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. Top 2 Primary clearly benefits Republicans and Democrats   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

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