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Ballot access requirements for political parties in Florida
 in Florida |
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| Ballot access for major and minor party candidates |
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| Ballot access for presidential candidates |
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| List of political parties in the United States |
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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.
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Although there are hundreds of political parties in the United States, only certain parties qualify to have the names of their candidates for office printed on election ballots. In order to qualify for ballot placement, a party must meet certain requirements that vary from state to state. For example, in some states, a party may have to file a petition in order to qualify for ballot placement. In other states, a party must organize around a candidate for a specific office; that candidate must, in turn, win a percentage of the vote in order for the party to be granted ballot status. In still other states, an aspiring political party must register a certain number of voters.
To learn more about ballot access requirements for political candidates in Florida, click here.
Process for a political party to obtain ballot status
See statutes: Chapter 103 of the Florida Statutes
Minor party definition
Section 97.021, Florida Statutes, defines a minor political party as a group which, after having filed certain documents with the Florida Division of Elections, does not have registration equaling at least 5% of the state's total registered voters by January 1 before a primary election.[1] Section 103.095, Florida Statutes, states:[2]
| “ |
Any group of citizens organized for the general purposes of electing to office qualified persons and determining public issues under the democratic processes of the United States may become a minor political party of this state by filing with the department a certificate showing the name of the organization, the names and addresses of its current officers, including the members of its executive committee, accompanied by a completed uniform statewide voter registration application as specified in s. 97.052 for each of its current officers and members of its executive committee which reflect their affiliation with the proposed minor political party, and a copy of its constitution, bylaws, and rules and regulations.[3] |
” |
The members of the executive committee of the minor party must elect a chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer. Each of these positions must be filled by a member of the minor party.[2]
Minor party ballot access
According to the Florida Division of Elections:[4]
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If more than one candidate from the minor political party has qualified for the same office, the names of the candidates will appear on the ballot and only registered members of the minor political party will be permitted to vote for the candidates. If only one candidate has qualified for the office, the candidate’s name will not be on the primary ballot, but will appear on the general election ballot.[3] |
” |
Major party definition
If at least 5% of the state's total registered voters affiliate as members of a minor party by January 1 preceding a primary election, the party is considered a major political party.[1][5]
Political parties
As of January 2025, the state officially recognized 16 political parties. [6]
| Party | Website link | Bylaws/platform link |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party of Florida | Link | |
| Republican Party of Florida | Link | Party mission statement |
| American Solidarity Party of Florida | Link | Party mission statement |
| Boricua Party | Link | |
| Coalition with a Purpose Party of Florida | ||
| Conservative Party of Florida | Link | |
| Constitution Party of Florida | Link | |
| Ecology Party of Florida | Link | |
| Florida Forward Party | Link | |
| Florida Natural Law Party | ||
| Green Party of Florida | Link | Party bylaws |
| Jeffersonian Party of Florida | Link | Party platform |
| Independent Party of Florida | Link | |
| Libertarian Party of Florida | Link | Party platform |
| Party for Socialism and Liberation of Florida | Link | |
| Reform Party of Florida | Link | Party principles |
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See also
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Florida
- Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Florida
- List of political parties in the United States
- Democratic Party of Florida
- Republican Party of Florida
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Florida Legislature, "The 2024 Florida Statutes | 97.021 Definitions," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The 2024 Florida Statutes | 103.095 Minor political parties," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "FAQ - Minor Political Parties," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Political Parties," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Political Party Information," accessed January 21, 2025
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