Tex. Codes » Election Code · TITLE 9. CANDIDATES · CHAPTER 145. WITHDRAWAL, DEATH AND INELIGIBILITY OF CANDIDATE
Texas Codes

Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003 (2026)

Administrative Declaration Of Ineligibility

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Sec. 145.003. ADMINISTRATIVE DECLARATION OF INELIGIBILITY. (a) Except for a judicial action in which a candidate's eligibility is in issue, a candidate may be declared ineligible only as provided by this section.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (f-1), a candidate in the general election for state and county officers may be declared ineligible before the 30th day preceding election day by:

(1) the party officer responsible for certifying the candidate's name for placement on the general election ballot, in the case of a candidate who is a political party's nominee;

(2) the authority with whom the candidate's application for a place on the ballot is required to be filed, in the case of an independent candidate; or

(3) the secretary of state, if the candidate is ineligible under Subsection (f)(3).

(c) A candidate in an election other than the general election for state and county officers may be declared ineligible before the beginning of early voting by personal appearance by the authority with whom an application for a place on the ballot for the office sought by the candidate is required to be filed.

(d) The presiding officer of the final canvassing authority for the office sought by a candidate may declare the candidate ineligible after the polls close on election day and, except as provided by Subsection (e), before a certificate of election is issued.

(e) In the case of a candidate for governor or lieutenant governor, a declaration of ineligibility by the final canvassing authority's presiding officer may not be made after the final canvass for that office is completed.

(f) A candidate may be declared ineligible only if:

(1) the information on the candidate's application for a place on the ballot indicates that the candidate is ineligible for the office;

(2) facts indicating that the candidate is ineligible are conclusively established by another public record; or

(3) the candidate fails to pay the filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee.

(f-1) A candidate may not be declared ineligible under Subsection (f)(3) after the 74th day preceding election day.

(g) When presented with an application for a place on the ballot or another public record containing information pertinent to a candidate's eligibility, the appropriate authority shall promptly review the record. If the authority determines that the record establishes ineligibility as provided by Subsection (f), the authority shall declare the candidate ineligible.

(h) If a candidate is declared ineligible after the deadline for omitting an ineligible candidate's name from the ballot, the authority making the declaration shall promptly certify in writing the declaration of ineligibility to the canvassing authority for the election.

(i) If a candidate is declared ineligible, the authority making the declaration shall promptly give written notice of the declaration of ineligibility to the candidate.

(j) This section does not apply to a challenge on an application under Section 141.034.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.58; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 29, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 728, Sec. 56, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Amended by:

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 711 (H.B. 3107), Sec. 85, eff. September 1, 2021.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (S.B. 994), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 30 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1986–2025 · leading case: Escobar v. Sutherland, 917 S.W.2d 399 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996).
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Escobar v. Sutherland, 917 S.W.2d 399 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996). · cites it 9× “See Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003 (Vernon Supp.”
In re Cullar, 320 S.W.3d 560 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). · cites it 6× “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a). Accordingly, we construe relators’ petition to address the duty in section 145.”
In re Perez, 508 S.W.3d 500 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2016). · cites it 4× “Subsection (b)(1) provides that a candidate in the general election for state and county officers may be declared ineligible before the 30th day preceding election day by the party officer responsible for certifying the candidate’s name for placement on the general election…”
Sears v. Bayoud, 786 S.W.2d 248 (Tex. 1990). · cites it 3× “" See Tex.Elec.Code §§ 145.003(c) & 145.003(f)(1) (Vernon 1986).”
Wentworth v. Meyer, 837 S.W.2d 148 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1992). · cites it 6× “See Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003 (Vernon 1986).”
In re Jackson, 14 S.W.3d 843 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000). · cites it 3× “2d at 410 ; Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (Vernon Supp.”
In re Palomo, 366 S.W.3d 193 (Tex. 2012). · cites it 3× “Tex. Elec.Code § 145.003(b) ("A candidate in the general election for state and county officers may be declared ineligible before the 30th day preceding election day by; (1) the party officer responsible for certifying the candidate s name for placement on the general election…”
In re Cercone, 323 S.W.3d 293 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (emphasis added).”
In re Manuel VELA, Jr., 399 S.W.3d 265 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012). · cites it 3× “at 197 (citing Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 145.003 (f)). In comparing the public records in Palomo with the records presented in this case, we cannot say the public records on which the City relied conclusively establish Vela’s ineligibility as a candidate for mayor of the City of…”
Sepulveda v. Medrano, 323 S.W.3d 620 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (emphasis added).”
In re Peacock, 421 S.W.3d 913 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(c) (West 2010).”
Hargett v. McDaniel, 717 S.W.2d 688 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1986). · cites it 3× “Relator cites us to Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(c) (Vernon 1986), referring to declarations of ineligibility prior to the beginning of absentee voting.”
Show all 30 citing cases →
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(a): 6 cases
Escobar v. Sutherland, 917 S.W.2d 399 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996). “See Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003 (Vernon Supp.”
In re Cullar, 320 S.W.3d 560 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a). Accordingly, we construe relators’ petition to address the duty in section 145.”
In re Cercone, 323 S.W.3d 293 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “” Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (emphasis added).”
In re Jackson, 14 S.W.3d 843 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000). “2d at 410 ; Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (Vernon Supp.”
Sepulveda v. Medrano, 323 S.W.3d 620 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “” Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (emphasis added).”
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(b): 4 cases
Wentworth v. Meyer, 837 S.W.2d 148 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1992). “See Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003 (Vernon 1986).”
In re Palomo, 366 S.W.3d 193 (Tex. 2012). “Tex. Elec.Code § 145.003(b) ("A candidate in the general election for state and county officers may be declared ineligible before the 30th day preceding election day by; (1) the party officer responsible for certifying the candidate s name for placement on the general election…”
Sepulveda v. Medrano, 323 S.W.3d 620 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “” Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (emphasis added).”
In re Texas House Repub. Caucus Pac v. The State of Texas, 630 S.W.3d 28 (Tex. 2020).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(b)(3): 1 case
Roy Eriksen v. Jane Nelson, 708 S.W.3d 302 (Tex. App.—15th Dist. 2025).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(c): 5 cases
Escobar v. Sutherland, 917 S.W.2d 399 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996). “See Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003 (Vernon Supp.”
Sears v. Bayoud, 786 S.W.2d 248 (Tex. 1990). “" See Tex.Elec.Code §§ 145.003(c) & 145.003(f)(1) (Vernon 1986).”
In re Peacock, 421 S.W.3d 913 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2014). “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(c) (West 2010).”
Hargett v. McDaniel, 717 S.W.2d 688 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1986). “Relator cites us to Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(c) (Vernon 1986), referring to declarations of ineligibility prior to the beginning of absentee voting.”
In re Kelley Peacock, No. 12-14-00021-CV (Tex. App.—Tyler Jan. 29, 2014).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(d): 2 cases
Hargett v. McDaniel, 717 S.W.2d 688 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1986). “Relator cites us to Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(c) (Vernon 1986), referring to declarations of ineligibility prior to the beginning of absentee voting.”
Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion: KP-0468, No. KP-0468 (Tex. Att'y Gen. June 11, 2024).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(e): 1 case
Hargett v. McDaniel, 717 S.W.2d 688 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1986). “Relator cites us to Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(c) (Vernon 1986), referring to declarations of ineligibility prior to the beginning of absentee voting.”
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(f): 8 cases
In re Cercone, 323 S.W.3d 293 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “” Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (emphasis added).”
In re Jackson, 14 S.W.3d 843 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000). “2d at 410 ; Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (Vernon Supp.”
In re Palomo, 366 S.W.3d 193 (Tex. 2012). “Tex. Elec.Code § 145.003(b) ("A candidate in the general election for state and county officers may be declared ineligible before the 30th day preceding election day by; (1) the party officer responsible for certifying the candidate s name for placement on the general election…”
In re Manuel VELA, Jr., 399 S.W.3d 265 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012). “at 197 (citing Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 145.003 (f)). In comparing the public records in Palomo with the records presented in this case, we cannot say the public records on which the City relied conclusively establish Vela’s ineligibility as a candidate for mayor of the City of…”
In re Thomas R. Phillips, 96 S.W.3d 418 (Tex. App. 2002).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(f)(1): 1 case
In re Cullar, 320 S.W.3d 560 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a). Accordingly, we construe relators’ petition to address the duty in section 145.”
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(f)(2): 5 cases
In re Cullar, 320 S.W.3d 560 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a). Accordingly, we construe relators’ petition to address the duty in section 145.”
In re Jackson, 14 S.W.3d 843 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000). “2d at 410 ; Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a) (Vernon Supp.”
In re Palomo, 366 S.W.3d 193 (Tex. 2012). “Tex. Elec.Code § 145.003(b) ("A candidate in the general election for state and county officers may be declared ineligible before the 30th day preceding election day by; (1) the party officer responsible for certifying the candidate s name for placement on the general election…”
In re Wilson, 421 S.W.3d 686 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2014).
In re David Landersman v. the State of Texas, No. 08-23-00356-CV (Tex. App.—El Paso Jan. 9, 2024).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(f)(3): 1 case
Roy Eriksen v. Jane Nelson, 708 S.W.3d 302 (Tex. App.—15th Dist. 2025).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(g): 5 cases
In re Cullar, 320 S.W.3d 560 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010). “See Tex. Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003(a). Accordingly, we construe relators’ petition to address the duty in section 145.”
Sears v. Bayoud, 786 S.W.2d 248 (Tex. 1990). “" See Tex.Elec.Code §§ 145.003(c) & 145.003(f)(1) (Vernon 1986).”
Escobar v. Sutherland, 917 S.W.2d 399 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1996). “See Tex.Elec.Code Ann. § 145.003 (Vernon Supp.”
Shipley v. Harris Cnty. Democratic Exec. Comm., 795 S.W.2d 766 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1990).
In re Barney Donalson, Jr., No. 12-20-00197-CV (Tex. App.—Tyler Sept. 9, 2020).
Tex. Elec. Code § 145.003(i): 1 case
In re Wendy Davis, Chrysta Castañeda, & Mary Jennings (M.J.) Hegar, No. 03-20-00414-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 19, 2020).
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