Getting on the Ballot 101

Ever gone out to a restaurant only for the host to say, “We don’t have your name on our reservation list tonight”? You probably searched frantically through your email and calendar only to find out — you booked it for the wrong day. And now they’re full, you’re hungry, and you might even have an annoyed dinner date rolling their eyes at you. Woof.

That's a lot like how campaigns work. Getting your candidate's (or your own) name on the ballot is the first real test of whether you can hack this whole running-for-office thing. Sure, write-in campaigns exist, but they're incredibly difficult to pull off. Don't let missing documents or blown deadlines force you into that nearly impossible position.

If you’ve found this article, then you don’t need to fly blind on the paperwork, fees, and legal requirements. We’re here to walk you through everything you need to get ballot ready!

Where Do I Start?

If you remember when Joe Biden exited the 2024 Presidential race and Kamala Harris jumped in, you know lots of questions cropped up about whether she could actually meet requirements to get her name on the ballot in every state. It’s a hurdle that every campaign has to face no matter how big or small, so let’s dive in on where you should start to tackle it.

Some people forget that for most offices in the country, there are two elections, the primary and the general.

While there are a few ways to land your name on a general election ballot, the most common is by winning your Democratic primary. To start there, check out Democracy Docket’s breakdown of how to get on a primary ballot, no matter what state you live in. You may also file directly for the general election if it’s nonpartisan, or in rare cases, be selected at the Democratic Party Convention. A detailed, guided walkthrough of each approach lives in our free online course, Getting Your Campaign Off The Ground.

If your state requires petition signatures to get on the ballot, strategizing early will be key. Whatever the signature minimum is, aim higher — you never know how many will be doubles, unregistered voters, or have other disqualifying factors. If your election is large enough, be prepared to find and maybe pay for help upfront, because this process means interacting with thousands of voters. Investing in the right staff early won’t just be beneficial but necessary to your preparation. Our Running a Ballot Access Program course will show you how to execute your strategy here. (Or if you’re one step ahead, our Sample Ballot Access Training Agenda will get you ready to train your volunteers on signature collection!)

When Do I Start?

At this point, you might be side-eyeing the calendar on your fridge, thinking “when does all of this have to happen?!” If you’re running your race while bobbing and weaving through a working life, caretaking duties, and personal relationships, deadlines and dates are probably a high-priority piece of knowledge. You’re asking the right questions!

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question, though you should probably start somewhere in the ballpark of 6-12 months ahead of your primary. If you read our weekly substack, we might sound like a broken record here — but it really does depend! On the state or district you’re running in, what office you’re seeking, and more. Not to worry, we can direct you to all the answers you’re looking for on our Campaign Start-Up Resources sheet that will tell you where to dig in depending on where you live. 

Small Wins Start Strong

Once your (or your candidate’s) name is on the ballot, give yourself a pat on the back: you’ve demonstrated that your campaign has the competence, organization, and execution skills to do this thing! You’ll face many challenges along the way, but you’ve laid the foundation to win.

And you’ve sent a clear message to anyone paying attention that you’re serious about running and winning, and you’ve got the know-how to pull it off. Knocking out the basics like ballot access builds your credibility, and vice versa, getting called out on a technical mistake could make voters question your organizational skills.

Your path to getting on the ballot starts, like a lot of things, with the right paperwork. Make sure you do it completely, correctly, and on time. We’re here to help. We train Democrats for success in every aspect of campaigning, and our website is always available with more free career and campaign resources.