California Ballot Access

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55 Presidential Electors Needed in California.

California FEC Information
ELECTION INFO: SECRETARY OF STATE
Phone: (916) 657-2166
Email: Elections@ss.ca.gov
STATE-ISTICS: STATE INFORMATION
California Elections Code

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Getting on the Ballot for 2012:
General ballot access for new party candidates:

Download Petition Here
Start collecting signatures Immediately
Word Document, Print the Petition on 8.5"x 14"
Signatures Needed: at least ten percent (10%) of the total votes cast in the last General Election for Governor (about 890,000)
Other Information: Each page of said petitions must contain the names of registered voters from a single county.
Filing Deadline: before the 135th day before the primary.
No filing fees

Party qualifications for primary ballot access:

Received at least 2% of the entire vote of the state in the last gubernatorial election
Or before the 135th day before the statewide primary, at least 1% of the entire vote of the state at the last preceding gubernatorial election have declared their intention to affiliate with the party via their voter registration.
Or before the 135th day before the primary, the proposed party submits a petition signed by voters of at least 10% of the entire vote of the state at the last gubernatorial election [5100] (As of January 1, 2003, the Democrats, Republicans, American Independents, Green, Libertarian and Natural Law parties have qualified)

Primary ballot access:

1. Secretary of State Selects major party candidates based on media recognition, matching funds eligibility, active campaigning, and appearance on other primary ballots [6041, 6340, 6520, 6720] Announcement of selection is made between the 150th day and 120th day preceding the primary election [6041, 6340, 6520, 6720]
2. Petition (for those not selected)
Democratic Party Requirements:
Petition: 1% of registered voters or 500 in each of the 53 congressional districts (26,500 signatures maximum), whichever is fewer [6061]
Deadline: circulate between 120 and 75 days before the primary [6122]
All Other Party Requirements:
Petition: 1% of registered voters statewide (in 2004, this will be approximately 153,804) [6343, 6523, 6568, 6725]
Deadline: circulate between 104 and 74 days before the primary [6382, 6591, 6791]

No filing fees

General ballot access for unrecognized party and independent candidates :

Qualify a group of 55 Presidential electors who pledge their votes to the presidential nominee
Petition: 1% of registered voters statewide (in 2004, this will be approximately 153, 805 signatures) [8400]
Deadline: circulate between 193 and 88 days before the general election [8403] No filing fees
Last day to withdraw from the ballot:68 days before the election

Primary date: first Tuesday in March

[1202] Participation: Until 2000, California had statewide blanket primaries. This system was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. California now has “modified” closed primaries: 135 days before the election, parties may file a statement with the Secretary of State notifying a change of bylaws allowing non-affiliated people to vote in their party’s primary.
Voter Registration:15th day prior to the election

Source: The Reform Institute (December 2003). Presidential Ballot Access: State by State Scorecard. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from https://www.policyarchive.org/bitstream/handle/10207/5646/2003scorecard.....

Write-In Information

A candidate must file the following with the California Secretary of State’s Office by October 21, 2008:
1) A “Statement of Write-In Candidacy For President Of The United States” form.
2) 55 “Declaration Of Write-In Candidacy Presidential Elector” forms, each of which must be notarized. The declarations of write-in candidacy must be filed with the Secretary of State in person or by mail. Please send your documents to: Office of the California Secretary of State Elections Division ATTN: Candidates & Elections 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814 Please indicate on the envelope “Declaration of Write-In Candidacy.” The Declarations of Write-In Candidacy must be received by the Secretary of State no later than October 21, 2008 (E-14). § 8652

Source: Frank Moore (May 8, 2008). US Presidential Write-In Candidate Requirements For Each State. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from http://www.writein2008.blogspot.com/