Natural-Born Citizen
35 Years Old
Permanent U.S. Resident
35 years old
permanent u.s. resident
Natural-Born Citizen
Getting on the primary ballot
Anyone who meets the basic requirements to be president can declare their candidacy. Once a candidate raises or spends more than $5,000 for their campaign, they must register with the Federal Election Commission. That includes naming a principal campaign committee to raise and spend campaign funds.
Presidential candidates campaign across the United States in an effort to win their political party’s nomination in one of the two major American political parties in the U.S.: Democrats and Republicans. State elections either take the form of primaries or caucuses.
After the primaries and caucuses, each major party holds a national convention to select a presidential nominee. Delegates, or people authorized to represent others as an elected representative to a political party conference, vote for that nominee. The elected presidential nominee then announces his or her choice for vice president.
You must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, or a U.S. citizen by birth. This includes: anyone born in the United States, the children of United States citizens born abroad, and those born abroad of one citizen parent.
You must be a U.S. resident, having lived in the country continuously and permanently for at least 14 years prior to the election.
You must be at least 35 years old. Regardless of who wins the upcoming election, either the Democratic or Republican candidates of the 2020 election could become the oldest president in history - Donald Trump would be 78 by the end of a second term and Joe Biden by the time he was inaugurated.
Caucuses
& Primaries
National Conventions
The general election votes actually go toward a group of people called electors. The total tally of votes, or the popular vote, does not determine the president. The number of electors each state gets is equal to its total number of senators and representatives in Congress, and electors are also chosen during the presidential election. There are 538 electors in the Electoral College. Each elector casts one vote after the general election on behalf of their state, and the presidential candidate who gets 270 or more votes, a majority, wins. In the event no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president. The newly-elected president and vice president are then inaugurated on Jan. 20.
Electoral College
The Democratic and Republican candidates typically campaign throughout the country to win support from the general public. On Election Day, those 18 and older cast their votes in every state. Independent candidates outside of the two major political parties face different requirements in each state to get their names onto a general election ballot.
General
Election
3 basic requirements
Mail-In Voting
Early Voting
CALIFORNIA: Candidates must be generally advocated for or recognized through an authorized campaign committee or be qualified for funding; appear in a national presidential debate; qualify for ballot placement in at least one other state; or have a current presidential campaign website and a written request submitted on the candidate’s behalf by a party qualified to participate in the primary election to the Secretary of State. Candidates not selected by the Secretary of State may qualify to appear on the primary ballot by gathering signatures of voters registered in their party.
ILLINOIS: Any presidential candidate may have his or her name printed on the primary ballot by filing in the office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the general primary and by submitting a petition signed by not less than 3,000 or more than 5,000 primary electors.
TEXAS: Candidates who wish to run either as a Republican or Democrat will file applications, accompanied by a filing fee or petition, with the state chair of each party. All forms and procedures to run for president must follow party rule. The party will also establish the filing deadline.
NORTH CAROLINA: Members of a qualified political party require 10,000 signatures to be on the North Carolina presidential ballot. There are 70,665 signatures needed to run as an independent.
PENNSYLVANIA: Candidates from qualified parties must have 2,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee. Independent candidates must have 5,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee to get on the primary ballot.
NEW YORK: Democratic candidates must file petitions with 5,000 signatures of enrolled Democrats. Any Republican candidate who has been certified as eligible to receive presidential primary matching fund payments, is a nationally known and recognized candidate or who files a designating petition with signatures of 5,000 or 5%, whichever is less, of the enrolled Republicans can also be on the ballot. The requirement for signatures for an independent nominating petition for president must contain 45,000 signatures or one percent of the total number of votes, excluding blank and void ballots, cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election, whichever is less, with at least 500 signatures, or one percent of enrolled voters, whichever is less, coming from each of one-half of the congressional districts in the state.
CALIFORNIA: An independent candidate can be put on California’s presidential ballot by finding 55 electors to pledge their votes to him or her. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
ILLINOIS: At least 2,500 valid signatures of registered Illinois voters are required to appear on the ballot an an independent candidate, per state election law. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
TEXAS: Independent candidates for president file an application with the secretary of state. The application must be submitted with a petition of 89,693 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in the presidential primary of either party. The application must include the information about and signed consent from the candidate’s vice-presidential running mate. In addition to the petition and application, an independent candidate must provide signed, written statements of consent from 38 presidential elector candidates. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
NORTH CAROLINA: An independent candidate for president must petition for placement on the general election ballot. The petition must contain signatures equaling at least 2% of the total votes cast for governor in the previous general election, with a minimum of 200 signatures from each of the state's congressional districts. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
PENNSYLVANIA: Independent candidates must have 5,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee to get on the ballot. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
NEW YORK: An independent presidential candidate seeking to get on the general election ballot must file a petition containing 15,000 signatures. A write-in candidate must file a certificate of candidacy. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
Election Day always falls on the first Tuesday of November. This year, that will be on Nov. 3, 2020.
Prior to election day, voters can participate in the election through early voting and mail-in voting.
Make your voice heard.
Register to vote.
Register to vote.
Mail-In Voting
Early Voting
EARLY VOTING BY STATE:
California: Early voting begins up to 29 days before the Election Day, but varies by county.
Illinois: 40 days before Election Day
New York: 2-10 days before Election Day
North Carolina: At least 15 days before Election Day. Varies by county
Pennsylvania: Varies by county
Texas: 4-22 days before Election Day
Make your voice heard.
Register to vote.
Register to vote.
total number of senators and representatives in Congress, and electors are also chosen during the presidential election. There are 538 electors in the Electoral College. Each elector casts one vote after the general election on behalf of their state, and the presidential candidate who gets 270 or more votes, a majority, wins. In the event no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president. The newly-elected president and vice president are then inaugurated on Jan. 20.
The general election votes actually go toward a group of people called electors. The total tally of votes, or the popular vote, does not determine the president; electors do. The number of electors per state is equal to its total number of
Electoral
College
Mail-In Voting
Mail-In Voting
Early Voting
Early Voting
Election Day falls on the first Tuesday of November. This year, that will be on Nov. 3, 2020.
Prior to election day, voters can participate in the election through early voting and mail-in voting.
EARLY VOTING BY STATE:
California: Early voting begins up to 29 days before the Election Day, but varies by county.
Illinois: 40 days before Election Day
New York: 2-10 days before Election Day
North Carolina: At least 15 days before Election Day. Varies by county
Pennsylvania: Varies by county
Texas: 4-22 days before Election Day
The Democratic and Republican candidates typically campaign throughout the country to win support from the general public. On Election Day, those 18 and older cast their votes in every state. Independent candidates outside of the two major political parties face different requirements in each state to get their names onto a general election ballot.
General
Election
CALIFORNIA: An independent candidate can be put on California’s presidential ballot by finding 55 electors to pledge their votes to him or her. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
ILLINOIS: At least 2,500 valid signatures of registered Illinois voters are required to appear on the ballot an an independent candidate, per state election law. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
TEXAS: Independent candidates for president file an application with the secretary of state. The application must be submitted with a petition of 89,693 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in the presidential primary of either party. The application must include the information about and signed consent from the candidate’s vice-presidential running mate. In addition to the petition and application, an independent candidate must provide signed, written statements of consent from 38 presidential elector candidates. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
NORTH CAROLINA: An independent candidate for president must petition for placement on the general election ballot. The petition must contain signatures equaling at least 2% of the total votes cast for governor in the previous general election, with a minimum of 200 signatures from each of the state's congressional districts. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
PENNSYLVANIA: Independent candidates must have 5,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee to get on the ballot. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
NEW YORK: An independent presidential candidate seeking to get on the general election ballot must file a petition containing 15,000 signatures. A write-in candidate must file a certificate of candidacy. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
View Chicagoland's safe mail-in ballot drop-off locations.
After the primaries and caucuses, each major party holds a national convention to select a presidential nominee. Delegates, or people authorized to represent others as an elected representative to a political party conference, vote for that nominee. The presidential nominee then announces their choice for vice president.
National Conventions
Presidential candidates campaign across the United States in an effort to win their political party’s nomination in one of the two major American political parties in the U.S.: Democrats and Republicans. State elections either take the form of primaries or caucuses.
Caucuses
& Primaries
CALIFORNIA: Candidates must be generally advocated for or recognized through an authorized campaign committee or be qualified for funding; appear in a national presidential debate; qualify for ballot placement in at least one other state; or have a current presidential campaign website and a written request submitted on the candidate’s behalf by a party qualified to participate in the primary election to the Secretary of State. Candidates not selected by the Secretary of State may qualify to appear on the primary ballot by gathering signatures of voters registered in their party.
ILLINOIS: Any presidential candidate may have his or her name printed on the primary ballot by filing in the office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the general primary and by submitting a petition signed by not less than 3,000 or more than 5,000 primary electors.
TEXAS: Candidates who wish to run either as a Republican or Democrat will file applications, accompanied by a filing fee or petition, with the state chair of each party. All forms and procedures to run for president must follow party rule. The party will also establish the filing deadline.
NORTH CAROLINA: Members of a qualified political party require 10,000 signatures to be on the North Carolina presidential ballot. There are 70,665 signatures needed to run as an independent.
PENNSYLVANIA: Candidates from qualified parties must have 2,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee. Independent candidates must have 5,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee to get on the primary ballot.
NEW YORK: Democratic candidates must file petitions with 5,000 signatures of enrolled Democrats. Any Republican candidate who has been certified as eligible to receive presidential primary matching fund payments, is a nationally known and recognized candidate or who files a designating petition with signatures of 5,000 or 5%, whichever is less, of the enrolled Republicans can also be on the ballot. The requirement for signatures for an independent nominating petition for president must contain 45,000 signatures or one percent of the total number of votes, excluding blank and void ballots, cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election, whichever is less, with at least 500 signatures, or one percent of enrolled voters, whichever is less, coming from each of one-half of the congressional districts in the state.
Anyone who meets the basic requirements to be president can declare their candidacy. Once a candidate raises or spends more than $5,000 for their campaign, they must register with the Federal Election Commission and name a principal campaign committee to raise and spend campaign funds.
Getting on the primary ballot
Natural-Born Citizen
Natural-Born Citizen
35 years old
35 Years Old
Permanent U.S. Resident
permanent u.s. resident
3 basic
requirements
You must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, or a U.S. citizen by birth. This includes: anyone born in the United States, the children of United States citizens born abroad, and those born abroad of one citizen parent.
You must be at least 35 years old. Regardless of who wins the upcoming election, either the Democratic or Republican candidates of the 2020 election could become the oldest president in history - Donald Trump would be 78 by the end of a second term and Joe Biden by the time he was inaugurated.
You must be a U.S. resident, having lived in the country continuously and permanently for at least 14 years prior to the election.
Make your voice heard.
Register to vote.
Register to vote.
representatives in Congress, and electors are also chosen during the presidential election. There are 538 electors in the Electoral College. Each elector casts one vote after the general election on behalf of their state, and the presidential candidate who gets 270 or more votes, a majority, wins. In the event no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president. The newly-elected president and vice president are then inaugurated on Jan. 20.
The general election votes actually go toward a group of people called electors. The total tally of votes, or the popular vote, does not determine the president; electors do. The number of electors per state is equal to its total number of senators and
Electoral
College
Mail-In Voting
Mail-In Voting
Early Voting
Early Voting
Election Day falls on the first Tuesday of November. This year, that will be on Nov. 3, 2020.
Prior to election day, voters can participate in the election through early voting and mail-in voting.
EARLY VOTING BY STATE:
California: Early voting begins up to 29 days before the Election Day, but varies by county.
Illinois: 40 days before Election Day
New York: 2-10 days before Election Day
North Carolina: At least 15 days before Election Day. Varies by county
Pennsylvania: Varies by county
Texas: 4-22 days before Election Day
The Democratic and Republican candidates typically campaign throughout the country to win support from the general public. On Election Day, those 18 and older cast their votes in every state. Independent candidates outside of the two major political parties face different requirements in each state to get their names onto a general election ballot.
General
Election
CALIFORNIA: An independent candidate can be put on California’s presidential ballot by finding 55 electors to pledge their votes to him or her. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
ILLINOIS: At least 2,500 valid signatures of registered Illinois voters are required to appear on the ballot an an independent candidate, per state election law. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
TEXAS: Independent candidates for president file an application with the secretary of state. The application must be submitted with a petition of 89,693 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in the presidential primary of either party. The application must include the information about and signed consent from the candidate’s vice-presidential running mate. In addition to the petition and application, an independent candidate must provide signed, written statements of consent from 38 presidential elector candidates. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
NORTH CAROLINA: An independent candidate for president must petition for placement on the general election ballot. The petition must contain signatures equaling at least 2% of the total votes cast for governor in the previous general election, with a minimum of 200 signatures from each of the state's congressional districts. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
PENNSYLVANIA: Independent candidates must have 5,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee to get on the ballot. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
NEW YORK: An independent presidential candidate seeking to get on the general election ballot must file a petition containing 15,000 signatures. A write-in candidate must file a certificate of candidacy. The Democratic and Republican candidates are the official party nominees, as determined and confirmed by the national conventions.
View Chicagoland's safe mail-in ballot drop-off locations.
After the primaries and caucuses, each major party holds a national convention to select a presidential nominee. Delegates, or people authorized to represent others as an elected representative to a political party conference, vote for that nominee. The presidential nominee then announces their choice for vice president.
National Conventions
Presidential candidates campaign across the United States in an effort to win their political party’s nomination in one of the two major American political parties in the U.S.: Democrats and Republicans. State elections either take the form of primaries or caucuses.
Caucuses
& Primaries
CALIFORNIA: Candidates must be generally advocated for or recognized through an authorized campaign committee or be qualified for funding; appear in a national presidential debate; qualify for ballot placement in at least one other state; or have a current presidential campaign website and a written request submitted on the candidate’s behalf by a party qualified to participate in the primary election to the Secretary of State. Candidates not selected by the Secretary of State may qualify to appear on the primary ballot by gathering signatures of voters registered in their party.
ILLINOIS: Any presidential candidate may have his or her name printed on the primary ballot by filing in the office of the State Board of Elections not more than 113 and not less than 106 days prior to the date of the general primary and by submitting a petition signed by not less than 3,000 or more than 5,000 primary electors.
TEXAS: Candidates who wish to run either as a Republican or Democrat will file applications, accompanied by a filing fee or petition, with the state chair of each party. All forms and procedures to run for president must follow party rule. The party will also establish the filing deadline.
NORTH CAROLINA: Members of a qualified political party require 10,000 signatures to be on the North Carolina presidential ballot. There are 70,665 signatures needed to run as an independent.
PENNSYLVANIA: Candidates from qualified parties must have 2,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee. Independent candidates must have 5,000 signatures and pay a $200 filing fee to get on the primary ballot.
NEW YORK: Democratic candidates must file petitions with 5,000 signatures of enrolled Democrats. Any Republican candidate who has been certified as eligible to receive presidential primary matching fund payments, is a nationally known and recognized candidate or who files a designating petition with signatures of 5,000 or 5%, whichever is less, of the enrolled Republicans can also be on the ballot. The requirement for signatures for an independent nominating petition for president must contain 45,000 signatures or one percent of the total number of votes, excluding blank and void ballots, cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election, whichever is less, with at least 500 signatures, or one percent of enrolled voters, whichever is less, coming from each of one-half of the congressional districts in the state.
Anyone who meets the basic requirements to be president can declare their candidacy. Once a candidate raises or spends more than $5,000 for their campaign, they must register with the Federal Election Commission and name a principal campaign committee to raise and spend campaign funds.
Getting on the primary ballot
Natural-Born Citizen
Natural-Born Citizen
35 years old
35 Years Old
Permanent U.S. Resident
permanent u.s. resident
3 basic
requirements
You must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, or a U.S. citizen by birth. This includes: anyone born in the United States, the children of United States citizens born abroad, and those born abroad of one citizen parent.
You must be at least 35 years old. Regardless of who wins the upcoming election, either the Democratic or Republican candidates of the 2020 election could become the oldest president in history - Donald Trump would be 78 by the end of a second term and Joe Biden by the time he was inaugurated.
You must be a U.S. resident, having lived in the country continuously and permanently for at least 14 years prior to the election.
