party | |
South Carolina | United Citizens Party | |
South Carolina | Working Families | |
South Dakota | Constitution Party | |
South Dakota | Democratic Party | |
South Dakota | Republican Party | |
Tennessee | Democratic Party | |
Tennessee | Republican Party | |
Texas | Democratic Party | |
Texas | Green Party | |
Texas | Libertarian Party | |
Texas | Republican Party | |
Utah | Constitution Party | |
Utah | Democratic Party | |
Utah | Independent American Party | |
Utah | Libertarian Party | |
Utah | Republican Party | |
Vermont | Democratic Party | |
Vermont | Libertarian Party | |
Vermont | Liberty Union Party | |
Vermont | Progressive Party | |
Vermont | Republican Party | |
Virginia | Democratic Party | |
Virginia | Republican Party | |
Washington | Democratic Party | |
Washington | Republican Party | |
Washington, D.C. | D.C. Statehood Green Party | |
Washington, D.C. | Democratic Party | |
Washington, D.C. | Republican Party | |
West Virginia | Democratic Party | |
West Virginia | Libertarian Party | |
West Virginia | Mountain Party | |
West Virginia | Republican Party | |
Wisconsin | Constitution Party | |
Wisconsin | Democratic Party | |
Wisconsin | Libertarian Party | |
Wisconsin | Republican Party | |
Wisconsin | Wisconsin Green Party | |
Wyoming | Constitution Party | |
Wyoming | Democratic Party | |
Wyoming | Libertarian Party | |
Wyoming | Republican Party |
Voter preference for a third party
According to an October 2013 Gallup poll conducted during the first week of the federal government shutdown, 60 percent of Americans felt "the Democratic and Republican parties do such a poor job of representing the American people that a third major party is needed." Voter preference for a third major party increased 20 percent between 2003 and 2013, from a low of 40 percent in 2003 (the first year Gallup conducted this poll).[4]
Perceived need for a third party | |||
---|---|---|---|
Poll | Existing parties do adequate job | Third party needed | No opinion |
Gallup October 3-6, 2013 |
26% | 60% | 14% |
Gallup September 6-9, 2012 |
45% | 46% | 9% |
Gallup September 8-11, 2011 |
38% | 55% | 8% |
Gallup April 20-23, 2011 |
40% | 52% | 8% |
Gallup August 27-30, 2010 |
35% | 58% | 7% |
Gallup September 8-11, 2008 |
47% | 47% | 6% |
Gallup September 14-16, 2007 |
39% | 57% | 4% |
Gallup July 6-8, 2007 |
33% | 58% | 10% |
Gallup September 7-10, 2006 |
45% | 48% | 7% |
Gallup October 10-12, 2003 |
56% | 40% | 4% |
Averages | 40.40% | 52.10% | 7.70% |
Note: Exact question asked in the survey: "In your view, do the Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job of representing the American people, or do they do such a poor job that a third major party is needed? Source: Gallup, "In U.S., Perceived Need for Third Party Reaches New High," October 11, 2013 |
Minor parties in gubernatorial races
The following table includes state-by-state information on when a minor party's candidate for governor last won at least 5 percent of the vote. In four states (Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming), a minor party candidate for governor has not won 5 percent or more of the vote since the 19th century. Only 17 states saw minor party candidates win at least 5 percent of the vote for governor between 1982 and 2012. The information was compiled by Richard Winger of Ballot Access News.[5]
When did a minor party last poll 5% for governor?[5] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
State | Candidate | Party | Year | Percent |
Alabama | John Logan Cashin | National Democratic | 1970 | 14.70% |
Alaska | Walter J. Hickel | Alaskan Independence | 1990 | 38.90% |
Arizona | Sam Steiger | Libertarian | 1982 | 5.10% |
Arkansas | Walter Carruth | American | 1970 | 5.90% |
California | Peter Camejo | Green | 2002 | 5.30% |
Colorado | Tom Tancredo | Constitution | 2010 | 36.40% |
Connecticut | Lowell Weicker | A Connecticut Party | 1990 | 40.40% |
Delaware | Isaac Dolphus Short | Independent Republican Party | 1936 | 6.60% |
Florida | Sidney J. Catts | Prohibition | 1916 | 47.70% |
Georgia | James K. Hines | People's | 1902 | 5.50% |
Hawaii | Frank F. Fasi | Best | 1994 | 30.70% |
Idaho | W. Scott Hall | Progressive | 1926 | 28.40% |
Illinois | Richard Whitney | Green | 2006 | 10.40% |
Indiana | Albert J. Beveridge | Progressive | 1912 | 26.00% |
Iowa | John L. Stevens | Progressive | 1912 | 15.60% |
Kansas | Henry J. Allen | Progressive | 1914 | 15.90% |
Kentucky | Gatewood Galbraith | Reform | 1999 | 15.40% |
Louisiana | John M. Parker | Progressive | 1916 | 37.20% |
Maine | Patricia LaMarche | Green | 2006 | 9.60% |
Maryland | Thomas Holiday Hicks | American | 1857 | 54.90% |
Massachusetts | Frank A. Goodwin | Equal Tax | 1934 | 6.40% |
Michigan | Henry R. Pattengill | Progressive | 1914 | 8.30% |
Minnesota | Tom Horner | Independence | 2010 | 11.90% |
Mississippi | J. T. Lester | Socialist | 1915 | 7.40% |
Missouri | Albert D. Nortoni | Progressive | 1912 | 15.60% |
Montana | Frank J. Edwards | Farmer-Labor | 1924 | 6.10% |
Nebraska | Dan Butler | Progressive | 1924 | 7.90% |
Nevada | James Ray Houston | Independent American | 1974 | 15.50% |
New Hampshire | Meldrim Thomson | American | 1970 | 9.90% |
New Jersey | Everett Colby | Progressive | 1913 | 11.00% |
New Mexico | David E. Bacon | Green | 2002 | 5.50% |
New York | Carl Paladino | Conservative[6] | 2010 | 5.00% |
North Carolina | Iredell Meares | Progressive | 1912 | 20.40% |
North Dakota | Alvin C. Strutz | Independent Republican Party | 1944 | 18.80% |
Ohio | James R. Garfield | Progressive | 1914 | 5.40% |
Oklahoma | Fred W. Holt | Socialist | 1914 | 20.80% |
Oregon | W. J. Smith | Socialist | 1914 | 5.80% |
Pennsylvania | Peg Luksik | Constitution | 1998 | 10.40% |
Rhode Island | Ken Block | Moderate | 2010 | 6.50% |
South Carolina | Sampson Pope | People's | 1894 | 30.40% |
South Dakota | Tom Ayres | Farmer-Labor | 1926 | 6.50% |
Tennessee | A. L. Mims | People's | 1894 | 9.90% |
Texas | Ramsey Muniz | La Raza Unida | 1974 | 5.60% |
Utah | Merrill Cook | Independent Party | 1992 | 33.50% |
Vermont | Anthony Pollina | Progressive | 2008 | 21.90% |
Virginia | Rob Sarvis | Libertarian | 2013 | 6.50% |
Washington | Vick Gould | Taxpayer's | 1972 | 5.90% |
West Virginia | Walter B. Hilton | Socialist | 1912 | 5.60% |
Wisconsin | Ed Thompson | Libertarian | 2002 | 10.50% |
Wyoming | Lewis C. Tidball | People's | 1894 | 11.30% |
Yearly deadlines
2016
For a list of candidate ballot access deadlines and election dates by state, see the table below. Use the tabs at the bottom of the table to navigate between election dates, ballot access deadlines, and local election dates.
To view historical information for prior years, click [show] to expand the section. | |||
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Court cases
Williams v. Rhodes
- See also: Williams v. Rhodes
Decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1968, Williams v. Rhodes held that state laws regulating the selection of presidential electors must meet the requirements of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.[8]
Bullock v. Carter
- See also: Bullock v. Carter
Decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1972, Bullock v. Carter held that the Texas primary filing fee system, which required the payment of fees as high as $8,900, violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The court found that, under this system, "many potential office seekers lacking both personal wealth and affluent backers are, in every practical sense, precluded from seeking the nomination of their chosen party, no matter how qualified they might be and no matter how broad or enthusiastic their popular support."[9][10]
Lubin v. Panish
- See also: Lubin v. Panish
Lubin v. Panish, decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1974, held that, absent alternative means of ballot access, states cannot require indigent candidates to pay filing fees they cannot afford. To do so violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as the rights of expression and association guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.[11]
Storer v. Brown
- See also: Storer v. Brown
Storer v. Brown, decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1974, upheld as constitutional a California law forbidding ballot access to independent candidates who had been registered with a qualified political party within one year prior to the immediately preceding primary election. The ruling also established a test to gauge the level of burden imposed by signature requirements: if the number of signatures required is divided by the number of eligible signers and the resulting percentage is greater than five percent, the requirement is likely unconstitutional.[12]
Illinois v. Socialist Workers Party
Decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1979, the ruling in Illinois State Board of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party rendered unconstitutional an Illinois statutory requirement that new political parties and independent candidates for elections in political subdivisions (specifically, Chicago) gather more than the number of signatures required for elections for statewide office.[13]
Anderson v. Celebrezze
- See also: Anderson v. Celebrezze
Anderson v. Celebrezze, a case decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1983, held that Ohio's early filing deadline for independent presidential candidates violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, placing an unconstitutional burden on the voting and associational rights of supporters of independent presidential candidates.[14][15]
Norman v. Reed
- See also: Norman v. Reed
Decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1992, Norman v. Reed held that it was unconstitutional for the state of Illinois to require a new political party and its candidates to gather more than 25,000 signatures (the threshold for statewide office) to participate in elections for offices in political subdivisions. The ruling was, in part, a reaffirmation of the court's earlier decision in Illinois State Board of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party.[16]
U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton
- See also: U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton
U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton was a 1995 case in which the United States Supreme Court decided against U.S. Term Limits, ruling that states cannot impose qualifications for prospective members of Congress stricter than those specified in the Constitution. The decision invalidated congressional term limits provisions in 23 states.[17]
See also
Click a state below to learn more about ballot access provisions in that state.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jerrick Adams, "Research of state election agency websites and email correspondence with state election agencies," April 2016
- ↑ As of April 2016, there were 15 state-level parties that called themselves "Independent" or "Independence" parties. For the purposes of this article, these were not tallied when counting the number of distinct ballot-qualified parties in the United States because it is difficult to determine to what extent these various parties are affiliated with one another.
- ↑ This figure includes the D.C. Statehood Green Party, Maine's Green Independent Party, and Oregon's Pacific Green Party.
- ↑ Gallup, "In U.S., Perceived Need for Third Party Reaches New High," October 11, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ballot Access News, "December 2013 Ballot Access News Print Edition," December 31, 2013
- ↑ Paladino also appeared on the Republican and T.E.A. (Tax Enough Already) party lines. New York's fusion voting laws allow candidates to qualify for the ballot on multiple party tickets.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ballot Access News, "January 2014 Print Edition," January 2014
- ↑ Justia.com, "Williams v. Rhodes - 393 U.S. 23 (1968)," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Justia.com, "Bullock v. Carter - 405 U.S. 134 (1972)," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Frontline, "The Constitution and Campaign Finance: A Legal Movement for Change," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Justia.com, "Lubin v. Panish - 415 U.S. 709 (1974)," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Justia.com, "Storer v. Brown - 415 U.S. 724 (1974)," accessed April 1, 2014
- ↑ Justia.com, "Illinois State Bd. of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party - 440 U.S. 173 (1979)," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Justia.com, "Anderson v. Celebrezze - 460 U.S. 780 (1983)," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Oyez Project - U.S. Supreme Court Media - IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, "Anderson v. Celebrezze," accessed December 26, 2013
- ↑ Justia.com, "Norman v. Reed - 502 U.S. 279 (1992)," accessed December 27, 2013
- ↑ Justia.com, "U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton - 514 U.S. 779 (1994)," accessed December 27, 2013
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