Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Ohio

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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 Ohio, 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 Ohio. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. 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

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2024 U.S. Congress elections and Ohio elections, 2024

U.S. Senate

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

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Ohio U.S. Senate Major parties 1,000 $150.00 12/20/2023 Source
Ohio U.S. Senate Minor parties 500 $150.00 3/18/2024 Source
Ohio U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 5,000 $150.00 3/18/2024 Source

U.S. House

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

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Ohio U.S. House Major party 50 $85.00 12/20/2023 Source
Ohio U.S. House Minor party 25 $85.00 3/18/2024 Source
Ohio U.S. House Unaffiliated 1% of the vote cast for governor in the district in the last election $85.00 3/18/2024 Source


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

Show more

2022

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2022 U.S. Congress elections and Ohio elections, 2022

U.S. Senate

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

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Ohio U.S. Senate Major parties 1,000 $150.00 2/2/2022 Source
Ohio U.S. Senate Minor parties 500 $150.00 2/2/2022 Source
Ohio U.S. Senate Unaffiliated 5,000 $150.00 5/2/2022 Source

U.S. House

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

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Ohio U.S. House Major party 50 $85.00 2/2/2022 Source
Ohio U.S. House Minor party 25 $85.00 2/2/2022 Source
Ohio U.S. House Unaffiliated 1% of the vote cast for governor in the district in the last election $85.00 5/2/2022 Source

Governor

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

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source Notes
Ohio Governor Major party 1,000 $150.00 2/2/2022 Source
Ohio Governor Minor party 500 $150.00 2/2/2022 Source
Ohio Governor Unaffiliated 5,000 $150.00 5/2/2022 Source

2020

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2020 U.S. Congress elections and Ohio elections, 2020

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Ohio in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Ohio, 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
Ohio 10th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 11th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 12th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 13th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 14th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 15th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 16th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 1st Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 2nd Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 3rd Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 4th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 5th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 6th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 7th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 8th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 9th Congressional District Qualified party 50 Fixed number $85.00 Fixed number 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio 10th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 11th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 12th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 13th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 14th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 15th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 16th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 1st Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 2nd Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 3rd Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 4th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 5th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 6th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 7th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 8th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source
Ohio 9th Congressional District Unaffiliated Unknown (figures not compiled in advance by secretary of state) 1% of all votes cast for governor in the district in the last general election $85.00 Fixed number 3/16/2020 Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Ohio 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
Ohio House of Representatives Qualified party 50 $85.00 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio House of Representatives Unaffiliated 25 or 5% of all votes cast for governor in the district, whichever is less, if fewer than 5,000 votes were cast for governor in the district in the last election (1% of all votes cast for governor in the district if 5,000 or more votes were cast for governor in the district in the last election) $85.00 3/16/2020 Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Ohio 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
Ohio State Senate Qualified party 50 $85.00 12/18/2019 Source
Ohio State Senate Unaffiliated 25 or 5% of all votes cast for governor in the district, whichever is less, if fewer than 5,000 votes were cast for governor in the district in the last election (1% of all votes cast for governor in the district if 5,000 or more votes were cast for governor in the district in the last election) $85.00 3/16/2020 Source

2018

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2018 U.S. Congress elections and Ohio elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

February 7, 2018

2016

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2016 U.S. Congress elections and Ohio elections, 2016

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

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline Event type Event description
December 16, 2015 Ballot access Deadline for partisan primary candidates to file declarations of candidacy
January 4, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for write-in primary candidates to file declarations of intent
January 29, 2016 Campaign finance 2015 annual report due
March 3, 2016 Campaign finance Pre-primary report due
March 14, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for independent candidates to file nominating petitions
March 15, 2016 Election date Primary election
April 22, 2016 Campaign finance Post-primary report due
July 29, 2016 Campaign finance Semiannual report due
August 29, 2016 Ballot access Deadline for write-in general election candidates to file declarations of intent
October 27, 2016 Campaign finance Pre-general report due
November 8, 2016 Election date General election
December 16, 2016 Campaign finance Post-general report due
January 31, 2017 Campaign finance 2016 annual report due
Source: Ohio Secretary of State, "2016 Ohio Elections Calendar," accessed June 12, 2015
Ohio Secretary of State, "2016 Ohio Campaign Finance Reporting Calendar," accessed October 28, 2015

2015


2014


Process to become a candidate

Declaration of candidacy form, 2013

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 35, Chapter 3513, Section 10 of the Ohio Revised Statutes

For all candidates

Filing fees apply to all candidates and are as follows:[2]

Filing fees
Office Fee
Governor, United States Senator, and statewide offices $150
United States Representative and state legislators $85

For partisan candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 35, Chapter 3513, Section 05 of the Ohio Revised Code

A partisan candidate must file a declaration of candidacy and petition and pay the required filing fees. Petition signature requirements are detailed in the table below (for more information regarding petition requirements, see below).[3]

Signature requirements for partisan candidates
Office Number of signatures required
Governor, United States Senator, and other statewide offices 1,000 qualified electors who are members of the same political party as the candidate
United States Representative and state legislators 50 qualified electors who are members of the same political party as the candidate
**The signature requirement for minor party candidates is one-half the number required of major parties.[3]

For independent candidates

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 35, Chapter 3513, Section 257 of the Ohio Revised Code

An unaffiliated candidate must submit a declaration of candidacy and nominating petition and pay the required filing fees. Petition signature requirements are detailed in the table below (for more information regarding petition requirements, see below).[4]

Signature requirements for independent candidates
Office Number of signatures required
Governor, United States Senator, and other statewide offices 5,000 qualified electors
United States Representative and state legislators Varies by size of district; if 5,000 or more electors voted for the office of governor in the most recent election, 1 percent of electors; if less than 5,000 electors voted for said office, 5 percent of the vote or 25, whichever is less

For write-in candidates

A write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent in order to have his or her votes counted. Write-in candidates may participate in either primary or general elections and are subject to the same filing fees as all other candidates.[5]

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Title 35, Chapter 3501, Section 38 of the Ohio Revised Code

In some cases, 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 Ohio.

Format requirements

The "statement of candidacy" portion of each petition paper must be completely filled in and signed by the candidate before circulation can begin.[6][7]

All petitions must include a statement signed by the circulator indicating the following:

  • the number of signatures contained in the petition
  • that the circulator witnessed the signing of each signature
  • that all signers were qualified to sign the petition
  • that each signature is authentic

Signature requirements

Only qualified electors who are eligible to vote for the candidacy in question may sign a petition. Each signature must be written in ink by the elector (or duly appointed attorney-in-fact). A signer must include his or her residence address, which must match the address that appears on registration records, and the date of signing. With the exception of petitions for candidates elected by voters of the entire state, no petition can contain more than three times the required number of signatures.[6][7]

Circulation requirements

Circulators must be at least 18 years old. Circulators may not sign the same petition papers they are circulating, but may sign petition papers for the same candidacy by a different circulator. Each petition paper must be circulated by one person only and can contain signatures of electors in only one county. Petitions for a candidate for party nomination must be signed and circulated by members of the same political party as the candidate.[6][7]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Ohio can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Ohio County Boards of Elections

Click here for a list

Ohio Secretary of State, Elections Division

180 Civic Center Dr.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-466-2585
Toll free: 1-877-767-6446
Website: https://www.sos.state.oh.us

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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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 Ohio are as follows:

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

A politician can serve in the Ohio House of Representatives for a total of four terms (eight years). A politician can serve in the Ohio State Senate for a total of two terms (eight years).

Congressional partisanship

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

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

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Ohio
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 1 5 6
Republican 1 10 11
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 15 17

State legislative partisanship

Portal:State legislatures

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

Ohio State Senate

Party As of November 2024
     Democratic Party 7
     Republican Party 26
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 33

Ohio House of Representatives

Party As of November 2024
     Democratic Party 32
     Republican Party 67
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 99

Related legislation

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The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Ohio. 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. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "2014 Election Calendar," accessed November 15, 2013
  2. ↑ Ohio Revised Code, "Title 35, Chapter 3513, Section 10," accessed December 9, 2013
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ohio Revised Code, "Title 35, Chapter 3513, Section 05," accessed December 9, 2013
  4. ↑ Ohio Revised Code, "Title 35, Chapter 3513, Section 257," accessed December 9, 2013
  5. ↑ Ohio Revised Code, "Title 35, Chapter 3513, Section 041," accessed December 9, 2013
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ohio Secretary of State, "2014 Ohio Candidate Guide," accessed January 3, 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ohio Revised Code, "Title 35, Chapter 3501, Section 38," accessed January 4, 2014
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