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Ballot access requirements for political parties in Kentucky
 in Kentucky |
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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 Kentucky, click here.
Process for a political party to obtain ballot status
See statutes: Chapter 118 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes
In Kentucky, no paperwork is required to establish a political party. Instead, political entities are distinguished by the number of votes their candidates receive in the general election. The state recognizes three types of political entities: political parties, political organizations, and political groups. Each is allowed to place candidates on the ballot in different ways.
Political parties
A political party is an entity whose candidate received at least 20% of the votes cast in the most recent presidential election. Political parties must nominate their candidates via primary elections.[1][2]
Political organizations
A political organization is an entity whose candidate won between 2% and 20% of the votes cast in the most recent presidential election. A political organization may nominate its candidates by either convention or party primary. Candidates may also be nominated by petition.[1][2][3]
Political groups
A political group is an entity that did not meet the qualifications to be recognized as a political organization or political party. A political group may only nominate candidates by petition.[1][2][4]
Political parties
As of May 2024, Kentucky recognized two political parties. These are listed in the table below. A political party in Kentucky is defined as a political entity whose candidate in the most recent presidential election received at least 20 percent of the total votes cast for that office.[5][6]
| Party | Website link | By-laws/platform link |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party of Kentucky | Link | Party platform |
| Republican Party of Kentucky | Link | Party platform |
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See also
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kentucky
- Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Kentucky
- List of political parties in the United States
- Democratic Party of Kentucky
- Republican Party of Kentucky
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kentucky General Assembly, "118.015 Definitions for chapter," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kentucky General Assembly, "118.105 Nominations by political parties -- Vacancy in candidacy -- Replacement candidates -- Ineligibility of Senior Status Special Judge," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "118.325 Nomination by convention or primary -- Vacancies -- Nominees by petition -- Ineligibility of Senior Status Special Judge," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "118.315 Nomination for regular election by petition -- Form of petition -- Examination of petition -- Ineligibility of Senior Status Special Judge," accessed July 7, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Chapter 118, Section 015," accessed January May 20, 2024
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Voter Registration Form," accessed May 20, 2024
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