PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION PROCEDURES MARCH 7, 2000 PRIMARY ELECTION AMERICAN INDEPENDENT, GREEN, LIBERTARIAN, NATURAL LAW, REFORM, AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES I. QUALIFICATIONS The candidate must: A. Be a natural-born citizen of the United States B. Be at least 35 years of age, and C. Be a resident of the United States at least 14 years. US Constitution, Art. II, §1(5) II. REQUIREMENTS There are two basic methods by which a person may have his or her name placed on the ballot as a presidential candidate in the March 7, 2000 Presidential Primary Election: 1. by the Secretary of State as a generally-recognized candidate, or 2. by circulating nomination petitions. A. Generally-Recognized Candidates 1. The Secretary of State announces the names of individuals he has determined to be generally advocated for or recognized throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the nomination of the American Independent, Green, Libertarian, Natural Law, Reform, and Republican parties for President. Elections Code §§6340, 6520, 6720 a) Criteria for determining "generally-recognized" candidates include, but are not limited to: (1) Qualification for federal matching funds from the Federal Election Commission; (2) Appearing on ballots for President in primary elections in other states; (3) Extensive coverage by the news media as viable candidates; (4) Inclusion in national or statewide public opinion polls and surveys. (5) For minor parties, the Secretary of State may also rely on advice and input from the state party chairs. b) On or before November 8, 1999 the Secretary of State must publicly announce the list of candidates he intends to place on the presidential primary ballot. §§6340, 6520, 6722 c) Following this announcement, the Secretary of State may add presidential candidates to the selection but may not delete any candidate unless the candidate withdraws in accordance with the provisions of Elections Code §§6342, 6522 and 6724. The last day to withdraw is January 3, 2000. B. Circulation of Nomination Petitions for Candidates not Selected by the Secretary of State 1. Any candidate not selected by the Secretary of State desiring to be placed on the presidential primary ballot shall have nomination papers circulated on behalf of the candidacy. §§ 6343, 6523, 6725 2. To qualify for placement on the presidential primary election ballot, the nomination papers of the candidate must be signed by registered members of the party whose nomination is sought equal in number to not less than 1 percent of the number of persons registered as members of that party as of October 24, 1999. §§6343, 6523, 6568, 6725 3. Each signer of a nomination paper may sign only one candidate's or delegate's paper. The signer shall declare his or her intention to support the candidate or delegation named on the nomination paper or, if applicable, the group of candidates for delegate. §§6361, 6582, 6782 4. Each section of the nomination paper shall be delivered to the elections official of the county where the signer resides and is a voter and where the petition was circulated. §§6360, 6581, 6781 5. The period for circulating these petitions is November 24, 1999 through December 24, 1999. §§6360, 6382, 6581, 6591, 6781, 6791 6. The last day to file nomination papers with the county elections official is December 24, 1999. §§6360, 6581, 6781 7. Appointment of Circulators -- The candidate or his/her duly authorized representative or, if applicable, a committee organized to form a group of candidates for delegate or its duly authorized representative, may appoint circulators to circulate nomination papers. §§6380, 6588, 6788 a) Circulators shall be voters and shall serve within the county in which the circulators reside. §§6381, 6589, 6789 b) The form on which the circulators are appointed shall be filed with the elections official of the county in which the circulators reside at or before the time the nomination paper of the candidate is left with the county elections official for examination. §§6380, 6589, 6788 c) Additional circulators may be appointed in the same manner as the original circulators were appointed. §§6380, 6588, 6788 8. By January 8, 2000, the Secretary of State shall prepare a certified list containing the following information: a) Republican Party: A list containing the names and addresses of the candidates for whom nomination papers have been filed and who are entitled to be voted for at the presidential primary. §6954 b) American Independent Party: A list containing the names and addresses of the candidates for delegates for whom nomination papers have been filed and who are entitled to be voted for at the presidential primary election. §6953 c) Green, Libertarian, Natural Law, and Reform parties: A list containing the names of the candidates to appear on the presidential preference primary ballot and the names and addresses of the candidates for delegates for whom nomination papers have been filed and who are entitled to be voted for at the presidential primary election. §6951 NOTE: In addition to the above two methods by which a person may have his or her name placed on the presidential primary election ballot, the minor political parties allow a group of candidates to qualify for the national convention delegate portion of the primary election ballot. For the American Independent Party, refer to §6560 et seq. For the Green, Libertarian, Natural Law, and Reform parties, refer to §6760 et seq. IV. GENERAL INFORMATION A. The California Elections Code contains various requirements, which must be met by anyone planning to run as a presidential candidate in the American Independent, Green, Libertarian, Natural Law, Reform, or Republican parties. The laws vary depending on the candidate's party. Prospective candidates and delegates should review these laws well in advance of the March 7, 2000 Primary Election. For further information, the candidate is advised to consult the California Elections Code at the following sections: American Independent Party Section 6500 et seq. Green, Libertarian, Natural Law, Reform parties Section 6700 et seq. Republican Party Section 6300 et seq. This code is available on the Internet at the Legislative Counsel's site: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html. B. The Elections Division of the Secretary of State's Office does not provide forms for presidential candidates. The candidate is directed to the California Elections Code sections cited above for information about what is required on such forms. C. Because of the requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act, As Amended, a candidate for President should contact the Federal Election Commission (999 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20463 or toll-free phone number 1-800-424-9530) for a copy of the Act and related regulations which govern the filing requirements for reporting campaign contributions and expenditures, and the forms on which to file such disclosure information. D. Although unlikely at this time, the California Legislature may still amend the laws pertaining to candidates running in the March 2000 Presidential Primary. Therefore, it is important for candidates to confirm the validity of the foregoing information in November of 1999. E. Write-in Candidates: Any person who believes his/her name may be written in on a ballot as a candidate for President shall file an endorsement of write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State not later than February 15, 2000. See Elections Code §§ 6441, 6621, and 6822. F. This material is for general information only and does not have the force and effect of law, regulation or rule. In case of conflict, the law, regulation or rule will apply. The candidate should obtain the most up-to-date information available because of possible changes in law or procedures since publication of this information.
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