2020 Presidential General Election

• A political party recognized by the laws of the State of Oklahoma automatically receives a ballot line for the party’s nominees for President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, and Presidential Electors.
• The nominees for Presidential Electors of any recognized political party shall be selected at a convention of the party.
• The nominees for Presidential Electors shall be certified by the party’s chair to the Secretary of the State Election Board no later than July 15 of a presidential election year.
• Failure of a political party to properly certify the names of its nominees for Presidential Electors within the time specified shall bar such party from placing any candidates for Presidential Elector on the ballot at the General Election.
• A recognized political party shall certify its nominees for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States to the Secretary of the State Election Board no later than seventy-five (75) days prior to the date of the General Election.  The deadline is August 19, 2020.
• NOTE: If the nominating convention of a recognized political party is scheduled to conclude after the 75-day (August 19, 2020) deadline described above, then the Secretary of the State Election Board will accept a provisional certification of the party’s nominees for President and Vice President of the United States. The provisional certification must be received by the Secretary prior to the 75-day (August 19, 2020) deadline, and the party shall provide the official certification of its nominees to the Secretary upon the adjournment of the convention. (See SB1825.) 

• An independent candidate for President of the United States shall file a Statement of Candidacy with the Secretary of the State Election Board no later than July 15 of a presidential election year.
• The Statement of Candidacy shall include the candidate’s full legal name, the candidate’s address of residence, the candidate’s mailing address, the candidate’s name as it should appear on the ballot, and any other information required by the Secretary of the State Election Board.
• The candidate shall swear an oath or affirm on the Statement of Candidacy that the candidate meets the qualifications for President of the United States set forth in the Constitution of the United States, and the candidate’s signature shall be witnessed by a Notary Public.
• The Statement of Candidacy shall be accompanied by a certification of the name and address of residence for seven candidates for Presidential Elector pledged to the independent candidate for President of the United States.
• The Statement of Candidacy shall be accompanied by either:

1. A petition supporting an independent candidate’s filing for President of the United States bearing the same number of signatures of registered voters that is required to form a recognized political party. (35,592 signatures in 2020.); or

1. A filing fee ($5,000 for each Presidential Elector) in the form of a cashier’s check or certified check made payable to the Secretary of the State Election Board.  The total amount of the filing fee in 2020 is $35,000.

• The candidate shall certify to the Secretary of the State Election Board the name of the candidate’s Vice Presidential running mate no later than the deadline established in 26 O.S. § 10-101. for the certification by a recognized political party of its nominee for Vice President of the United States.  The deadline is August 19, 2020.  The certification shall include the Vice Presidential candidate's full legal name, address of residence, mailing address, and the candidate's name as it should appear on the ballot.

• The national chair of a political party not recognized by the laws of the State of Oklahoma shall submit a Statement of Candidacy on behalf of the unrecognized political party no later than July 15 of a presidential election year.
• The Statement of Candidacy shall be accompanied by a certification of the name and address of residence for seven candidates for Presidential Elector pledged to the unrecognized political party’s nominees for President and Vice President of the United States.
• The Statement of Candidacy shall be accompanied by either:

1. A petition supporting the unrecognized party's filing bearing the same number of signatures of registered voters that is required to form a recognized political party. In 2020, a total of 35,592 signatures are required.

1. A filing fee ($5,000 for each Presidential Elector) in the form of a cashier’s check or a certified check made payable to the Secretary of the State Election Board. The total amount of the filing fee in 2020 is $35,000.

• The national chair of the unrecognized political party shall certify to the Secretary of the State Election Board the name of the party’s nominees for President and Vice President of the United States no later than the deadline established in 26 O.S. §10-101 for the certification by a recognized political party of its nominees for President and Vice President of the United States.  The deadline is August 19, 2020.
• The certification of nominees for President and Vice President of the United States shall include each nominee’s full legal name, address of residence, mailing address, and each nominee’s name as it should appear on the ballot.

Presidential Candidates and Electors

Presidential General Election Filing Packet (Independent)

Presidential General Election Filing Packet (Unrecognized Political Party Nominee)