Disaffected voters are increasingly rejecting partisanship and voting independent.
Anyone who meets the constitutional qualifications can run for president of the United States. Partisans are nominated by their parties, but independents and third-party candidates can have a place on the ballot as well. As of 2011, 35 percent of registered voters consider themselves independent, and their votes can determine the outcome of an election. Running for president requires extensive paperwork to qualify and huge sums of money to compete. With a dedicated base of contributors and campaign volunteers, an independent candidate can launch a successful campaign to influence policy and even win the election.
Instructions
1. Check to ensure you meet the qualifications for the office of president as established in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Candidates must be natural-born citizens, 35 years of age and have lived in the United States for 14 years.
2. Form an exploratory committee, and engage in "test the waters" activities. Anyone running for federal office must comply with the guidelines of the Federal Election Campaign Act. Spending money testing the waters does not require the prospective candidate to register and report those expenditures, but candidates actively campaigning must do so. Testing the waters can include polling, canvassing and making phone calls to gauge public support.
3. Form a campaign committee. Form a rudimentary committee before filing any paperwork, but keep in mind that your committee cannot begin electioneering in excess of $5,000 raised or spent before you have declared your candidacy.
4. File a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This basic form requires the candidate's name, address, phone number and information about the campaign committee chair. You must also send this form to the declared opposing candidates.
5. Organize the campaign committee, and file a Statement of Organization with the FEC within 10 days of declaring candidacy. This form registers a treasurer and custodian of records for the campaign with the FEC.
6. Get on the ballot in all 50 states. Independents must obtain a certain number of petition signatures in each state to appear on the ballot. The threshold for getting on the ballot varies by state. You must appear on nearly every state's ballot to obtain the 270 out of 538 electoral votes needed to win. Launching ad campaigns in television markets nationwide can garner name recognition and may expedite the process of gaining signatures.
7. Begin campaigning, and file quarterly financial reports with the FEC to document contributions and expenditures. To qualify for matching funds --- contributions from the federal government to level the playing field --- document that you have raised at least $5,000 in at least 20 states.
Tags: campaign committee, Federal Election, United States