Whether you#x2019;re running for local office or the Presidency of the United States, you can get on the ballot as an Independent. Directions for doing so vary from state to state, so the steps outlined below will walk you through the process for finding the information you need, from forms and fees to qualifications and deadlines.
Instructions
1. Go to the Election Law section of the National Center for State Courts linked to at the bottom of this page. Click on the state or states for which you want to get on the ballot as an Independent. Through each of these links, you should be able to find out 1) the requirements for submitting your declaration of candidacy, 2) the forms and fees you may need to submit, 3) how many signatures you need on a nominating petition to get on the ballot as an Independent and 4) your deadline for doing so.
2. Circulate your nominating petitions throughout the state. You may utilize paid petition circulators or volunteers. As the candidate, you too may collect signatures.
3. Collect signatures at local libraries, stores, festivals and events, asking for the appropriate permission necessary to do so. You may also collect signatures by going door-to-door.
4. Ask all potential signers if they are registered Independent. Though rules vary from state to state, it#x2019;s generally required that only registered Independents can nominate an Independent candidate.
5. Make sure all signers fill out the form completely, including name and place of residence. Post office boxes are not acceptable.
6. Each nominating petition circulator must have their petitions notarized.
7. Submit all notarized nominating petition papers to the appropriate county elections official by the deadline date. Make sure all signers on one sheet are all registered voters from the same county. Though most people in one location will be from the county in which the circulator is in, there will always be those who are registered in other places in the state. So have several blank nomination petition papers so you can start new sheets for different counties when necessary.
Tips Warnings
Remember to circulate your nomination petitions among family, friends and colleagues.
Schedule appearances and speaking engagements with groups who may want to support your candidacy. Ask them to sign your nominating petition on their way in, during the event or before they leave.
If you#x2019;re trying to get on the ballot as an Independent candidate for the presidency, you really need to be on the ballot in all 50 states to have a reasonable chance of winning, as winning requires receiving 270 of 538 electoral votes.
If the link below is not working, or you do not find there the information you need for a particular state, simply search online for that state#x2019;s Secretary of State and Elections Code. For example: #x201C;Arizona Secretary of State#x201D; and #x201C;Arizona Elections Code.#x201D;
Tags: ballot, independent, nominating petition, ballot Independent, ballot Independent, collect signatures, Elections Code, forms fees, from state, from state state, Independent candidate
