Write-in Candidate Petitions

General Overview

Per N.C.G.S. § 163-123(a), if you wish to be a write-in candidate, please complete the Declaration of Intent for a Write-in Candidate form.

Download the Declaration of Intent form (fillable PDF)

Find more information below.

Requirements and Timeline

Find requirements and deadlines below, and refer to the Write-in Petitions for Contests in 2021 and 2022 Fact Sheet (PDF) for additional information.

Petition Reason Number of Required Signatures When Are Petitions Due? Governing Statutes
...in the contest for President of the U.S. 500 registered N.C. voters. Noon, 90 days before the general election.* N.C.G.S. §163-123(c)(1)
...in a statewide contest. 500 registered N.C. voters. Noon, 90 days before the general election.* N.C.G.S. §163-123(c)(1)
...in a district (multi-county) contest. 250 registered N.C. voters Noon, 90 days before the general election.* N.C.G.S. §163-123(c)(2)
…for a county office, school administrative office, or single-county district office.

If the area contains 5,000 or more registered N.C. voters, then 100 registered N.C. voters from that area.

If the area contains fewer than 5,000 registered N.C. voters, then 1% of registered N.C. voters from that area.

 Noon, 90 days before the general election. N.C.G.S. §163-123(c)(3)

*For your county board of elections to have enough time to properly review signatures, petitions must be submitted for verification no later than 15 days before they are due to the State Board of Elections.

Related Content

https://www.ncsbe.gov/candidates/petitions/write-candidate-petitions