Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kentucky
 in Kentucky |
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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.
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In order to get on the ballot in Kentucky, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.
There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Kentucky. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Kentucky." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).
Year-specific filing information
2024
U.S. Senate
For information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kentucky in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. House | Ballot-qualified party | 2 | $500.00 | 1/5/2024 | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | 400 | $500.00 | 4/1/2024 | Source |
For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.
2023
Governor
The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Kentucky in the 2023 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
| Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source | Notes |
| Kentucky | Governor | Democratic or Republican | 2 | $500 | 1/6/2023 | Source | |
| Kentucky | Governor | Unaffiliated | 5,000 | $500 | 6/6/2023 | Source | |
2022
U.S. Senate
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Kentucky in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. Senate | Democratic or Republican | 2 | $500.00 | 1/25/2022 | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 5,000 | $500.00 | 6/7/2022 | Source |
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kentucky in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. House | Ballot-qualified party | 2 | $500.00 | 1/25/2022 | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. House | Unaffiliated | 400 | $500.00 | 6/7/2022 | Source |
2020
U.S. Senate
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Kentucky in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. Senate | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | U.S. Senate | Unaffiliated | 5,000 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
U.S. House
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kentucky in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
| Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky | 1st Congressional District | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 1st Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 400 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 2nd Congressional District | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 2nd Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 400 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 3rd Congressional District | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 3rd Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 400 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 4th Congressional District | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 4th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 400 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 5th Congressional District | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 5th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 400 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 6th Congressional District | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky | 6th Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 400 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
State House
The table below details filing requirements for Kentucky House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky House of Representatives | Qualified party | 2 | $200.00 | 1/10/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky House of Representatives | Unaffiliated | 100 | $200.00 | 6/2/2020 | Source |
State Senate
The table below details filing requirements for Kentucky State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky State Senate | Qualified party | 2 | $200.00 | 1/10/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky State Senate | Unaffiliated | 100 | $200.00 | 6/2/2020 | Source |
2019
- See also: Kentucky elections, 2019
See below for 2019 candidate filing deadlines:[1]
- January 29, 2019: Last day to file nomination papers for candidates running in the primary
- June 4, 2019: Candidate filing deadline for candidates filing via petition, certificate or statement in the general election
2018
See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.
2016
- See also: Kentucky elections, 2016
The calendar below lists key dates for political candidates in Kentucky in 2016. Note that these deadlines do not apply to presidential candidates. For information about presidential ballot access, see this article.
| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Event type | Event description | |
| January 26, 2016 | Ballot access | Candidate filing deadline for candidates running in the primary election | |
| April 1, 2016 | Ballot access | Deadline for independent, political organization and political group candidates to file statements of candidacy (federal candidates and municipal candidates of cities in the second to sixth classes) | |
| August 9, 2016 | Ballot access | Candidate deadline for filing petitions, certificates, or statements | |
| April 15, 2016 | Campaign finance | 32-day pre-primary report due | |
| May 2, 2016 | Campaign finance | 15-day pre-primary report due | |
| May 17, 2016 | Election date | Primary election | |
| June 16, 2016 | Campaign finance | 30-day post-primary report due | |
| July 16, 2016 | Campaign finance | 60-day post-primary report due | |
| October 7, 2016 | Campaign finance | 32-day pre-general report due | |
| October 24, 2016 | Campaign finance | 15-day pre-general report due | |
| November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election | |
| December 8, 2016 | Campaign finance | 30-day post-general report due | |
| January 7, 2017 | Campaign finance | 60-day post-general report due | |
| Sources: Kentucky State Board of Elections, "2016 Kentucky Election Calendar," accessed June 12, 2016 Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, "Candidate Reporting Dates," accessed June 12, 2015 | |||
2015
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2014
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Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Section 118.105 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (2022)
There are three methods by which a candidate can gain ballot access in Kentucky: by political party primary, by political organization convention, and by petition. A candidate must be registered with a political party if he or she wishes to run in the political party primary. If a candidate seeks nomination by a political organization, either by petition or convention, he or she must be registered with that organization. An independent candidate must be registered as an independent in order to use that designation on his or her nominating petition.[5][6]
Political party primary candidates
A political party candidate is granted general election ballot access by winning his or her party's primary election. The candidate must file a notification and declaration form with the Kentucky Secretary of State. This form must be signed by the candidate and by no less than two registered voters from the same party as the candidate and from the same district in which the candidate is running. This form cannot be signed earlier than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the election in which the candidate is running. The notification and declaration form must be filed by 4 p.m. on the first Friday following the first Monday in January preceding the primary election. A candidate defeated at the primary election is not permitted to run in the general election, with the exception of candidates running in a presidential preference primary.[7][8][9][10]
Political organization convention candidates
A political organization candidate is nominated at his or her political organization's convention. Only registered voters of the political organization can attend and vote at the convention. The Kentucky Statutes do not stipulate the time at which a convention must be held; however, it must be held prior to the filing deadline in order to complete all necessary paperwork. The candidate must file nomination papers by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding the day fixed by law for the election of the office being sought.[11][12][13][14]
Petition candidates
Political organization, political group, and independent candidates may all run for office as petition candidates. A candidate running for state executive office or state legislative office must first file a statement of candidacy form with the Kentucky Secretary of State. This form must be filed by 4 p.m. on April 1 (or the next business day if April 1 falls on a weekend or holiday). No charge is assessed for the filing of this form. A petition signed by the candidate and by registered voters in the district from which the candidate seeks nomination must be filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State. Candidates may begin gathering signatures after the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the general election in which the candidate is running.[6][11][13]
Petitions must be filed by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding the day fixed by law for the holding of regular elections for the offices sought. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. Examples are provided in the table below.[5][6][14]
| Signature requirements for petition candidates in Kentucky[6] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office sought | Number of signatures required | |
| Kentucky state executive office | 5,000 | |
| Member of the United States Congress | 400 | |
| Member of the Kentucky General Assembly | 100 | |
Write-in candidates
Though write-in candidates' names are not printed on the ballot, they may be written in by a voter. In order for a write-in vote to be counted, the write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent with the Kentucky Secretary of State by the fourth Friday in October preceding the general election. A candidate can be a write-in for only one office and will be considered ineligible for write-in status if he or she has already been placed on the ballot by a different method.[15]
All candidates
Any registered voter may challenge the "good faith of a candidate” at any time before the election. No specific challenge period is designated in the Kentucky Statutes.[16]
A candidate may only run for one office at a time, as his or her name cannot appear on the ballot more than once.[17]
All candidates are subject to filing fees. These fees are outlined in the table below. The Kentucky Secretary of State accepts personal checks, campaign account checks, cash, or money orders for payment of filing fees.[5][18][19]
| Filing fees for candidates in Kentucky[20] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office sought | Filing fee | |
| Member of the United States Congress | $500.00 | |
| Governor of Kentucky | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Attorney General | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Secretary of State | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Auditor | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Treasurer | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Senator | $200.00 | |
| Kentucky Representative | $200.00 | |
| Write-in candidate | $50.00 | |
Petition requirements
In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain ballot access. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Kentucky.
Signature requirements
The signer of a petition must include the date he or she signs, his or her residence address, and his or her date of birth. The signature of a signer can only be counted once. If a signer signs more than one candidate’s petition, the first petition he or she signed will be the only one counted. Candidates are required to sign their own petitions.
The state code does not specify petition circulator requirements. Specifically, there are no residency requirements for circulators.
- See also: State election agencies
Kentucky Secretary of State
- 700 Capital Ave., Suite 152
- Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
- Telephone: 502-564-3490
- Fax: 502-564-5687
- Website: http://www.sos.ky.gov/elections/
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Term limits
Kentucky state executives are subject to term limits. These limits were established by Amendment 2, which was passed by voters in 1992. It amended Section 71 and Section 93 of the Kentucky Constitution.
State executives
The state executive term limits in Kentucky are as follows:[21][22]
- The governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- The lieutenant governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- The secretary of state may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- The attorney general may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- The state treasurer may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- The auditor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- The agriculture commissioner may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
- The secretary of labor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
State legislators
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
Kentucky does not place term limits on state legislators.
Congressional partisanship
Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Kentucky.
| Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Kentucky | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
| Democratic | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Republican | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 6 | 8 |
State legislative partisanship
Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Kentucky.
Kentucky State Senate
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 7 | |
| Republican Party | 31 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 38 | |
Kentucky House of Representatives
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 20 | |
| Republican Party | 80 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Related legislation
The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Kentucky. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.
Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.
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See also
- Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Kentucky
- Ballot access requirements for political parties in Kentucky
- Kentucky elections, 2024
- Campaign finance requirements in Kentucky
- Counties in Kentucky
- List of United States Representatives from Kentucky
- List of United States Senators from Kentucky
- Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
- State executives with term limits
- States with gubernatorial term limits
- State legislatures with term limits
External links
Official state and federal links
- Kentucky Secretary of State, Office of Elections
- Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
- Federal Election Commission
- Kentucky Secretary of State, "Becoming a Candidate"
Other information
- Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
- Election Law Program – Report on state regulations that affect political parties
- National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives
Footnotes
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "2019 Election Calendar," accessed January 16, 2019
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "2015 Kentucky Election Calendar," accessed February 11, 2015
- ↑ Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, "Candidate Reporting Dates - 2015," accessed February 11, 2015
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "2014 Kentucky Election Calendar," accessed November 12, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "FAQs," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.315 (2022)," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.105 (2022)," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.125 (2022)," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.165 (2022)," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.345 (2022)," accessed May 23, 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.325 (2022)," accessed May 23, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Register to Vote," accessed May 23, 2023
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.367 (2022)," accessed May 23, 2023
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.365 (2022)," accessed May 23, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.125 (2022)," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Chapter 118, Section 176 (2022)," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Chapter 118, Section 405 (2022)," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Becoming a Candidate," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.255 (2022),"accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Candidate Qualifications and Filing Fees," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Constitution, "Section 71," accessed May 22, 2023
- ↑ Kentucky Constitution, "Section 93," accessed May 22, 2023
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