A person who is seeking nomination or election to a specified office and who either has met the legal requirements to have his/her name printed on the ballot or is eligible to have his/her name written in on the ballot and counted as the voter's choice for the contest. Note - federal campaign finance and some states do not require a person to have filed petitions to be considered a candidate. Raising money alone can make you a candidate.
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A person who is seeking nomination or election to a specified office and who either has met the legal requirements to have his/her name printed on the ballot or is eligible to have his/her name written in on the ballot and counted as the voter's choice for the contest. Note - federal campaign finance and some states do not require a person to have filed petitions to be considered a candidate. Raising money alone can make you a candidate.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Candidate. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/candidate
Sources
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High consensus
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Multi-source
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