Independent Candidates
You may have your name placed on the general election ballot as an independent candidate if you are not affiliated with a political party. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 1.005(9). If you vote in a party’s primary elections or participate in a party’s conventions, you thereby affiliate with the party. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 142.008, 162.003, 162.007. File a Declaration of Intent to Run as an Independent Candidate between December 3, 2009 and January 4, 2010, with the county judge (county offices) or the Secretary of State (district and state offices). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 142.002, 142.005. After the primary elections, collect signatures from registered voters, who support your application for a place on the general election ballot. The signers must be registered voters who have not participated in the general primary election or the runoff primary election of a party that has nominated, at either election, a candidate for the office you seek. File the application, along with petition, by May 13, 2010. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 142.006. Contact the Secretary of State’s office concerning the number of signatures required.
Public Office Sought in 2010 |
File Declaration of Intent and Application with | Nominating Petition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEC OF STATE | COUNTY JUDGE | % Signatures a | Maximum Number of Signatures | |
United States Representative |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Governor |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Lieutenant Governor |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Attorney General |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Comptroller of Public Accounts |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Commissioner of General Land Office |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Commissioner of Agriculture |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Railroad Commissioner |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Justice, Supreme Court |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
State Senator |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
State Representative |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Member, State Board of Education |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Chief Justice and Justice, Court of Appeals |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
District Judge |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Criminal District Judge |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Family District Judge |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Criminal District Attorney |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
County Judge |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Judge, County Court-at-Law |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Judge, County Criminal Ct. |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Judge, County Probate Ct. |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
District Clerk |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
District & County Clerk |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
County Clerk |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
County Treasurer |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
County Surveyor |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
County Commissioner |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Justice of the Peace |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Source: Texas Election Code Section |
142.002 & 142.005 |
142.007 |
||
a. Percentage of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2006 general election. If number is less than 25, a larger percentage may be required. Consult Secretary of State for further information.