Write-In Candidates
In order to become a write-in candidate in the general election, file a Declaration of Write-in Candidacy with the Secretary of State or your county judge, as appropriate (see chart), no earlier than July 25, 2010, and no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 24, 2010. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 146.023, 146.025. Your declaration must be accompanied by either a filing fee or a nominating petition signed by a certain number of qualified voters. Write-in candidates are not permitted in primary elections, except for the party office of county chair or precinct chair. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.112. For the party office of county or precinct chair, you must file a Declaration of Write-in Candidacy no earlier than November 30, 2009 and no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 30, 2009. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 146.025, 171.0231.
Public Office Sought in 2010 |
File Declaration of Write-in Candidacy with |
Filing Fee | Nominating Petition in Lieu of Filing Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEC OF STATE | COUNTY JUDGE | % Signatures a | Maximum Number of Signatures | ||
United States Representative |
x |
- |
$3,125 |
2% |
500 |
Governor |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Lieutenant Governor |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Attorney General |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Comptroller of Public Accounts |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Commissioner of General Land Office |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Commissioner of Agriculture |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Railroad Commissioner |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Justice, Supreme Court |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals |
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
State Senator |
x |
- |
$1,250 |
2% |
500 |
State Representative |
x |
- |
$750 |
2% |
500 |
Member, State Board of Education |
x |
- |
$300 |
2% |
500 |
Chief Justice and Justice, Court of Appeals |
x |
- |
$2,500/$1,875 c |
2% |
500 |
District Judge |
x |
- |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
Criminal District Judge |
x |
- |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
Family District Judge |
x |
- |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
Criminal District Attorney |
x |
- |
$1,250 |
2% |
500 |
County Judge |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
Judge, County Court-at-Law |
- |
x |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
Judge, County Criminal Ct. |
- |
x |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
Judge, County Probate Ct. |
- |
x |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
District Clerk |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
District & County Clerk |
- |
x |
$750 |
2% |
500 |
County Clerk |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
County Treasurer |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
County Surveyor |
- |
x |
$75 |
2% |
500 |
County Commissioner |
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
Justice of the Peace |
- |
x |
$1,000/$375 b |
2% |
500 |
Source: Texas Election Code Section |
146.024 |
146.0231, 172.024 |
146.0232, 170.025 |
||
- Percentage of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2006 general election. If number is less than 50, a larger percentage may be required. Consult Secretary of State for further information.
- Pay higher fee if county has at least 200,000 inhabitants according to 2000 Census.
- Pay higher fee in Courts of Appeals Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 14.
- Pay higher fee in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant Counties.