What are the requirements for ballot access?

Ballot access refers to the requirements a candidate must meet in order to be included on the ballot for an election. In the state of Washington, ballot access requirements for candidates for statewide office, such as governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, are outlined in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 29A.20.021. To gain ballot access, a candidate must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Washington at least one year prior to the election. They must also obtain sufficient valid signatures on a nominating petition or have their name placed directly on the ballot by filing a declaration of candidacy form. The number of signatures required depends on the office the candidate is running for and the party they are running as. For non-statewide offices, such as state senator or state representative, candidates must meet the same requirements as for statewide offices, as well as fulfill any requirements set by the local county or city. Additionally, party nominees must file a declaration of candidacy and party preference form, and any independent candidates must file a notice of intention to be a write-in candidate. Overall, in the state of Washington, candidates for any type of office must demonstrate that they meet the minimum age, citizenship, and residency requirements for their particular office, as well as obtain the necessary number of valid signatures or file the appropriate paperwork to gain ballot access.

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What are the requirements for ballot access?

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