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
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. [caption id="attachment_1992" align="aligncenter" width="484"] Top 2 Primary clearly benefits Republicans and Democrats[/caption] To appear on the Primary Election ballot, a candidate needs to either collect signatures or pay a fee, or a combination of the two.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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:
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
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