Now that the deadline for petitions has passed, we can see who is actually running for what. Also, we will see if anyone had problems with their petitions.
For example – let’s say you are running for state representative. In order to get on the ballot, you need 300 signatures. It can be a heavy lift. Then, after you turn in your petitions, voters in your district (often sponsored by your would-be opponent) can challenge your signatures.
There are lots of reasons signatures get challenged. Sometimes, the paperwork is not filled out correctly, or the person or persons in question do not reside in the district where the petitions were circulated. Sometimes, a signer may be of the wrong party. The goal for your opponent is to challenge enough signatures to get you below the 300 mark (or whatever the threshold happens to be) and at that point, you don’t make the ballot.
Petition objection hearings are held before a judge, and judges may be quite arbitrary at times (and I mean no offense to the judiciary.) What would pass in one judge’s courtroom may get thrown out in another. It all depends on the judge you draw from the lottery.
If you don’t get challenged, or you pass all petition challenges, then you make it to the ballot as a candidate. That means that in the primary, people may cast their vote for you.
It’s quite a process!