Ballot access requirements for political candidates in California

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates
Ballot access for presidential candidates
List of political parties in the United States
Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
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 California, 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 California. 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).

California utilizes a top-two primary system. This system establishes a single primary election for all candidates running for office. The primary is open to all registered voters. The top two vote-getters in this primary election then move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. The system was established with the Top Two Primaries Act, which appeared as Proposition 14 on the June 8, 2010, ballot. It was approved with 53.8 percent of the vote and took effect with a special election on April 19, 2011.

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

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

U.S. Senate

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

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
California	U.S. Senate	All candidates	65-100	$3,480.00	12/8/2023	Source

U.S. House

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

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
California	U.S. House	All candidates	40-60	$1,740.00	12/8/2023	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 California elections, 2022

U.S. Senate

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

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
California	U.S. Senate	All candidates	65-100	$3,480.00	3/11/2022	Source

U.S. House

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

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
California	U.S. House	All candidates	40-60	$1,740.00	3/11/2022	Source

Governor

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

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source	Notes
California	Governor	N/A	65-100	$4,371.12	3/11/2022	Source

2020

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

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in California in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in California, 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
California	10th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	11th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	12th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	13th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	14th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	15th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	16h Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	17th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	18th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	19th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	1st Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	20th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	21st Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	22nd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	23rd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	24th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	25th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	26th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	27th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	28th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	29th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	2nd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	30th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	31st Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	32nd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	33rd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	34th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	35th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	36th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	37th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	38th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	39th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	3rd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	40th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	41st Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	42nd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	43rd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	44th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	45th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	46th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	47th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	48th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	49th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	4th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	50th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	51st Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	52nd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	53rd Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	5th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	6th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	7th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	8th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source
California	9th Congressional District	All candidates	2,000	Fixed number	$1,740.00	1% of annual salary	12/6/2019	Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for California 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
California State Senate	All candidates	40	$1,104.59	12/6/2019	Source

2018

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

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

March 9, 2018

2016

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

The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in California in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
February 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Semi-annual report due
February 25, 2016	Ballot access	Close of signature in lieu of filing fee period for voter-nominated offices
March 11, 2016	Ballot access	Close of declaration of candidacy and nomination paper period for voter-nominated offices
April 28, 2016	Campaign finance	Pre-election report due
May 26, 2016	Campaign finance	Pre-election report due
August 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Semi-annual report due
June 7, 2016	Election date	Primary election
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
Sources: California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed January 11, 2016 California Fair Political Practices Commission, "Filing Schedule for State Candidate Controlled Committees Listed on the June 7, 2016 Ballot," accessed January 11, 2016

2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.
See also: California elections, 2015; California municipal elections, 2015; and California school board elections, 2015 In California, only municipal and school board elections were scheduled to occur in 2015. There were no regularly scheduled elections for state executive, state legislative or congressional offices.

2014

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 U.S. Congress elections and California elections, 2014

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

See also: California elections, 2014 California had a primary election on June 3, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices: Governor of California Lieutenant Governor of California California Attorney General California Secretary of State California Treasurer California Controller California Superintendent of Public Instruction California Insurance Commissioner 53 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives 20 seats in the California State Senate 80 seats in the California State Assembly Because California utilizes a top-two primary system, only the two candidates who earn the most votes in the primary election will advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. The 2014 filing deadline for candidates was March 7, 2014, unless a candidate submitted signatures in lieu of paying a filing fee. The deadline to turn in those signatures was February 20, 2014. The filing deadline for a write-in candidate was May 20, 2014. The deadline to qualify as a political party in time for the 2014 elections was January 19, 2014. These deadlines are included with campaign finance deadlines in the table below. Legend:      Ballot Access     Campaign Finance     Election Date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014 Deadline Event type Event description January 19, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for new political parties to be certified by the state of California January 31, 2014 Campaign finance Semi-annual Statement due February 20, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for candidates to file signatures in lieu of a filing fee March 7, 2014 Ballot access Candidate filing deadline if paying fee for ballot access March 24, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-election Report due May 20, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for write-in candidates May 22, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-election Report due June 3, 2014 Election date State Primary Date July 31, 2014 Campaign finance Semi-annual Statement due October 6, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-election Report due October 23, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-election Report due November 4, 2014 Election date General election February 2, 2014 Campaign finance Semi-annual Statement due

Process to become a candidate

Seal of California

See statutes: 8020-8028 and Section 8100-8107 of the California Elections Code

Before accepting or spending money related to campaigning for office, a candidate for state office must file a candidate intention statement with the California Secretary of State. Note that this requirement does not apply to candidates for congressional office; federal campaign finance requirements apply to candidates for federal office. Candidates may qualify to run for office either by paying a filing fee or by submitting a petition in lieu of the filing fee.

In addition to the candidate intention statement, a candidate is required to file nomination forms with his or her home county. These forms become available as early as the 113th day prior to the primary election and must be filed no later than the 88th day prior to the primary election.

Nomination forms include a statement of economic interests, a declaration of candidacy, and nomination papers. Nomination papers require a certain number of signatures from registered voters. If a candidate qualifies by submitting an in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition, the signatures on that petition will be counted towards the requirement for the nomination paper. Registered voters may sign both the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition and the nomination paper, unless the candidate is using the signatures on the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition to count toward the nomination paper requirement. If that is the case, a registered voter can sign only one of the documents.

The number of signatures required for nomination papers are as follows:

• 65-100 for candidates seeking the office of United States Senator or a state executive office
• 40-60 for candidates seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member

If an individual is running as a write-in candidate, the only nomination forms required are the nomination papers and a statement of write-in candidacy. These forms should be filed in the candidate's home county.

Qualifying by payment of fee

The filing fee for a candidate seeking a seat in the United States Senate or a state executive office (e.g., governor or treasurer) is 2 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The filing fee for a candidate seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member is 1 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The fee is paid to the California Secretary of State through the candidate's home county election office.

Qualifying by petition in lieu of filing fee

Instead of paying a filing fee, a candidate may submit a petition. Signatures may be collected to cover all or any prorated portion of the filing fee.

A candidate seeking the office of state assembly member must file signatures from 1,000 registered voters. Those seeking the office of state senator or United States Representative must file 2,000 signatures, and those seeking statewide office must file 7,000 signatures.

If the number of registered voters in the district in which the candidate seeks nomination is less than 2,000, a candidate may submit a petition containing four signatures for each dollar of the filing fee, or 20 percent of the total number of registered voters in the district in which he or she seeks nomination, whichever is less.

Completed petitions must be submitted 15 days before the end of the qualifying period to the counties in which the signers reside.

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

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

To collect signatures for these petitions, candidates may utilize circulators, individuals aged 18 years or older who physically go out among voters on the candidate's behalf to witness the signing of the petition. Circulator rules are established by Sections 100-108 of the California Elections Code. When a petition is filed with an election official, each section of it must be accompanied by a signed statement from the circulator declaring the name and address of the circulator and the dates during which all signatures were collected. The circulator must also declare that he or she circulated the petition, witnessed each signature, believes each signature to be valid, and that both the petition and accompanying declaration are true and correct. Both the candidate and the circulator are permitted to sign the petition, as long as they are registered voters in the district corresponding to the office the candidate seeks.

Noteworthy events

2021

On September 27, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 594 into law, lowering the number of petition signatures required of candidates filing for ballot placement via petition in lieu of paying filing fees. The reductions, which applied only to the 2022 election cycle, were as follows:

• State senate and U.S. House candidates: 1,358 signatures (as opposed to the 2,000 normally required).
• State assembly candidates: 679 signatures (as opposed to the 1,000 normally required).

2017

On October 15, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed into law AB 469, lowering the number of signatures required for candidates filing for ballot placement via petition in lieu of paying filing fees. The bill was approved by the California State Assembly on May 22, 2017, by a vote of 62-8. The California State Senate approved an amended version of the bill on September 7, 2017, by a vote of 30-10. The Assembly approved the amended bill on September 11, 2017, by a vote of 60-11. Upon being signed into law by Brown, the bill took immediate effect.

The bill altered signature requirements as follows:

1. Statewide candidates (e.g., governor, United States Senator, etc.): 7,000 (down from 10,000 prior to enactment of AB 469)
2. United States Representatives and state senators: 2,000 (down from 3,000 prior to enactment of AB 469)
3. State representatives: 1,000 (down from 1,500 prior to enactment of AB 469)

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 California can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

California County Elections offices

Click here for a list

California Secretary of State, Elections Division

1500 11th Street, 5th Floor

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: 916-653-6814

Toll free: 1-800-345-8683

Fax: 916-653-3214

Email: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/contact/email-elections-division

Website: http://www.sos.ca.gov/

California Fair Political Practices Commission

1102 Q Street, Suite 3050

Sacramento, California 95811

Phone: 916-322-5660

Fax: 916-322-0886

Email: Cpra@fppc.ca.gov

Website: http://www.fppc.ca.gov/

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

California state executives and legislators are subject term limits. These limits were established by Proposition 140, Proposition 28 and Article V of the California Constitution.

State executives

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

The state executive term limits in California are as follows:

• The governor may serve a total of two terms.
• The lieutenant governor may serve a total of two terms.
• The secretary of state may serve a total of two terms.
• The attorney general may serve a total of two terms.
• The state treasurer may serve a total of two terms.
• The state controller may serve a total of two terms.
• The state superintendent of public instruction may serve a total of two terms.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits and California Proposition 28, Change in State Legislative Term Limits Initiative (June 2012)

An individual can serve in the California State Legislature for a cumulative total of 12 years. These years can be served in either or both the California State Senate or the California State Assembly.

Congressional partisanship

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

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

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from California
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	43	45
Republican	0	9	9
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	52	54

State legislative partisanship

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

California State Senate

Party		As of March 2025
	Democratic Party	30
	Republican Party	10
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		40

California State Assembly

Party		As of March 2025
	Democratic Party	60
	Republican Party	20
	Independent	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		80

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 California. 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

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in California
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in California
• California elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in California
• Counties in California
• List of United States Representatives from California
• List of United States Senators from California
• 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

• California Secretary of State
• California Fair Political Practices Commission
• Federal Election Commission
• California Secretary of State, "Qualifications for Running for Office in 2024"
• California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines"
• California Elections Code

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