In this special episode, we take a look at the different rules for getting on the ballot for the House of Representatives in all fifty States, and take a look at how some States made it way too hard for Independents to qualify.
Executive Producer: Nickolas Zacharias
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Ballot Access Information
Alabama
- Signatures Needed: 3% of the total votes for Governor in the last election in the district
- 2016 Range: 4,109 – 6,174
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: March 1, 2016 at 5pm
Alaska
At-large state
- Signatures Needed: 2,854 registered voters
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: August 15, 2016 (the day before the Primary Election)
Arizona
- Signatures Needed: 3% of qualified electors in the district
- 2014 Range: 2,784 – 4,381
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 1, 2016
Arkansas
- Signatures Needed: 3% of number of people who voted for Governor in 2014, capped at 2,000
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: November 9, 2015
California
As of the 2012 election, California has had a top-two primary system; in order to get on the General Election ballot, you have to be one of the top two vote getters in the Primary election.
To appear on the Primary Election ballot, a candidate needs to either collect signatures or pay a fee, or a combination of the two.
- Signatures Needed: 3,000
- Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman
- 2016: $1,740
- Filing Deadline: February 25, 2016
Colorado
- Signatures Needed: 30% of the number of votes cast in the last election, capped at 1,000
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: July 14, 2016
Connecticut
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the votes cast in the district for the House of Representatives in the last election, capped at 7,500
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: Either August 10, 2016 or September 7, 2016
Delaware
At-large state
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the total registered voters in the district as of December 31, 2015
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: September 1 at 4:30pm
Florida
- Signatures Needed: 1% of registered voters from anywhere in the state
- 2016 Range: 3,512 – 5,072
- Fees: 4% of the salary for a Congressman
- 2016: $6,960
- Candidates can file an undue burden oath and get the fee waived if they don’t pay anyone to collect signatures or collect campaign contributions.
- Filing Deadline: June 24, 2016
Georgia
- Signatures Needed: 5% of the total registered voters from the district who participated in either of the last two elections cycles
- Signature range unavailable because the Georgia Secretary of State’s office does not provide the necessary voter registration statistics online and would not provide the signature requirements by phone or email.
- Fees: $5,220
- Can be waived if the candidate turns in a “pauper’s affidavit”
- Filing Deadline: July 12, 2016
Hawaii
In Hawaii, candidates, regardless of party, need to run in the Primary Election and receive at least 10% of the votes cast for the office or receive a vote equal to or greater than the lowest vote received by the partisan candidate who was nominated.
- Signatures Needed: 25 registered voters
- Fees: $75
- Filing Deadline: June 7, 2016
Idaho
- Signatures Needed: 500 registered voters
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: March 11, 2016
Illinois
- Signatures Needed: 5% of the total voter turnout in the district for the last General Election
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 27, 2016
Indiana
- Signatures Needed: 2% of people in the district who voted for Secretary of State in the last election
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 30, 2016
Iowa
- Signatures Needed: 375 people in the district (do not need to be registered)
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: August 19, 2016
Kansas
- Signatures Needed: 4% of registered voters in the district, capped at 5,000
- Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman plus $10
- 2016: $1750
- Filing Deadline: August 1, 2016 at noon
Kentucky
- Signatures Needed: 400 registered voters in the district
- Fees: $500
- Filing Deadline: August 9, 2016 at 4pm
Louisiana
- Signatures Needed: 1000 eligible voters in the district
- Fees: $600
- Filing Deadline: July 22, 2016
Maine
- Signatures Needed: 2,000 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 1, 2016
Maryland
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the registered voters in the district
- 2016 Range: 4,624 – 5,155
- Fees: $100
- Filing Deadline: August 1, 2016
Massachusetts
- Signatures Needed: 2,000 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: August 2, 2016
Michigan
- Signatures Needed: 3,000 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: July 21, 2016 at 4pm
Minnesota
Candidates need to collect signatures or pay a filing fee to be on the General Election ballot
- Signatures Needed: 1,000 registered voters in the district
- Fees: $300
- Filing Deadline: May 31, 2016
Mississippi
- Signatures Needed: 200 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: January 8, 2016
Missouri
- Signatures Needed: 2% of the number of people who voted for the House of Representatives in the district in the last election, capped at 10,000
- 2016 Range: 3,073 – 4,622
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: August 1, 2016
Montana
At-large state
- Signatures Needed: 5% of the votes cast for the winner of the last election in the district
- 2016: 10,194
- Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman
- 2016: $1,740
- Filing Deadline: May 31, 2016
Nebraska
- Signatures Needed: 10% of the total votes cast for Governor in the district during the last election, capped 2,000
- Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman
- 2016: $1,740
- Filing Deadline: September 1, 2016
Nevada
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the total votes cast in the district in the last election
- 2016 Range: 803 – 1,863
- Fees: $300
- Filing Deadline: June 3, 2016
New Hampshire
- Signatures Needed: 1,500 registered voters in the district
- Fees: $50
- Filing Deadline: September 7, 2016
New Jersey
- Signatures Needed: 100 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 7, 2016
New Mexico
Official petition counts will not be released until March 2016.
- Signatures Needed: 3% of the total votes cast for Governor in that district in the last election
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 30, 2016
New York
- Signatures Needed: 5% of the votes cast for Governor in the last election, capped at 3,500
- 2014 Range: 3,058 – 10,591
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: August 2, 2016
North Carolina
- Signatures Needed: 4% of the total number of registered voters in the district as of January 1 of the election year
- 2014 Range: 15,493 – 24,709
- Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman
- 2016: $1,740
- Filing Deadline: June 9, 2016 at 5pm
North Dakota
At-large state
- Signatures Needed: 1,000 “qualified” voters in the State
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: September 6, 2016 at 4pm
Ohio
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the votes cast in the district for Governor in the last election
- Fees: $85
- Filing Deadline: March 14, 2016 (the day before the Primary Election)
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, candidates need to pay a filing fee or collect signatures in order to appear on the General Election ballot
- Signatures Needed: 4% of the registered voters in the district
- Approximately 15,000 signatures
- Fees: $750
- Filing Deadline: April 15, 2016
Oregon
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the number of votes cast for President in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: August 30, 2016
Pennsylvania
- Signatures Needed: 1,000 registered voters in the district
- Fees: $150
- Filing Deadline: August 1, 2016
Rhode Island
- Signatures Needed: 500 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: July 15, 2016
South Carolina
- Signatures Needed: 5% of the registered voters in the district, capped at 10,000 signatures
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: July 15, 2016 at noon
South Dakota
At-large state
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the total votes cast for Governor in the last election
- 2016: 2,774
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: April 26, 2016
Tennessee
- Signatures Needed: 25 registered voters from the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: April 7, 2016
Texas
- Signatures Needed: 500 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 23, 2016
Utah
- Signatures Needed: 300 registered voters from the district
- Fees: $485
- Filing Deadline: March 17, 2016
Vermont
- Signatures Needed: 500 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: August 4, 2016 at 5pm
Virginia
- Signatures Needed: 1,000 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 14, 2016 at 7pm
Washington
As of the 2008 election, Washington has had a top-two primary system; in order to get on the General Election ballot, you have to be one of the top two vote getters in the Primary election.
To qualify for the Primary Election:
- Signatures Needed: The same number as the filing fee
- Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman
- 2016: $1,740
- Filing Deadline: May 20, 2016
West Virginia
- Signatures Needed: 1% of the votes cast for the office in the last election
- 2016 Range: 1,404 – 1,543
- Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman
- 2016: $1,740
- Filing Deadline: August 1, 2016
Wisconsin
- Signatures Needed: 1,000 registered voters in the district
- Fees: None
- Filing Deadline: June 1, 2016
Wyoming
At-large state
- Signatures Needed: 2% of the votes cast for the U.S. House in the last election
- 2016: 3,302
- Fees: $200
- Filing Deadline: August 29, 2016
Music Presented in This Episode
- Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)
Cover Art
Design by Only Child Imaginations
