Texas Petition Signature Requirements (2026)
How many signatures you need to qualify for the ballot in Texas, the 2026 petition filing windows, and how to validate your signatures against the Texas voter file.
Signature requirements by office
| Office | Minimum signatures | % of enrolled voters |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, State Comptroller | — | 5% |
| Governor | — | 5% |
| State Senator, State Representative | — | 5% |
| U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative | — | 5% |
2026 petition deadlines
Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, State Comptroller
- Primary petition opens:
- November 8, 2025
- Primary petition deadline:
- December 8, 2025
- General petition opens:
- March 4, 2026
- General petition deadline:
- June 25, 2026
- Primary election:
- March 3, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative
- Primary petition opens:
- November 13, 2025
- Primary petition deadline:
- December 15, 2025
- Primary election:
- March 3, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
Validate your Texas petition signatures — free
Upload your petition pages and match every signer against the Texas voter file in seconds. No paid account required.
Start validating freeTexas petition rules & details
Primary petition — signature rules
Major-party statewide candidates: filing fee or petition in lieu
Primary petition — deadline rules
Filing window November 8 through December 8 of prior year
General petition — signature rules
Independent statewide candidates: petition with 1% of total votes for governor in last election
General petition — deadline rules
Independent candidates file by late June
Primary petition — signature rules
Governor: 5,000 signatures statewide
Primary petition — signature rules
State Senate: 500 signatures from district; State House: 250 signatures from district
Primary petition — signature rules
US House: 500 signatures; US Senate: 5,000 signatures
Primary petition — deadline rules
Filing period begins in November of odd-numbered year
General petition — signature rules
Independent candidates need signatures equal to 1% of votes cast for governor in last election
Frequently asked questions
How many signatures do I need to get on the ballot in Texas?
Texas signature requirements vary by office. Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, State Comptroller: 5% of enrolled voters; Governor: 5% of enrolled voters; State Senator, State Representative: 5% of enrolled voters. See the full table above for all offices.
What is the 2026 petition filing deadline in Texas?
For the 2026 cycle in Texas, the primary petition deadline is December 8, 2025, and the general petition deadline is June 25, 2026. Confirm exact dates for your office above and with your election authority.
Can I validate Texas petition signatures myself?
Yes. Petition Validator lets you upload petition pages and automatically matches each signer against the Texas 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 May 27, 2026. Always confirm requirements and deadlines with your state or local election authority.