Does your state lean blue or lean red? Check out our new report, highlighting partisan control of state government from 1992-2013.
Connecticut signature requirements
 (By state) |
| |
Contents |
Federal offices
In Connecticut, one major party candidate for each primary is chosen by party convention. However, major party candidates who received at least 15% of the vote in any convention vote (final or otherwise) may also file for the office. Major party candidates who were not voted on or who did not receive 15% of the vote may also qualify for the primary by petition. Candidates must collect the signatures of 2% of the party's registered voters in the relevant district.[1]
Minor parties do not conduct primaries and nominate only one candidate for the general election. Potential minor party candidates for races where the minor party has not nominated a candidate may qualify by petition. Candidates must collect signatures equal to 1% of the vote cast for the office in the previous election or 7,500, whichever is less. In addition, the chair or secretary of the minor party must endorse the candidate.[2][3]
Candidates who are not members of existing major or minor parties may file a candidate petition with a no party designation or under a new party designation not taken by an existing party. For these candidate petitions, candidates must collect signatures equal to 1% of the vote cast for the office in the previous election or 7,500, whichever is less. A separate procedure exists for reserving a new party designation and requires the signatures of twenty-five people who will constitute the party designation committee.[3]
Write-in votes are only accepted in the general election. Write-in candidates must register with the state at least two weeks (14 days) prior to the election.[4]
Filing deadlines
2012
Party convention endorsements were made in late May and certified to the Secretary of State within 14 days of the convention's close. Also within 14 days, candidates who received 15% of the convention vote had to file a document with the Secretary of State confirming their intention to run and verifying the required vote. Major party candidates seeking to qualify by petition had to file their signatures with the appropriate registrars of voters by June 12 in order to participate in the primary.[5]
Independent candidates had to file their petitions with the Secretary of State or appropriate town clerk by August 8 in order to participate in the general election. Minor parties had to select general election candidates by September 5. Write-in candidates had to register with the Secretary of State by October 23.[5]
State offices
In Connecticut, one major party candidate for each primary is chosen by party convention. However, major party candidates who received at least 15% of the vote in any convention vote (final or otherwise) may also file for the office. Major party candidates who were not voted on or who did not receive 15% of the vote may also qualify for the primary by petition. Candidates must collect the signatures of 2% of the party's registered voters in the relevant district.[6]
Minor parties do not conduct primaries and nominate only one candidate for the general election. Potential minor party candidates for races where the minor party has not nominated a candidate may qualify by petition. Candidates must collect signatures equal to 1% of the vote cast for the office in the previous election or 7,500, whichever is less. In addition, the chair or secretary of the minor party must endorse the candidate.[7][3]
Candidates who are not members of existing major or minor parties may file a candidate petition with a no party designation or under a new party designation not taken by an existing party. For these candidate petitions, candidates must collect signatures equal to 1% of the vote cast for the office in the previous election or 7,500, whichever is less. A separate procedure exists for reserving a new party designation and requires the signatures of twenty-five people who will constitute the party designation committee.[3]
Write-in votes are only accepted in the general election. Write-in candidates must register with the Secretary of State at least two weeks (14 days) prior to the election.[8]
Filing deadlines
2012
Party convention endorsements were made in late May and certified to the Secretary of State within 14 days of the convention's close. Also within 14 days, candidates who received 15% of the convention vote had to file a document with the Secretary of State confirming their intention to run and verifying the required vote. Major party candidates seeking to qualify by petition had to file their signatures with the appropriate registrars of voters by June 12 in order to participate in the primary.[5]
Independent candidates had to file their petitions with the Secretary of State or appropriate town clerk by August 8 in order to participate in the general election. Minor parties had to select general election candidates by September 5. Write-in candidates had to register with the Secretary of State by October 23.[5]
Ballot measures
Connecticut is one of the 24 states that do not have initiative and referendum.
See also
2012
External links
- Secretary of State, "2012 State Election Calendar," November 2011
- Secretary of State, "Nominating Petitions"
- Secretary of State, "Write-in Candidates"
- Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions"
References
- ↑ Connecticut Statutes, Chapter 153, Section 9-400, accessed April 30, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Statutes, Chapter 153, Section 9-451, accessed April 30, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Secretary of State, "Instruction Page for Nominating Petitions," April 30, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Statutes, Chapter 153, Section 9-373a, accessed April 30, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Secretary of State, "2012 State Election Calendar," November 2011
- ↑ Connecticut Statutes, Chapter 153, Section 9-400, accessed April 30, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Statutes, Chapter 153, Section 9-451, accessed April 30, 2012
- ↑ Connecticut Statutes, Chapter 153, Section 9-373a, accessed April 30, 2012
