Presidential elections: qualifications for office

The law makes party, independent, and write-in presidential slates formally attest that both their presidential and vice-presidential nominees are eligible to be elected President. Missing the certification keeps the ticket off the relevant ballot or write-in list.

What the law does ​

• Requires qualified political parties to submit written, sworn eligibility certifications for their presidential and vice-presidential nominees by 5 p.m. 75 days before the election.
• Requires independent presidential-elector slates to submit the same sworn certifications by 5 p.m. 75 days before the election.
• Requires write-in presidential-elector slates to submit the same sworn certifications by 5 p.m. 14 days before the election.
• Bars party and independent tickets without the required certification from ballot placement, and excludes noncomplying write-in tickets from the Secretary of State's certified write-in list.
• Makes false certifications subject to perjury penalties.

Who it affects ​

• Qualified political parties and their representatives.
• Independent and write-in groups of candidates for presidential electors.
• Presidential and vice-presidential nominees seeking access to California's ballot or certified write-in list.
• The Secretary of State.

Context ​

The Twenty-Second Amendment bars a person from being elected President more than twice.