The short version
In Connecticut, major parties usually nominate at conventions or caucuses; a candidate who didn't win the party's endorsement can force a primary by filing a primary petition. Candidates outside the major parties reach the general-election ballot with a nominating petition.
- Offices you can run for
- Federal (U.S. House and Senate); statewide offices (Governor and other state officials); the State Senate and House; municipal offices; and probate judges.
- How to get on the ballot
- To force a major-party primary, file a primary petition with the required signatures from enrolled party members and submit it to the Registrar of Voters by the deadline. To reach the general-election ballot outside a major party, file a nominating petition. The Secretary of the State's office issues the petition forms and the signature requirement for each office.
- Who runs candidate filing
- Connecticut Secretary of the State — Elections Division
This is a plain-language overview, not legal advice. Filing deadlines and fees change every election cycle and vary by office — the official Connecticut resources below are the final word. When in doubt, the elections authority is right and we're wrong.
Official Connecticut candidate resources
Start here for the exact deadlines, fees, forms, and signature counts for your office and cycle.
Once you're on the ballot, Motion51 runs your field game.
Get your district's voter file loaded, cut into walkable turf, and onto an app your volunteers use at the door. Connecticut is fully available — see how to get your voter file.
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