Deadline to run for president, 2020
Date: November 3, 2020 |
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There is no formal, national deadline to file to run for president of the United States. Instead, candidates must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines to appear on each state's election ballot.
These regulations, which are set at the state level, are known as ballot access laws. They often include collecting a certain number of signatures or paying a filing fee. A presidential candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election if he or she wants to make it to the election ballot.
The first filing deadline for a presidential state primary was November 8, 2019, in Alabama.
Candidates also file with the Federal Election Commission, which has its own reporting requirements regarding campaign finance statements.
This page provides a brief overview of the 2020 filing deadlines and requirements by state for individuals running as a Democratic, Republican, independent, or write-in candidate. For a more detailed overview of ballot access requirements for presidential candidates, including minor party candidates, click here.
Qualifications
Article 2, Section 1, of the United States Constitution sets the following qualifications for the presidency:[1]
| “ | No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.[2] | ” |
| —United States Constitution | ||
Article 2, Section 4, of the United States Constitution says an individual can be disqualified from the presidency if impeached and convicted:
| “ | The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.[2] | ” |
| —United States Constitution | ||
The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution says an individual can also be disqualified from the presidency under the following conditions:
| “ | No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.[2] | ” |
| —United States Constitution | ||
Major party candidates
The table below summarizes general filing procedures for a candidate seeking the nomination of his or her party in 2020. Please note that this information is not necessarily exhaustive. Specific filing requirements can vary by party and by state. For more information, contact the appropriate state-level party.
Independent candidates
The table below summarizes general filing procedures for independent presidential candidates in 2020.
Write-in candidates
Although a write-in candidate is not entitled to ballot placement, he or she may still be required to file paperwork in order to have his or her votes tallied (or to be eligible to serve should the candidate be elected). A total of 31 states require a write-in presidential candidate to file some paperwork in advance of an election. In ten states, write-in voting for presidential candidates is not permitted. The remaining states do not require presidential write-in candidates to file special paperwork before the election.
Footnotes
- ↑ The Constitution of the United States of America, "Article 2, Section 1," accessed August 3, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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