PA Presidential Ballot Access
Pennsylvania Presidential Ballot Access Requirements
State-level general-election presidential ballot access requirements for Pennsylvania, including party nomination, petition access, and write-in rules where available in the NASS summary.
Party Nomination
Political Party Nomination
A presidential candidate nominated by a political party (commonly known as a “major” political party) may be placed on the general election ballot. The nominee of each political party must certify to the Secretary of the Commonwealth within thirty days after the national convention of the party the names of the presidential electors. A political party is any party or political body whose candidates at the general election next preceding the primary received in each of at least ten counties in the state no less than 2% of the largest entire vote cast in each of the counties for any elected candidate, and received a total vote in the state equal to at least 2% of the largest entire vote cast in the state for any elected candidate. If that political party has at least 15% of Pennsylvania voters registered in that party, it is a “major” political party.
Petition Access
Petition / Independent Candidate Access
Presidential candidates of minor parties and political bodies may obtain ballot access for the general election by filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, no later than August 1st, an affidavit of candidacy, a $200 fee, and nomination papers containing the signatures of 5000 qualified electors. If a political body meets the 2% votes cast threshold, but not the voter registration threshold, it is a “minor” political party. If a political body does not meet the voter registration threshold, or the vote total threshold, it is a “political body.”
Write-In
Write-In Rules
A voter may write-in the name of a presidential candidate on the ballot.
Legal Citations
Source Citations
- 25 Pa. Stat. §§ 2831, 2878, 2872.2, 2873, 2911, 2913, 2914, 3031.12); Constitution Party of Pa. v. Cortés, no. 12-2726 (E.D. Pa. February 1, 2018); Libertarian Party v. Davis, No. 84-26 (E.D. Pa. June 13, 1984
Source and Use
How to Read This Ballot Access Data
This reference is generated from NASS Summary: State Laws Regarding Presidential Ballot Access for the General Election.
- Primary source
- NASS ballot access summary PDF
- Coverage
- General-election presidential ballot access requirements by state, as summarized by NASS.
- Use note
- Informational reference only; verify current law with the state election office, current statutes, and legal counsel.
- These entries summarize general-election presidential ballot access rules for political party nominees, petition candidates, fee access where listed, and write-in candidacies.
- Ballot access law can change through statutes, court decisions, and state election guidance. Verify requirements with the state election office before relying on them.
- This reference does not state whether any candidate has qualified for a state ballot.
- This page is informational and is not legal advice or a filing procedure guide.