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1. What do I need to do to run for office?

County Candidate

This includes Magistrate Judges.

1. File a C-1 (Political Treasurer Appointment) form through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal on or before officially announcing your intentions to run, or designate yourself as treasurer on your Declaration of Candidacy form.
2. File a Petition of Candidacy or pay a filing fee with the County Elections Department during candidate filing.
3. File a Declaration of Candidacy with the County Elections Department during candidate filing.
4. Optional but extremely helpful - Fill out the Contact Information sheet in your candidate packet provided by the County Elections Department.
5. File all necessary Campaign Disclosure forms on time using the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal.

City Candidate

1. File a C-1 (Political Treasurer Appointment) form through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal on or before officially announcing your intentions to run, or designate yourself as treasurer on your Declaration of Candidacy form. 

2. File a Petition of Candidacy or pay a filing fee with the City Clerk during candidate filing.

3. File a Declaration of Candidacy with the City Clerk during candidate filing.

4. File all necessary Campaign Disclosure forms on time using the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal.

School Trustee Zone Candidate

1. File a C-1 (Political Treasurer Appointment) form through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal on or before officially announcing your intentions to run, or designate yourself as treasurer on your Declaration of Candidacy form.  Online reporting is not required until the candidate receives or expends $500.
2. Have the County Elections Office certify your Petition of Candidacy.
3. File the Petition of Candidacy and Declaration of Candidacy with the clerk of the school district that you are running in.
4. File all necessary Campaign Disclosure forms on time using the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal.

North Idaho College Trustee

1. File a C-1 (Political Treasurer Appointment) form through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal on or before officially announcing your intentions to run, or designate yourself as treasurer on your Declaration of Candidacy form.  Online reporting is not required until the candidate receives or expends $500.
2. Have the County Elections Office certify your Petition of Candidacy.
3. File the Petition of Candidacy and Declaration of Candidacy with the clerk of North Idaho College.
4. File all necessary Campaign Disclosure forms on time using the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal.

Taxing District Candidate

1. File a C-1 (Political Treasurer Appointment) form through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal on or before officially announcing your intentions to run, or designate yourself as treasurer on your Declaration of Candidacy form.  Online reporting is not required until the candidate receives or expends $500.
2. Have the County Elections Office certify your Petition of Candidacy.
3. File the Petition of Candidacy and Declaration of Candidacy with the clerk of the taxing district that you are running in.
4. File all necessary Campaign Disclosure forms on time using the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal.

*Petition of Candidacy and Declaration of Candidacy forms are available through the taxing district you are filing with or the Elections Office. 

2. Where do I file my Declaration of Candidacy?

Candidates running for State Office file with the Secretary of State's Office in Boise. Candidates running for County Office file at the Elections Department at 1808 North 3rd St, Coeur d'Alene. Candidates running for office in a specific taxing district must file with the specific district.

3. Do I need to fill out Candidate Financial Disclosure forms?

Under new Campaign Finance guidelines, all candidates must either appoint themselves as treasurer for their campaign, or they may appoint someone else using a C-1 form. Upon receiving or expending $500, candidates are required to create a Campaign Finance account through the Secretary of State's Campaign Finance Portal and to file monthly Campaign Finance Disclosure reports during the year in which the Election for the office they are seeking is taking place. 

Current candidates and officeholders  with open reporting are required to file annual reports in non-election years.

For more information, contact the Elections Department at 208-446-1030.

4. Do I need to file in person?

You may email or fax completed Declarations of Candidacy for our review, but filing the notarized Petitions of Candidacy must be done in person. If you are unable to bring your Petition in person please notify us of the situation and who will be bringing in your Petition. The Elections Department seeks to obtain your contact information at the same time; that information is not included on the Declaration form. Contact the Elections Department at 208-446-1030 for more information.

5. Why is my contact information needed?

For County Candidates, we need a mailing address so that we may send you your certificate of Election once elected.  For all other candidates, we need your information to keep you posted on any important election related information.  Also, if you want constituents to be able to contact you, the information is displayed on our website. Contact us at 208-446-1030 for more information.

6. Is my information displayed on your website?

Yes, your name, address, phone, email or website, Treasurer's name (where applicable) and their contact information.

7. What forms are available to me at the Elections Department?

All candidate filing forms and candidate disclosure forms are available at the Elections Department or on our website. They are also available at the Secretary of State's website A limited amount of registration cards and absentee ballot request forms can also be requested from the Elections Department.  We also highly encourage candidates to utilize the State of Idaho's online registration and absentee request portal available at the State of Idaho elections website.

8. Can I get a list of registered voters?

Yes, you need to request the information using the Voter Information Request Form (PDF). Contact the Elections Department at 208-446-1030 for more information.

9. How do I find out who has been sent an Absentee Ballot?

Fill out and submit the Voter Information Request Form (PDF) requesting the list of voters who are receiving absentee ballots for the current election. This list is sent by email on a daily basis throughout the time when ballots are being mailed.

10. When can I see a demonstration of the ballot counting machine?

The Elections Department staff conducts a Logic and Accuracy test the day before the Election to ensure that the ballot counting machines are programmed and running properly. This test is then signed off by an elected official (usually a County Commissioner) and is open to the public. Invitations to this test are sent out via email the week prior to the test as well as notifications sent to the media.