# Why do I need to pay to run for office?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 14, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972 "2009-07-14T13:19:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/21 "2009-07-14T18:26:34Z")
> [@jtgain](#):
>
> If you are running as a third-party, then this is correct. To run as a Republican or Democrat, there is no other process besides paying the filing fee..
This varies state to state; no blanket assertion can be made.
---
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/22 "2009-07-14T18:30:10Z")
Another bad thing about NC ballot laws - your party can be kicked off the ballot for lack of votes. Libertarians were kicked off 3 or 4 times since they could not get a candidate for a major office to get 3% of the vote. Last year they finally got a guy at 3% for governor so they can stay on the ballot for 2009- 2012.
---
### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/23 "2009-07-14T18:57:06Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> Nice link, but I said OFF YEAR LOCAL elections which means odd numbered years.
>
> I am well aware that presidential years have very high turnout.
>
> Also I need 10% of REGISTERED voters to sign, not 10% of the 10% who show up to vote.
The link also indicated voter turnout for non-presidential years, thank you.
So how many people were on the ballot in your linked election?
---
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/24 "2009-07-14T19:28:46Z")
The link did not include years like 2009 when there are only local (City, county) elections in NC. No congress, governor, state house, state senate, president, US Senate, etc.
My link included just my county which had various people running for city councils and school board. School board is a big issue here but yet we had under 11% turnout.
I am one of the few who always votes in these local elections , it’s a shame more people don’t care.
---
### Author:  [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/25 "2009-07-14T20:48:06Z")
Doesn’t the UK require anyone standing for Parliament to put a ₤1000 deposit down which can only be refunding if one get’s a certain percentage of the vote?
---
### Author:  [@mrpayday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrpayday)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/26 "2009-07-15T08:57:01Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#):
>
> Doesn’t the UK require anyone standing for Parliament to put a ₤1000 deposit down which can only be refunding if one get’s a certain percentage of the vote?
australia is similar.
---
### Author:  [@mrpayday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrpayday)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2009, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/27 "2009-07-15T08:58:56Z")
from the AEC
The deposit required is $1000 for each Senate candidate and $500 for each House of Representatives candidate.
---
### Author:  [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/28 "2009-07-15T10:27:10Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#):
>
> Doesn’t the UK require anyone standing for Parliament to put a ₤1000 deposit down which can only be refunding if one get’s a certain percentage of the vote?
The current deposit requirement is £500.
This is refunded if the candidate secures 5% of the total number of votes cast. Additionally, each nominee must have the support of 10 people on the electoral roll in the constituency for which he or she is standing.
A deposit of this order is not always seen as a deterrent. On 10 July 2008, a by-election for the seat of Haltemprice and Howden attracted a record field of 26 candidates. The political movements represented included the Miss Great Britain Party, the Church of the Militant Elvis Party, and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party (represented by Mad Cow-Girl).
All three candidates lost their deposits, as did twenty of the other nominees at Haltemprice and Howden.
---
### Author:  [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2009, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/29 "2009-07-15T10:41:00Z")
> [@jtgain](#):
>
> If you are running as a third-party, then this is correct. To run as a Republican or Democrat, there is no other process besides paying the filing fee..
Not in PA. In PA, everyone has to follow the same procedure, and in some respects, it’s actually harder to file as a party candidate because, as I said, petitions for the primary have to be signed by members of that party. If office _x_ requires _y_ petitions, the candidate had better have _2y_ signatures to be able to survive any challenges – political parties do vet their opponent’s petitions to throw out as many signatures as possible to try to disqualify them, and the candidate. Independent candidates still have to file petitions, but I don’t think party affiliation matters, but I could be wrong. I can ask.
Election law is generally a state-by-state issue. You can’t make an assertion and assume it applies nationwide.
---
### Author:  [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972/30 "2009-07-15T22:50:23Z")
> [@mrpayday](#):
>
> The deposit required is $1000 for each Senate candidate and $500 for each House of Representatives candidate.
And the deposit is returned if a candidate gains at least 4% of the total first preference votes.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-need-to-pay-to-run-for-office/502972.md?page=1)