Write-In Candidates
(Amended to reflect Federal District Court Order of 3/1/2012)
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 21, 2012, and no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 20, 2012. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 146.025 (NEW LAW, SB 100, 2011 Legislative Session). 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. Per federal district court order of 3/1/12, the filing deadline for county chair is March 9, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. We anticipate a corrected order to reflect a write-in deadline for precinct chair.
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 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
Senator |
x |
$5,000 |
5000 |
||
United States Representative
|
x |
- |
$3,125 |
2% |
500 |
Railroad Commissioner
|
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Justice, Supreme Court
|
x |
- |
$3,750 |
- |
5,000 |
Presiding Judge and 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/$1,875c |
2% |
500 |
District Judge
|
x |
- |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
Criminal District Judge
|
x |
- |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
District Attorney
|
x |
- |
$1,250 |
2% |
500 |
Judge, County Court-at-Law
|
x |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
|
Judge, County Criminal Court
|
x |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
|
Judge, County Probate Court
|
x |
$2,500/$1,500 d |
2% |
500 |
|
County Attorney
|
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 e |
2% |
500 |
Sheriff
|
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
Tax Assessor-Collector
|
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
County Commissioner
|
- |
x |
$1,250/$750 b |
2% |
500 |
Constable
|
- |
x |
$1,000/$375 b |
2% |
500 |
Justice of the Peace (Place 1)
|
- |
x |
$1,000/$375 b |
2% |
500 |
Source: Texas Election Code Section |
§146.024 |
§146.0231 |
§146.0232, §170.025 |
||
- Percentage of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2010 general election. If number is less than 50, a larger percentage may be required. Consult Secretary of State for further information. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 146.023, 172.025.
- Pay higher fee if county has at least 200,000 inhabitants according to 2010 Census.
- Pay higher fee in Courts of Appeals Districts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 14. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 146.0231, 172.024(8) (NEW LAW, HB 2702, 2011 Legislative Session).
- Pay higher fee in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant Counties. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. §§ 146.0231 172.024(9)-(12) (NEW LAW, HB 2702, 2011 Legislative Session).
- Pay higher fee if county attorney performs the duties of a district attorney.