Pennsylvania Petition Signature Requirements (2026)
How many signatures you need to qualify for the ballot in Pennsylvania, the 2026 petition filing windows, and how to validate your signatures against the Pennsylvania voter file.
Signature requirements by office
| Office | Minimum signatures | % of enrolled voters |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | — | 5% |
| State Senator, State Representative | — | 5% |
| U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative | — | 5% |
2026 petition deadlines
State Senator, State Representative; U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative
- Primary petition opens:
- January 27, 2026
- Primary petition deadline:
- March 10, 2026
- Primary election:
- May 19, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
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Start validating freePennsylvania petition rules & details
Primary petition — signature rules
Governor: 2,000 signatures statewide
Primary petition — signature rules
State Senate: 500 signatures; State House: 300 signatures
Primary petition — signature rules
US House: 1,000 signatures; US Senate: 2,000 signatures
Primary petition — deadline rules
Nomination petitions due 10 weeks before primary
General petition — signature rules
Independent candidates need 1% of highest vote for any statewide candidate in last election
Frequently asked questions
How many signatures do I need to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania signature requirements vary by office. Governor: 5% of enrolled voters; State Senator, State Representative: 5% of enrolled voters; U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative: 5% of enrolled voters. See the full table above for all offices.
What is the 2026 petition filing deadline in Pennsylvania?
For the 2026 cycle in Pennsylvania, the primary petition deadline is March 10, 2026. Confirm exact dates for your office above and with your election authority.
Can I validate Pennsylvania petition signatures myself?
Yes. Petition Validator lets you upload petition pages and automatically matches each signer against the Pennsylvania voter file — checking registration, address, and duplicates in seconds per signature. You can start free, no paid Victory Waves account required.
How does signature validation work?
You upload images of your petition pages; our system transcribes each signature and matches the signer's name, address, and date against official voter registration data to confirm they're a registered voter in the correct jurisdiction.
Last updated for the 2026 cycle on November 20, 2025. Always confirm requirements and deadlines with your state or local election authority.