# I'm thinking of running for President in 2016. What do I need to know? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 27, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160 "2015-03-27T22:20:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnSnape](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JohnSnape](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnSnape)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160/1 "2015-03-27T22:20:51Z")
With the Presidential election already starting, I was thinking of running for the office. I would probably get two votes (me and my mom!) but then I could put on my resume “2016 Presidential Candidate” truthfully. What tax/reporting things would I run into? Do I have to file forms with the government so they know that I’m running, or can I just put up an election website and let the donation roll in? I _really_ need the resume boost! ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160/2 "2015-03-27T22:59:30Z")
You need to hire a lawyer. Don’t even try to do it in your own. It’s like saying, “I want to conduct a hostile takeover of McDonalds. Do I need to fill out a lot of forms?” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160/3 "2015-03-28T00:26:19Z")
First thing on your list: How can I raise $100 million. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160/4 "2015-03-28T00:57:23Z")
Can I be your vice president? I’m a woman so that’ll appeal to certain factions, and at 37 I’m technically old enough (to take over if someone assassinates you). ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160/5 "2015-03-28T01:13:18Z")
The main thing is that you need to be an official candidate in 50 states, which means 50 different processes. I don’t know if there are any federal requirements other than what’s in the Constitution. So you’ll need people to collect signatures so you can get on the ballot. In some states, that means only a few thousand. In others, you’ll need hundreds of thousands. Which means you need a lot of volunteers. You and your mom won’t cut it unless you just want to get on in one small state so you could say you were on the ballot. Another way would be to find a small party that usually gets on the ballot in a number of states and express an interest in their nomination. Then you’ll compete, usually by going to their convention, debating with the other candidates for that party’s nomination, and if you’re the best of that group, maybe you’ll win. The advantages to the latter approach are that you would actually be running for something and it would be a small accomplishment(I beat out 12 other guys for the Whig Socialist Prohibition Party!) and then their organization would get you on the ballot in as many states as they could and help raise money for you. If that sounds like work, it’s probably less work than trying to collect thousands of signatures yourself and paying the filing fees. ---
**Author:** ![JohnSnape](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JohnSnape](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnSnape)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160/6 "2015-03-28T01:35:03Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Can I be your vice president? I’m a woman so that’ll appeal to certain factions, and at 37 I’m technically old enough (to take over if someone assassinates you). Great! I want to start the “Do Absolutely Nothing” party. Basically, have the government run on autopilot for the entire time I’m President. And since I don’t _really_ want to _be_ President, I’ll step down after the first week (after I got my named-Prez jacket) and you’ll be president! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-running-for-president-in-2016-what-do-i-need-to-know/716160/7 "2015-03-28T03:25:18Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The main thing is that you need to be an official candidate in 50 states, which means 50 different processes. Well, technically, you only need to be an official candidate in enough states to get you enough electoral votes, and then be very good or lucky.