ballotaccess
Ballot access refers to the set of legal procedures that determine whether a candidate or a political party may appear on the ballot in an election. It is a key component of electoral law, separate from a candidate's general eligibility to hold office; meeting constitutional or statutory qualifications does not by itself guarantee a ballot spot.
Most jurisdictions require some form of filing or petitioning, such as submitting a candidate declaration, paying
In federations like the United States, each state administers its own ballot access regime. Independent candidates
Ballot access is a frequent subject of reform debates because it can affect political competition and voter
See also: electoral law, petition, write-in candidate, automatic ballot access.