About this episode
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 Please support Congressional Dish: Click here to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin; click the PayPal "Make it Monthly" checkbox to create a monthly subscription Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! 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 Signatures Needed: 2,854 registered voters Fees: None Filing Deadline: August 15, 2016 (the day before the Primary Election) 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. Signatures Needed: 3,000 Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman 2016: $1,740 Filing Deadline: February 25, 2016 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 Signatures Needed: 1% of the total registered voters in the district as of December 31, 2015 Fees: None Filing Deadline: September 1 at 4:30pm 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. Signatures Needed: 25 registered voters Fees: $75 Filing Deadline: June 7, 2016 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 Signatures Needed: 1,000 registered voters in the district Fees: $300 Filing Deadline: May 31, 2016 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 Signatures Needed: 5% of the votes cast for the winner of the last election in the district 2016: 10,194 Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman 2016: $1,740 Filing Deadline: May 31, 2016 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. Signatures Needed: 3% of the total votes cast for Governor in that district in the last election Fees: None Filing Deadline: June 30, 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 Signatures Needed: 1,000 "qualified" voters in the State Fees: None Filing Deadline: September 6, 2016 at 4pm 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 Signatures Needed: 4% of the registered voters in the district Approximately 15,000 signatures Fees: $750 Filing Deadline: April 15, 2016 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 Signatures Needed: 1% of the total votes cast for Governor in the last election 2016: 2,774 Fees: None Filing Deadline: April 26, 2016 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: Signatures Needed: The same number as the filing fee Fees: 1% of the salary for a Congressman 2016: $1,740 Filing Deadline: May 20, 2016 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 Signatures Needed: 2% of the votes cast for the U.S. House in the last election 2016: 3,302 Fees: $200 Filing Deadline: August 29, 2016 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