What are the requirements for ballot access?

In California, eligibility for ballot access—the ability to get one’s name on the ballot for the general election—varies from office to office. Generally, anyone seeking to be a candidate in a primary or general election must be a voter-registered member of the party whose nomination they are seeking, and must gather signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot. The number of signatures needed to qualify for the ballot depends on the office one is seeking. Candidates for statewide office need to collect 62,407 signatures. Those seeking congressional office need to collect 10,163 signatures, and those running for a state Senate or Assembly seat must gather 6,843 signatures. In addition to these requirements, a prospective candidate also needs to fill out a Statement of Candidacy form, pay any applicable filing fees, and submit a copy of the candidate’s statement of economic interests. Local elections, such as board of supervisors, school board, and municipal governments, usually have different requirements for ballot access. Generally, these candidates must be a resident of the district where they are running and file a Declaration of Candidacy and a nomination petition with the local elections department. Eligibility for ballot access is determined by the state and county in which you live, and can vary from one jurisdiction to another, so it’s important to check with local election officials before submitting the necessary paperwork.

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What are the requirements for ballot access?

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