Ballot access in the 2024 United States presidential election explained

In the 2024 United States presidential election, different laws and procedures govern whether or not a candidate or political party is entitled to appear on voters' ballots.[1] Under Article 2, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, laws about election procedure are established and enforced by the states.[2] Additionally, there are often different requirements for primary and general elections, and requirements for primary elections may additionally differ by party.

Additionally, the filing requirements to appear on the ballot often differ between parties and independents, leading some independents such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to create a party to get on the ballot in states where the requirement is lower for party-sponsored candidates. Conversely, parties like the Libertarians and Greens will have their nominee petition as an independent in states where such a route is less restrictive.[3]

Deadlines

All dates are in the year 2024 unless otherwise stated.

Deadlines for ballot access in the 2024 United States presidential election
(as of September 18, 2024)
StateMinor party[4] Independent[5] Write-in
AL Automatic[6]
AK No write-ins[7]
AZ [8]
AR No write-ins
CA [9]
CO [10] [11]
CT N/A[12]
DE N/A[13]
DC TBD[14]
FL N/A[15]
GA [16] [17]
HI No write-ins
ID [18]
IL N/A[19]
IN N/A[20]
IA N/AAutomatic
KS [21]
KY N/A[22]
LA N/ANo write-ins
ME N/A[23]
MD [24]
MA N/A[25]
MI [26]
MN [27]
MS N/ANo write-ins
MO [28]
MT [29] [30]
NE N/A[31]
NV No write-ins
NH Automatic
NJ N/AAutomatic
NM TBDNo write-ins
NY N/A[32]
NC [33]
ND N/A[34]
OH [35] [36]
OK No write-ins
OR TBDAutomatic
PA N/AAutomatic
RI Automatic
SC No write-ins
SD No write-ins
TN [37]
TX [38]
UT [39]
VT N/AAutomatic
VA N/A[40]
WA N/APoll closure[41]
WV N/A[42]
WI [43]
WY Automatic

General election

The following is a table of which parties and independent candidates received presidential ballot access in which states.

indicates that the party or candidate was on the ballot in 2024. indicates that the state has automatic write-in access.

indicates that the candidate was a recognized write-in candidate.

indicates that the party or candidate did not qualify for the ballot.

indicates that the party or candidate did qualify for the ballot, but withdrew.

indicates that the party or candidate was listed on the ballot, but votes for them were considered spoiled due to lawsuits.

Parties which did not field candidates for president and parties without presidential ballot access are not included in this table.

-- INFO ABOUT OTHER PARTIES-->+Ballot access in the 2024 United States presidential election
State / electorsNominated parties and independents
Constitution
Terry/Broden		Democratic
Harris/Walz		Green
Stein/Ware		Independent
Kennedy/
Shanahan		Independent
West/
Abdullah		Libertarian
Oliver/
ter Maat		PSL
De la Cruz/
Garcia		Republican
Trump/Vance
AL 9
AK 3
AZ 11
AR 6
CA 54
CO 10
CT 7
DE 3
DC 3
FL 30
GA 16
HI 4
ID 4
IL 19
IN 11
IA 6
KS 6
KY 8
LA 8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ballot access . February 16, 2019 . Ballotpedia.
  2. Encyclopedia: Ballot Access . The First Amendment Encyclopedia . Middle Tennessee State University . Murfreesboro, Tennessee . February 16, 2019 . Baracskay . Daniel.
  3. Web site: Welch . Matt . February 2, 2024 . Presidential ballot will be crowded with third party candidates . February 2, 2024 . Reason.com . en-US.
  4. Web site: Minor party presidential ballot access, 2024 . Ballotpedia . March 30, 2024.
  5. Web site: Deadline to run for president, 2024 . Ballotpedia.
  6. Web site: Write-in candidate . Ballotpedia . February 13, 2024.
  7. Web site: Alaska Admin Code 6 AAC 25.069 . Alaska legislature . February 13, 2024.
  8. Web site: Running for U.S. President in Arizona - A Candidate Guide . Arizona Secretary of State . February 13, 2024.
  9. Web site: California . nass.org . February 13, 2024.
  10. Web site: Petition Nomination. Colorado Secretary of State . July 11, 2024.
  11. Web site: Write-In . Colorado Secretary of State . February 13, 2024.
  12. Web site: Registration of Write-In Candidacy for President/Vice-President . Connecticut government . February 13, 2024.
  13. Web site: Title 15 Elections Primary Elections and Nominations of Candidates CHAPTER 34. Write-In Candidates . Delaware Code . February 13, 2024.
  14. Web site: Code of the District of Columbia § 1–1001.08 . DC Council . February 13, 2024.
  15. Web site: 99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to federal, state, county, or district office.— . Online Sunshine . February 13, 2024.
  16. Web site: 2024 Election Calendar and Highlights . Office of the Secretary of State Elections Division . March 23, 2024.
  17. Web site: 2010 Georgia Code Title 21 – Elections Chapter 2 – Elections and Primaries Generally Article 4 - Selection and Qualification of Candidates and Presidential Electors Part 1 - General Provisions § 21-2-133 - Giving notice of intent of write-in candidacy; filing of affidavit; limitations on candidacy; certification of candidates . Justia . February 13, 2024.
  18. Web site: Title 34 Elections Chapter 7 Nominations — Conventions — Primary Elections . Idaho Legislature . February 13, 2024.
  19. Web site: Write-in Candidates . Kane County Clerk . February 13, 2024.
  20. Web site: Candidate Information . Indiana Secretary of State . May 14, 2021 . February 13, 2024.
  21. Web site: Kansas Statutes . Kansas Revisor . February 13, 2024.
  22. Web site: Potential Candidates . Kentucky Secretary of State . February 13, 2024.
  23. Web site: §722-A. Determination of declared write-in candidate . Maine Revised Statutes . February 13, 2024.
  24. Web site: Write-in Candidate information . maryland.gov . July 17, 2024.
  25. Web site: Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Massachusetts . Ballotpedia . February 13, 2024.
  26. Web site: Chapter 4 Write-In Candidate . Election Officials' Manual . February 13, 2024.
  27. Web site: Write-in Candidates . Minnesota Secretary of State . February 13, 2024.
  28. Web site: Write-In Candidates . Missouri Secretary of State . February 13, 2024.
  29. Web site: Independent Or Minor Party Candidates For President Or Vice President . Montana Code Annotated 2023 . June 2, 2024.
  30. Web site: Write-In Candidate Information . Montana Secretary of State - Christi Jacobsen . February 22, 2018 . February 13, 2024.
  31. Web site: Nebraska Revised Statute 32-615 . Nebraska Legislature . February 13, 2024.
  32. https://elections.ny.gov/petition-information#running-for-president
  33. Web site: G.S. 163-123 Page 1 § 163-123. Declaration of intent and petitions for write-in candidates in partisan elections. . North Carolina Legislature . February 13, 2024.
  34. Web site: 16.1-12-02.2. Certificate of candidacy by write-in candidates. . North Dakota Legislature . February 13, 2024.
  35. News: Winger . Richard . Ohio Governor Signs Bill Relaxing Deadline for Parties to Certify the Names of their National Tickets . June 4, 2024 . Ballot Access News . June 2, 2024.
  36. Web site: Section 3513.041 Write-in votes. . Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules . February 13, 2024.
  37. Web site: Certificate of Write-In Candidacy State of Tennessee . Tennessee Secretary of State . February 13, 2024.
  38. Web site: Texas Statutes . Texas Capitol . February 13, 2024.
  39. Web site: Utah Legislature . Utah Code Page 1 Part 6 Write-in Candidates . February 13, 2024.
  40. Web site: Candidate Bulletins . Virginia Department of Elections . February 13, 2024.
  41. Web site: Write-in voting—Candidates, declaration. . Washington State Legislature . February 13, 2024.
  42. Web site: Write-In Candidate Guide . West Virginia Secretary of State . February 13, 2024.
  43. Web site: Wisconsin Statutes . Wisconsin State Legislature . February 13, 2024.

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