Election Notice:  Early voting for the November 5, 2024 Uniform Election runs from Monday, October 21, 2024 – Friday, November 1, 2024  |  Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) is Friday, October 25, 2024  |  ID requirements for voting in person  |    ID requirements for voting by mail
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, OUR LOBBY WALK-IN HOURS WILL BE 9 A.M. - 4 P.M. (CENTRAL), MONDAY - FRIDAY.

How to Become a Nominee of New Party or Party Without Ballot Access in 2024

If you are a member of a new party or if your party's candidates for statewide office in the last general election received less than five percent of the vote, your party must qualify for ballot access. (Sections 181.0041, 181.005, Texas Election Code). Your party must register (PDF) with the Secretary of State's office by January 2, 2024, and needs the support of 81,030 qualified voters. (Sections 181.005,181.006, Texas Election Code).

If you hope to become the nominee of a new party for a particular office, you must file an application for nomination (PDF) with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). The application must be filed no later than 6:00 p.m. on December 11, 2023. (Section 181.033, Texas Election Code). The application for nomination must be accompanied by either a filing fee or a petition in lieu of filing fee (PDF), delivered to the Secretary of State (for a statewide or district office) or to the county judge (for a county or precinct office), in order for the applicant to qualify for nomination.  The amount of the filing fee or the number of signatures required for the petition in lieu of a filing fee is the same amount that is required for a candidate seeking nomination by primary election under Sections 172.024 and 172.025. (NOTE: There are no extra requirements for judicial applicants.)

If you receive a majority of the votes cast at the county, district, or state convention, as appropriate, and you submitted your filing fee or petition in lieu of filing fee to county judge or Secretary of State, whichever is applicable, your name will appear on the general election ballot in November 2024 if your party has obtained ballot access.

Judicial Candidates

For more information on obtaining ballot access, please see our guide on establishing a political party in Texas.

Nominee of New Party or Party without Ballot Access
Public Office Sought in 2024 File Application with Party Chair Additional Information Required File with County Judge or SOS (filing fee OR nominating petition)
  State County Filing fee %Signatures a Number of Signatures b
United States Senator x - - $5,000 - 5000
United States Representative x - - $3,125 2% 500
Railroad Commissioner x - - $3,750 - 5000
Justice, Supreme Court x - x $3,750 - 5000
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals x - x $3,750 - 5000
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 - x $2,500 /
$1,875 c
2% 500
District Judge x - x $2,500 /
$1,500 d
2% 500
Criminal District Judge x - x $2,500 /
$1,500 d
2% 500
Family District Judge x - x $2,500 /
$1,500 d
2% 500
District Attorney x - - $1,250 2% 500
Criminal District Attorney x - - $1,250 2% 500
County Judge - x - $1,250 /
$750 e
2% 500
Judge, County Court-at-Law - x x $2,500 /
$1,500 d
2% 500
Judge, County Criminal Court - x x $2,500 /
$1,500 d
2% 500
Judge, County Probate Court - x x $2,500 /
$1,500 d
2% 500
County Attorney - x - $1,250 /
$750 f
2% 500
Sheriff - x - $1,250 /
$750 e
2% 500
Tax-Assessor-Collector - x - 1,250 /
$750 e
2% 500
County Commissioner - x - $1,250 /
$750 e
2% 500
Constable - x - $1,000 /
$375 e
2% 500
Justice of the Peace - x - $1,000 /
$375 e
2% 500
Source: Texas Election Code Section §§ 181.032; 182.0041 §141.0311 §172.024 §172.025  
  1. Percentage of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2022 general election. If number is less than 50, the required number of signatures is the lesser of (1) 50 or (2) 20% of all votes for all gubernatorial candidates cast in the applicable territory in the 2022 general election.
  2. The minimum number of signatures that must appear on a candidate’s petition for statewide office is 5000. The minimum number of signatures that must appear on a candidate’s petition for district, county or precinct office is the lesser of (1) 500 or (2) 2% of the total vote received in the district, county or precinct, as applicable, by all gubernatorial candidates in the 2022 general election. (Section 172.025, Texas Election Code).
  3. Pay higher fee in Courts of Appeals Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 14. (Section 172.024(7), (8), Texas Election Code).
  4. Pay higher fee in Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant Counties. (Sections 172.024(10), (12), Texas Election Code).
  5. Pay higher fee if county has at least 200,000 inhabitants according to 2020 Census.
  6. Pay higher fee if county attorney performs the duties of a district attorney. (Section 172.024(13), Texas Election Code).