Write-in Candidate Petitions
General Overview
Per Declaration of intent and petitions for write-in candidates in partisan elections (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 (fillable PDF).
Requirements and Timeline
Find requirements and deadlines below, and refer to Fact Sheet: 2026 Write-in Candidate Petitions (PDF). Find requirements and deadlines below.
| Petition Reason | Number of Required Signatures | When Are Petitions Due? | Governing Statute(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ...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.