Independent Candidates
(Amended to reflect Federal District Court Order of 3/1/12)
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. To become an independent candidate, you must file a Declaration of Intent to Run as an Independent Candidate no later than March 9, 2012 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, you must 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. Your application and petitions must be filed by the deadline given below with the county judge (county offices) or the Secretary of State (district and state offices). Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 142.005. Contact the Secretary of State’s office concerning the number of signatures required.
The deadline for filing your Application and petitions is June 29, 2012 (Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 142.006, filing deadline impacted by NEW LAW, SB 100, 2011 Legislative Session).
Filing as an independent candidate for the office of president of the United States requires no declaration, and the application and petition must be filed by June 29, 2012; see SOS website for additional information for filing for this office.
See Section 162.015 for more details about how primary voting or candidacy affects (or does not affect) candidacy.
Public Office Sought in 2012 |
File Declaration of Intent and Application with | Nominating Petition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEC OF STATE | COUNTY JUDGE | % Signatures a | Maximum Number of Signatures | |
United States Senator |
x |
1% |
||
United States Representative |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Railroad Commissioner |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Justice, Supreme Court |
x |
- |
1% |
- |
Presiding Judge and 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 |
District Attorney |
x |
- |
5% |
500 |
Judge, County Court-at-Law |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Judge, County Criminal Court |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Judge, County Probate Court |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
County Attorney |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Sheriff |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Tax Assessor-Collector |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
County Commissioner |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Constable |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Justice of the Peace |
- |
x |
5% |
500 |
Source: Texas Election Code Section |
§142.002 & §142.005 |
§142.007 |
||