Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Massachusetts

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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.

In order to get on the ballot in Massachusetts, 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.

  1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
  2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
  3. 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 Massachusetts. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Massachusetts." 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).

DocumentIcon.jpg See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Massachusetts in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Massachusetts, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Massachusetts U.S. Senate All parties 10,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 5/7/2024 Source
Massachusetts U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 10,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/27/2024 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Massachusetts in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Massachusetts, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Massachusetts U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 2,000 N/A 6/7/2024 Source
Massachusetts U.S. House Unaffiliated 2,000 N/A 8/27/2024 Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Massachusetts in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Massachusetts, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Massachusetts U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 2,000 N/A 6/7/2022 Source
Massachusetts U.S. House Unaffiliated 2,000 N/A 8/30/2022 Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Massachusetts in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Massachusetts, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source Notes
Massachusetts Governor Ballot-qualified party 10,000 N/A 6/7/2022 Source
Massachusetts Governor Unaffiliated 10,000 N/A 8/30/2022 Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Massachusetts in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Massachusetts, 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
Massachusetts U.S. Senate All parties 10,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 10,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Massachusetts in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Massachusetts, 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
Massachusetts 1st Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 2nd Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 3rd Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 4th Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 4th Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 5th Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 5th Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 6th Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 6th Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 7th Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 7th Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 8th Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 8th Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source
Massachusetts 9th Congressional District All parties 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts 9th Congressional District Unaffiliated 2,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 8/25/2020 Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Massachusetts 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
Massachusetts House of Representatives Qualified party 150 N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts House of Representatives Unaffiliated 150 N/A 8/25/2020 Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Massachusetts 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
Massachusetts State Senate Qualified party 300 N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts State Senate Unaffiliated 300 N/A 8/25/2020 Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Massachusetts elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

June 5, 2018

2016

See also: Massachusetts elections, 2015

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Massachusetts in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
May 3, 2016 Ballot access Last day for party and non-party candidates for district and county offices to submit nomination papers to registrars of voters for signature certification
May 10, 2016 Ballot access Last day for party candidates for federal and statewide offices candidates to submit nomination papers to registrars of voters for signature certification
May 31, 2016 Ballot access Last day for party and non-party candidates for district and county offices to file nomination papers with the secretary of the commonwealth
June 7, 2016 Ballot access Last day for party candidates for federal and statewide offices to file nomination papers with the secretary of the commonwealth
August 2, 2016 Ballot access Last day for non-party candidates for federal and statewide offices candidates to submit nomination papers to registrars of voters for signature certification
August 30, 2016 Ballot access Last day for non-party candidates for federal and statewide offices to file nomination papers with the secretary of the commonwealth
September 8, 2016 Election date Primary election
September 12, 2016 Campaign finance Pre-primary report due (covering January 1, 2016–September 2, 2016)
October 31, 2016 Campaign finance Pre-election report due (covering September 3, 2016–October 21, 2016)
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
January 20, 2017 Campaign finance Year-end report due (covering October 22, 2016–December 31, 2016)
Sources: Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, "Filing Schedules," accessed June 30, 2015
Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, "2016 Massachusetts State Primary and State Election Schedule," accessed June 30, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53

For party candidates

Recognized political party candidates seeking access to the primary election ballot must submit nomination papers. Nomination papers are provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Nomination papers must be signed by a certain number of registered voters. The number of required signatures varies according to the office being sought.[2][3]

Required signatures for nomination papers
Office Required signatures
Governor, Attorney General, United States Senator 10,000
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, Auditor 5,000
United States Representative 2,000
State Senator 300
State Representative 150

A candidate must be an enrolled member of the party whose nomination he or she is seeking; with the exception of newly registered voters, the candidate must be enrolled throughout the 90-day period preceding the filing deadline. An individual cannot be a candidate for nomination by one party if he or she was enrolled in any other party during the one-year period preceding the filing deadline. A candidate must prove party affiliation by filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth a certificate of party enrollment signed or stamped by at least three local election officials of the city or town where the candidate is registered. At least one such certificate (which is included on the nomination papers discussed below) must be completed and filed by the filing deadline.[2][4]

Before filing nomination papers, the candidate must make sure that at least one of the certified nomination papers contains a written acceptance of nomination personally signed by either the candidate or his or her authorized attorney. Although the candidate does not have to sign the acceptance space on all nomination papers, the candidate should sign several certified papers to ensure that one of the papers ultimately filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth will include the written acceptance.[2][5]

For the nomination papers to be valid, a candidate for state-level office must also file a receipt from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission indicating that he or she has filed a statement of financial interest (federal candidates are exempt from this requirement). The receipt must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the filing deadline. Prior to the filing deadline, a state-level candidate must file a written statement with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance indicating whether the candidate agrees to limit campaign spending. A candidate who does not agree to limit spending may be required to file an additional statement of intended spending prior to the deadline for filing withdrawals of nomination.[2][5]

Nomination papers must be submitted to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected for certification prior to final filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[2][6]

For non-party candidates

Like party candidates, independents and other non-party candidates gain access to the general election ballot by filing nomination papers. A non-party candidate must file a certificate proving that he or she is a registered voter and is not enrolled in a recognized political party. This certificate is printed on each nomination paper, and at least one of these certificates must be signed and stamped by at least three local elections officials of the city or town where the candidate is registered.[2]

A non-party candidate may state a political designation in no more than three words. Signature requirements are the same as those that apply to party candidates.[2]

Required signatures for nomination papers
Office Required signatures
Governor, Attorney General, United States Senator 10,000
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, Auditor 5,000
United States Representative 2,000
State Senator 300
State Representative 150

Before filing nomination papers, the candidate must make sure that at least one of the certified nomination papers contains a written acceptance of nomination personally signed by either the candidate or his or her authorized attorney. Although the candidate does not have to sign the acceptance space on all nomination papers, the candidate should sign several certified papers to ensure that one of the papers ultimately filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth will include the written acceptance.[2]

For the nomination papers to be valid, a candidate for state-level office must also file a receipt from the State Ethics Commission indicating that he or she has filed a statement of financial interest (federal candidates are exempt from this requirement). The receipt must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the filing deadline. Prior to the filing deadline, a state-level candidate must file a written statement with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance indicating whether the candidate agrees to limit campaign spending. A candidate who does not agree to limit spending may be required to file an additional statement of intended spending prior to the deadline for filing withdrawals of nomination.[2][5]

Nomination papers must be submitted to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected for certification prior to final filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[2][6]

For write-in candidates

An individual is entitled to seek nomination or election by conducting a write-in campaign. No special forms (such as a declaration of intent) are required, but write-in candidates should familiarize themselves with the rules and guidelines that govern the casting of write-in votes. More information about write-in candidacies can be accessed here.[7]

Filing deadlines

Filing deadlines vary according to the type of candidate (i.e., party or non-party) and the office being sought. The table below summarizes the various filing deadlines established by statute.[1][4][8]

Filing deadlines
Type of candidate and office sought Deadline for certification with local officials Final filing deadline
Party and non-party candidates for the Massachusetts General Court 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[6] 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in May in the year the election is to be held
Party candidates for federal and statewide office 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[6] 5:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday in June in the year the election is to be held
Non-party candidates for federal and statewide office 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[6] 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in August in the year the election is to be held

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Massachusetts.

Format requirements

Nomination papers must be provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Nomination papers for use in the nomination of candidates for all offices must be made available for use on or before the 15th Tuesday preceding the filing deadline. Blank forms may not be larger in size than 8.5 inches by 14 inches. Individuals may make exact copies of the forms provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and use them for collecting signatures.[9]

The relevant statutes do not stipulate specific circulator requirements (such as residency or pay status).

Objections

Objections to nomination papers must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth within three days of the filing deadline. Objections must detail "each ground for protest." A filing fee of $25 is required. Anyone filing an objection must submit a copy to the candidate against whom it was filed no later than the day after the date of filing. Objections must be accompanied by a certificate of voter registration stating that the complainant is a registered voter in the district of the candidate being challenged.[10]

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth

One Ashburton Place, Room 1705
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Phone: 1-800-462-VOTE (8683)
Fax: 617-742-3238
Website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/
Email: elections@sec.state.ma.us

Massachusetts State Ethics Commission

One Ashburton Place, Room 619
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Phone: 617-371-9500
Fax: 617-723-5851
Website: http://www.mass.gov/ethics

Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance

One Ashburton Place, Room 411
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Phone: 617-979-8300
Fax: 617-727-6549
Website: http://ocpf.cloudapp.net/
Email: ocpf@cpf.state.ma.us
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Term limits

State executives

State Executive Officials
See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

The state executive term limits in Massachusetts are as follows:

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits placed on Massachusetts state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

Portal:Legislative Branch
See also: List of United States Representatives from Massachusetts and List of United States Senators from Massachusetts

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Massachusetts.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Massachusetts
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 9 11
Republican 0 0 0
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 9 11

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts State Senate

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 36
     Republican Party 4
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 40

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 134
     Republican Party 24
     Independent 1
     Vacancies 1
Total 160

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Massachusetts. 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

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External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "2014 Primary and Election Calendar," accessed December 2, 2013
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "A Candidate's Guide to the 2014 State Election," revised January 2014
  3. ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 6," accessed March 18, 2014
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 48," accessed March 18, 2014
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 9," accessed March 18, 2014
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 46," accessed March 18, 2014
  7. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Run for Office as a Write-in or Sticker Candidate," accessed March 18, 2014
  8. ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 10," accessed March 18, 2014
  9. ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 47," accessed March 18, 2014
  10. ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 55B, Section 5," accessed March 18, 2014
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