Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Texas

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Texas, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Texas. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2024 U.S. Congress elections and Texas elections, 2024

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Texas in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Texas	U.S. Senate	Democratic or Republican	5,000	Fixed number	$5,000.00	Fixed number	12/11/2023	Source
Texas	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	83,717	1% of all votes cast for governor in the last election	N/A	N/A	12/11/2023	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Texas in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Texas	U.S. House	Democratic or Republican	2% of votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less	$3,125.00	12/11/2023	Source
Texas	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less	N/A	12/11/2023	Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2022 U.S. Congress elections and Texas elections, 2022

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Texas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Texas	U.S. House	Democratic or Republican	2% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less	$3,125.00	12/13/2021	Source
Texas	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election, or 500, whichever is less	N/A	6/23/2022	Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Texas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source	Notes
Texas	Governor	Ballot-qualified party	5,000	$3,750.00	12/13/2021	Source	Petition signatures only required in lieu of filing fee.
Texas	Governor	Unaffiliated	83,434	N/A	6/23/2022	Source	Signature formula: 1% of all votes cast for governor in 2018.

2020

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2020 U.S. Congress elections and Texas elections, 2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Texas in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Texas	U.S. Senate	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$5,000.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	83,717	1% of all votes cast for governor in the last election	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Texas in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Texas	10th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	11th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	12th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	13th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	14th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	15th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	16h Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	17th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	18th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	19th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	1st Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	20th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	21st Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	22nd Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	23rd Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	24th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	25th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	26th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	27th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	28th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	29th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	2nd Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	30th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	31st Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	32nd Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	33rd Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	34th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	35th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	36th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	3rd Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	4th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	5th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	6th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	7th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	8th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	9th Congressional District	Democratic or Republican	N/A	N/A	$3,125.00	Fixed number	12/9/2019	Source
Texas	10th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	11th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	12th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	13th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	14th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	15th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	16h Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	17th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	18th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	19th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	1st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	20th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	21st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	22nd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	23rd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	24th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	25th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	26th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	27th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	28th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	29th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	2nd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	30th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	31st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	32nd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	33rd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	34th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	35th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	36th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	3rd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	4th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	5th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	6th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	7th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	8th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source
Texas	9th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	500	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election; not to exceed 500	N/A	N/A	12/9/2019 (declaration of intent); 8/13/2020 (final filing deadline)	Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Texas House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Texas House of Representatives	Qualified party	N/A	$750.00	12/9/2019	Source
Texas House of Representatives	Unaffiliated	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election	N/A	8/13/2020	Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Texas State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Texas State Senate	Qualified party	N/A	$1,250.00	12/9/2019	Source
Texas State Senate	Unaffiliated	5% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last election	N/A	8/13/2020	Source

2018

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2018 U.S. Congress elections and Texas elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

December 11, 2017

2016

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2016 U.S. Congress elections and Texas elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Texas in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
September 15, 2015	Ballot access	First day to file for a place on the primary ballot for precinct chair candidates
November 14, 2015	Ballot access	First day to file for all other candidates for offices that are regularly scheduled to be on the primary ballot
December 14, 2015	Ballot access	Filing deadline for candidates; filing deadline for independent candidates to file intent declaration
January 15, 2016	Campaign finance	January semi-annual report due
February 1, 2016	Campaign finance	30th-day pre-primary report due
February 12, 2016	Campaign finance	Personal financial statement due
February 22, 2016	Campaign finance	8th-day pre-primary report due
March 1, 2016	Election date	Primary election
May 16, 2016	Campaign finance	8th-day pre-runoff report due
July 15, 2016	Campaign finance	July semi-annual report due
October 11, 2016	Campaign finance	30th-day pre-election report due
October 31, 2016	Campaign finance	8th-day pre-election report due
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
January 17, 2017	Campaign finance	January semi-annual report due
Sources: Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed July 17, 2016 Texas Ethics Commission, "2016 Filing Schedule for Candidates and Officeholders Who File with the Texas Ethics Commission," accessed November 25, 2015

2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.
See also: Texas elections, 2015 There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative, or congressional elections in Texas in 2015.

2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 U.S. Congress elections and Texas elections, 2014 Texas had a primary for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices on March 4, 2014. Texas also conducted a primary runoff on May 27, 2014, and a general election for state and federal offices on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices: Governor of Texas Lieutenant Governor of Texas Texas Attorney General Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Texas Land Commissioner Texas Agriculture Commissioner Texas Railroad Commission 36 seats in the United States House of Representatives 1 seat in the United States Senate 15 seats in the Texas State Senate 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives The 2014 filing deadline for partisan candidates participating in the primary was December 9, 2013. The deadline to qualify as a political party in time for the 2014 election was January 2, 2014. For minor party candidates to be nominated by their party conventions, the filing deadline was December 9, 2013. The deadline for independent candidates to file for the 2014 general election ballot was June 26, 2014. Legend:      Ballot access     Campaign finance     Election date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014 Deadline Event type Event description December 9, 2013 Ballot access Deadline for independent candidates to file a notice of intent to run Deadline for candidates to file application for place on ballot with county or state party chair (application must include filing fee or a nominating petition) January 2, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for a new political party to register itself with the Secretary of State's office January 15, 2014 Campaign finance January semiannual campaign finance report due for all candidates and officeholders January 21, 2014 Campaign finance Deadline for all candidates to file a Personal Financial Statement with the Texas Ethics Commission February 3, 2014 Campaign finance First pre-primary campaign finance report due for all candidates with a primary opponent on the ballot February 24, 2014 Campaign finance Second pre-primary campaign finance report due for all candidates with a primary opponent on the ballot March 4, 2014 Election date Primary election date March 11, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for a new political party to hold precinct conventions March 15, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for a new political party to hold county conventions March 22, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for a new political party to hold district conventions April 12, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for a new political party to hold a state convention May 19, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-runoff campaign finance report due for all candidates in the primary runoff May 26, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for new political parties to file with the Secretary of State to have their nominees on the general election ballot. May 27, 2014 Election date Primary runoff election June 26, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for independent candidates to appear on the general election ballot July 15, 2014 Campaign finance July semiannual campaign finance report due for all candidates and officeholders August 18, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for write-in candidates to participate in the general election October 6, 2014 Campaign finance 30-day pre-general election campaign finance report due for all candidates and officeholders October 27, 2014 Campaign finance 8-day pre-general election campaign finance report due for all candidates with an opponent in the general election November 4, 2014 Election date General election January 15, 2015 Campaign finance Final campaign finance report due 36th congressional district In December 2013, Rep. Steve Stockman withdrew his candidacy for re-election in Texas’ 36th congressional district in order to run for the United StatesSenate. His withdrawal caused the Texas Republican Party to extend the filing deadline for the 36th district seat to December 16, 2013. In the event of a candidate's withdrawal from a place on a general primary election ballot, the filing deadline is extended to the fifth day after the date of the regular filing deadline. According to Texas state law, candidates that have previously filed for a different race were prohibited from running for the 36th congressional district without first withdrawing from their races before the filing deadline, which was December 9, 2013.

Process to become a candidate

See statutes: Title 9 of the Texas Election Code

A candidate in Texas may run with an officially recognized political party, as an independent, or as a write-in.

General election candidate application form, 2013

For major party candidates

In order to run with a major political party, a candidate must file an application with the county or state party chair and pay a filing fee. A candidate also has the option of filing a petition in lieu of the filing fee. Application and petition forms are available through local party officials or the Texas Secretary of State. The regular filing period for the primary election begins on the 30th day before the date of the regular filing deadline, which is 6 p.m. on the second Monday in December of an odd-numbered year.

A chart detailing the signature and filing requirements for each particular office can be accessed here.

For minor party candidates

State-qualified minor parties nominate candidates by convention. To be considered for nomination by a convention, a minor party candidate must file an application for nomination no later than 6 p.m. on the second Monday in December of an odd-numbered year, preceding the minor party’s convention. A candidate seeking nomination for a state or district office must file with the state party chair. Candidates for county or precinct offices must file applications with county party chairs. Effective September 1, 2021, a candidate nominated via convention must either pay a filing fee (equal to the filing fee paid by major party candidates in primary elections) or submit a petition a petition in lieu of paying the filing fee.

For independent candidates

A candidate may have his or her name placed on the general election ballot as an independent candidate if he or she is not affiliated with a political party.

To run as an independent, a candidate must file a declaration of intent with the county judge (county or precinct offices) or the Texas Secretary of State (district and state offices) during the same filing period as major and minor party candidates.

This paperwork must include signatures of voters who have not participated in the primary election or the runoff primary election of a party that has nominated, at either election, a candidate for the office the petitioning candidate seeks.

A chart detailing the signature and filing requirements for each particular office can be accessed here.

For write-in candidates

In order to become a write-in candidate in the general election, the candidate must file a declaration of candidacy with the Texas Secretary of State or the county judge, as appropriate, no later than 5 p.m. of the 78th day before general election day.

The declaration must be accompanied by either a filing fee or a nominating petition signed by a certain number of qualified voters. A chart detailing the signature and filing requirements for each particular office can be accessed here.

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators.

Format requirements

General petition requirements are established in Title 9, Chapter 141, Subchapter (C) of the Texas Election Code.

Circulation requirements

A person circulating a petition must do the following:

1. before permitting a person to sign, point out and read to the person each statement pertaining to the signer that appears on the petition
2. witness each signature
3. ascertain that each date of signing is correct
4. before the petition is filed, verify each signer's registration status and ascertain that each registration number entered on the petition is correct

Petitions are also required to include an affidavit of the person who circulated it, stating that the circulator did the following:

1. pointed out and read to the person each statement pertaining to the signer that appears on the petition, before permitting a person to sign
2. witnessed each signature
3. verified each signer's registration status
4. believes each signature to be genuine and the corresponding information to be correct

The relevant statutes do not stipulate a date on which petitions may begin to circulate.

Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Texas can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Texas County Clerks

Click here for a list

Texas Secretary of State, Elections Division

Physical Address: James E. Rudder Building

1019 Brazos St.

Austin, Texas 78701

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12060

Austin, Texas 78711-2060

Phone: 512-463-5650

Toll free: 1-800-252-8683

Fax: 512-475-2811

Email: elections@sos.texas.gov

Website: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/

Texas Ethics Commission

Physical Address: Sam Houston Building

201 East 14th St., 10th Floor

Austin, Texas 78701

Mailing Address: P. O. Box 12070

Austin, Texas 78711-2070

Phone: 512-463-5800

Email: reception@ethics.state.tx.us

Website: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

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Term limits

State executives

See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

There are no state executive positions subject to term limits in Texas.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits placed on Texas state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

See also: List of United States Representatives from Texas and List of United States Senators from Texas

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Texas.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Texas
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	12	12
Republican	2	25	27
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	1	1
Total	2	38	40

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Texas.

Texas State Senate

Party		As of March 2025
	Democratic Party	11
	Republican Party	20
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		31

Texas House of Representatives

Party		As of March 2025
	Democratic Party	62
	Republican Party	88
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		150

Related legislation

The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Texas. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.

• The Ballot Bulletin: March 14, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: March 7, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: February 28, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: February 21, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: February 14, 2025

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Texas
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Texas
• Texas elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Texas
• Counties in Texas
• List of United States Representatives from Texas
• List of United States Senators from Texas
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Texas Secretary of State, Elections Division
• Federal Election Commission
• Candidate information, from the Texas Secretary of State

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives