Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New Jersey

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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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in New Jersey." 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 New Jersey in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Jersey, 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
New Jersey U.S. Senate Qualified party 1,000 Fixed number N/A N/A TBD Source
New Jersey U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 800 Fixed number N/A N/A TBD Source

U.S. House

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

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Jersey U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 200 N/A TBD Source
New Jersey U.S. House Unaffiliated 50 N/A TBD Source


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

Show more

2023

State legislature

The table below details filing requirements for New Jersey General Assembly candidates in the 2023 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2023
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Jersey General Assembly Qualified party 100 N/A 3/27/2023 Source
New Jersey General Assembly Unaffiliated 100 N/A 6/6/2023 Source


The table below details filing requirements for New Jersey State Senate candidates in the 2023 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2023
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Jersey State Senate Qualified party 100 N/A 3/27/2023 Source
New Jersey State Senate Unaffiliated 100 N/A 6/6/2023 Source


2022

U.S. House

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

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Jersey U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 200 N/A 4/4/2022 Source
New Jersey U.S. House Unaffiliated 50 N/A 6/7/2022 Source

2021

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey in the 2021 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Jersey, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2021
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
New Jersey Governor Democratic 1,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 4/5/2021 Source
New Jersey Governor Republican 1,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 4/5/2021 Source
New Jersey Governor Unaffiliated 800 Fixed number N/A N/A 6/8/2021 Source

State legislature

The table below details filing requirements for New Jersey General Assembly candidates in the 2021 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2021
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Jersey General Assembly Democratic 100 N/A 4/5/2021 Source
New Jersey General Assembly Republican 100 N/A 4/5/2021 Source
New Jersey General Assembly Unaffiliated 100 N/A 6/8/2021 Source


The table below details filing requirements for New Jersey State Senate candidates in the 2021 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2021
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
New Jersey State Senate Democratic 100 N/A 4/5/2021 Source
New Jersey State Senate Republican 100 N/A 4/5/2021 Source
New Jersey State Senate Unaffiliated 100 N/A 6/8/2021 Source


2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in New Jersey in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Jersey, 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
New Jersey U.S. Senate Qualified party 1,000 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 800 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in New Jersey in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Jersey, 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
New Jersey 1st Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 2nd Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 3rd Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 4th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 5th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 6th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 7th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 8th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 9th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 10th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 11th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 12th Congressional District Qualified party 200 Fixed number N/A N/A 3/30/2020 Source
New Jersey 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 3rd Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 4th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 5th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 6th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 7th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 8th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 9th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 10th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 11th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source
New Jersey 12th Congressional District Unaffiliated 100 Fixed number N/A N/A 7/7/2020 Source

2018

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

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

April 2, 2018

2016

See also: New Jersey elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in New Jersey in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
April 4, 2016 Ballot access Filing deadline for primary candidates
May 9, 2016 Campaign finance 29-day pre-primary report due
May 27, 2016 Campaign finance 11-day pre-primary report due
June 7, 2016 Election date Primary election
June 7, 2016 Ballot access Filing deadline for independent candidates
June 27, 2016 Campaign finance 20-day post-primary report due
October 11, 2016 Campaign finance 29-day pre-general report due
October 28, 2016 Campaign finance 11-day pre-general report due
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
November 28, 2016 Campaign finance 20-day post-general report due
Sources: New Jersey Department of State, "Candidate Information," accessed November 25, 2015
New Jersey Campaign Financing and Lobbying Disclosure, "2016 Reporting Dates," accessed January 11, 2016

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

For partisan candidates

U.S. House candidate petition, 2013

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 19, Article 23 of the New Jersey Permanent Statutes

Political party candidates are nominated via primary elections. To access the primary ballot, a partisan candidate must do the following:[6]

1.) File a petition including the required number of signatures for the office being sought, including a guarantee that signers are qualified voters of New Jersey and the electoral district in which the candidate is running.[7]

  • The petition must indicate that the circulator/witness is the person who collected the signatures on the petition. The circulator must complete and sign the affidavit where indicated.[8]

2.) The candidate must sign a "Certificate of Acceptance" and an "Oath of Allegiance" to accompany the petition. The oath must also be notarized.[9]

The petition may include a candidate's designation or slogan, which must not exceed six words. The designation is for the purpose of indicating either an official act or policy to which the candidate is pledged or committed, or to distinguish the candidate as belonging to a particular faction or wing of his political party. No such designation or slogan can include or refer to the name of any person or any incorporated association of New Jersey without written consent.[10]

Signature requirements for primary petitions are established by Title 19, Article 23, Section 8, of the New Jersey Permanent Statutes.

Signature requirements
Office Signature requirements
State Senator 100 registered voters from the district
State Representative 100 registered voters from the district
United States Representative 200 registered voters from the congressional district
United States Senator 1,000 voters in the state who are members of the applicable political party

For independent candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 19, Article 13 of the New Jersey Permanent Statutes

An independent candidate must submit the same paperwork as a partisan candidate.[11]

Signature requirements for independent candidates are established by Title 19, Article 13, Section 5, of the New Jersey Permanent Statutes and are as follows:

Signature requirements
Office Signature requirements
State Senator 100 registered voters from the district
State Representative 100 registered voters from the district
United States Representative 100 registered voters from the congressional district
United States Senator 800 registered voters in the state

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 19, Chapter 23 of the New Jersey Permanent Statutes

In some cases, 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.

Circulation requirements

Petition circulators must complete and sign an affidavit. The affidavit must also be notarized. The circulator does not have to be a registered voter of the district, but must be a voter-eligible New Jersey resident and provide his or her address on the petition in the designated location.[12]

Objections

In New Jersey, any individual may file a challenge to a candidate's petition. Objections must be filed not later than the fourth day after the last day for filing of petitions. Objections must also be made in writing. In all challenges, the objector has the burden of proving that a petition is invalid.[13]

Noteworthy events

Electronic petition signatures allowed by executive order (2021)

On January 25, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy (D) issued Executive Order No. 216, which provided that filing officers "allow for any candidate, delegate, recall, initiative, referendum, or other petition required to be filed prior to an election to be submitted by hand delivery and electronically." The order also allowed for petition signatures to be collected electronically. The full text of Murphy's order can be accessed here.[14]

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

New Jersey Secretary of State

Physical address: 20 West State Street, 4th Floor, Trenton, New Jersey 08608
Mailing address: P.O. Box 304, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0304
Telephone: 609-292-3760
Toll-free: 1-877-NJVOTER
Fax: 609-777-1280
Email: njelections@sos.state.nj.us
Website: http://www.state.nj.us/
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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

State executives

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

The state executive term limits in New Jersey are as follows:[15]

  • The governor may serve two consecutive terms. After those terms, a politician must wait four years to be eligible for the office again.
  • The lieutenant governor may serve two consecutive terms. After those terms, a politician must wait four years to be eligible for the office again.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

New Jersey does not place term limits on state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

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

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from New Jersey.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from New Jersey
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 9 11
Republican 0 3 3
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 12 14

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of New Jersey.

New Jersey State Senate

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 25
     Republican Party 15
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 40

New Jersey General Assembly

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 45
     Republican Party 34
     Other 0
     Vacancies 1
Total 80

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in New Jersey. 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. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2015 Primary Election Timeline," accessed February 9, 2015
  2. ↑ New Jersey Department of State, "2015 General Election Timeline, "accessed February 9, 2015
  3. ↑ New Jersey Campaign Financing and Lobbying Disclosure, "2015 Reporting Dates," accessed February 9, 2015
  4. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2014 Congressional Primary Election Dates and Candidate Filing Deadlines for Ballot Access," updated July 28, 2014
  5. ↑ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, "Title 19:13-8," accessed January 23, 2014
  6. ↑ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, "Title 19:23-5," accessed May 23, 2023
  7. ↑ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, "Title 19:23-8," accessed May 23, 2023
  8. ↑ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, "Title 19:23-11," accessed May 23, 2023
  9. ↑ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, "Title 19:23-15," accessed May 23, 2023
  10. ↑ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, "Title 19:23-17," accessed May 23, 2023
  11. ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "Petition Filing Instructions," accessed May 23, 2023
  12. ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "Petition Filing Instructions," accessed May 23, 2023
  13. ↑ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, "Title 19:13-8," accessed May 23, 2023
  14. ↑ Office of the Governor of New Jersey, "Executive Order No. 216," January 25, 2021
  15. ↑ New Jersey Constitution, "Article V, Section I, paragraph 4," accessed May 23, 2023
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