How to Run for Office
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Running For Office
To run for an elected office and appear on the ballot in Idaho, you must:
- Be a registered voter in your district.
- Meet the requirements of the office. Office requirements are listed below.
- File a declaration of candidacy and pay the filing fee to the relevant district, city, or county (for local offices) or the Secretary of State (for legislative, state, judicial, or federal offices). Visit the Candidate Filing page for more details.
- In lieu of a filing fee, candidates may submit a required number of signatures depending on the office. All Independent candidates are required to file by petition. Petition forms are available below.
Petition Forms
Partisan & Judicial Candidates
Be sure to review all instructions carefully and meet the signature requirements and deadlines outlined in Idaho law.
Independent Candidates
Be sure to review all instructions carefully and meet the signature requirements and deadlines outlined in Idaho law.
Reporting Your Campaign Finances
Even before you file to run for office, you may need to report donations and expenditures for your campaign. All money raised or spent in relation to a campaign must be accounted for and tracked. This includes the use of personal money for this purpose. Once a candidate has raised or spent $500 for a political campaign, a candidate must file the appointment of a political treasurer and begin reporting the campaign finances, including the sources and expenses for the first $500. Learn more in our quick guide to campaign finance for state and local office, or visit Campaign Finance 101.
For information on filing to run for office, visit the candidate filing page.
Requirements by Office
Most offices require a filing fee or petition signatures in lieu of the filing fee due at the time of filing. The relevant fee or signature amount is listed under each office below.
Federal Offices
United States Senator
- Thirty (30) years at the time of their election
- A United States citizen for at least nine (9) years
- Reside within the state at the time of their election
Term Length: Six (6) years
Filing Fee: $500
Petition Signatures: 1,000 qualified electors within the state
United States Representative
- Twenty-five (25) years at the time of their election
- A United States citizen for at least seven (7) years
- Reside within the state at the time of their election
Term Length:聽Two (2) years
Filing Fee:聽$300
Petition Signatures:聽500聽qualified electors within the congressional district
Presidential Electors
- Twenty-one (21) years at the time of their election
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the state for at least two (2) years preceding their election
Term Length:聽Four (4) years
Filing Fee:聽None
Petition Signatures:聽None
Statewide Offices
Governor
- Thirty (30) years at the time of their election
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the state for at least two (2) years preceding their election
Term Length:聽Four (4) years
Filing Fee:聽$300
Petition Signatures:聽1,000 qualified electors within the state
Lieutenant Governor
- Thirty (30) years at the time of their election
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the state for at least two (2) years preceding their election
Term Length:聽Four (4) years
Filing Fee: $200
Petition Signatures:聽1,000 qualified electors within the state
Secretary of State
State Controller
State Treasurer
- Twenty-five (25) years at the time of their election
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the state for at least two (2) years preceding their election
Term Length:聽Four (4) years
Filing Fee:聽$200
Petition Signatures:聽1,000 qualified electors within the state
Attorney General
- Thirty (30) years at the time of their election
- Admitted to practice law within the state
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the state for at least two (2) years preceding their election
Term Length:聽Four (4) years
Filing Fee:聽$200
Petition Signatures:聽1,000 qualified electors within the state
Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Twenty-five (25) years at the time of their election
- Have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the state for at least two (2) years preceding their election
Term Length:聽Four (4) years
Filing Fee:聽$200
Petition Signatures:聽1,000 qualified electors within the state
State Senator
State Representative
- Twenty-one (21) years at the time of the election
- A United States citizen
- Be a registered elector within the legislative district at least one (1) year prior to the election
Term Length: Two (2) years
Filing Fee:聽$30
Petition Signatures: 50 qualified electors within the legislative district
Judicial Offices
Justice of the Supreme Court
- Thirty (30) years at the time of their election or appointment
- Be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the state of Idaho
- Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding election or appointment
- Be in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding election or appointment
- Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least ten (10) continuous years immediately preceding election or appointment
Term Length: Six (6) years
Filing Fee:聽$300
Petition Signatures:聽1,000 qualified electors within the state
Judicial Seat Information Update
Judicial offices have updated seat information. Click here to review judicial seats & office holders.
District Judge
- Thirty (30) years at the time of their election or appointment
- Be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the judicial district
- Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding election or appointment
- Be in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding election or appointment
- Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least ten (10) continuous years immediately preceding election or appointment
Term Length: Four (4) years
Filing Fee: $150
Petition Signatures: 200 qualified electors within the state
Judicial Seat Information Update
Judicial offices have updated seat information. Click here to review judicial seats & office holders.
County Offices
County Sheriff
Clerk of the District Court
County Treasurer
County Assessor
County Coroner
- Twenty-one (21) years at the time of the election
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the county for at least one (1) year prior to the election
Term Length: Four (4) years
Filing Fee: $40
Petition Signatures: 5 qualified electors within the county
County Commissioner
- Twenty-one (21) years at the time of the election
- A United States citizen
- Reside within the county for at least one (1) year prior to the election
- Reside within the district for at least ninety (90) days prior to the election
Term Length: Two (2) or Four (4) years (rotating)
Filing Fee: $40
Petition Signatures: 5 qualified electors within the commissioner’s district
County Prosecuting Attorney
- Twenty-one (21) years at the time of the election
- A United States citizen and qualified elector within the county
- Admitted to practice law within the state
Term Length: Four (4) years
Filing Fee: $40
Petition Signatures: 5 qualified electors within the county
Precinct Committeeman
- Eighteen (18) years at the time of the election
- A United States citizen
- Registered elector of the voting precinct for at least six (6) months prior to the election
Term Length: Two (2) years
Filing Fee: None
Petition Signatures: None