Have you announced your candidacy and filed the required campaign finance forms?

Yes, continue to Step 1.

No, I need to become a candidate.

 

Steps

1. Eligibility for nomination
2. Petition signature requirements
3. Review sample format
4. Update the sample petition format
5. Submit final petition format for approval
6. Receive approval for petition format
7. Start circulating petition
8. Stop circulating petition
9. Submit petition and candidate acceptance form
10. Signature verification and notice of sufficiency or insufficiency
11. Submit audio recording
12. Name placed on ballot

 

Step 1:  Eligibility for Nomination

Candidates must meet the basic qualifications for office.

A candidate must be affiliated with the political party no later than the first business day in January of the election year. [1]

A candidate that failed to receive 10% of the votes cast for a particular office at the party assembly is not eligible to run by petition on behalf of the same political party and office. [2]

Proof of registration and affiliation qualifications will be as shown on the voter registration books of the county clerk and recorder. [3]

In order to be eligible to circulate a petition, a person must be a resident of the state, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, and affiliated with the candidate’s party at the time of circulation. [4]

Review the election calendar (PDF) for specific dates.

Step 2: Petition signature requirements

Only eligible electors within the district or political subdivision may sign the petition for which the officer is to be elected. Each petition may be signed by any eligible elector who has not signed any other petition for any other candidate for the same office. [5]

A petition must meet all signature requirements for the office the candidate is running for.

 

Step 3: Review sample petition format

Petition formats must be approved by the Secretary of State (or designated election official) prior to circulation. [6]

Sample Petition Format - Minor Party (DOC)

 

Step 4: Update the sample petition

Update the sample petition to replace all of the red instructional text with your specific information.

The petition may only contain one candidate’s name. [7]

 

Step 5: Submit final petition format for approval

You may submit either a hard or electronic copy of your final petition format to the Secretary of State for approval.

Hard copies should be mailed or hand delivered to:

Colorado Secretary of State
Attention:  Ballot Access
1700 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver CO, 80290

Electronic copies should be emailed (in PDF) to: ballot.access@sos.state.co.us

Once submitted, the Secretary of State will approve or disapprove each petition format no later than two days following the submission. [8]

 

 

Step 6: Receive approval for petition format

Our office will mail you a letter of approval or disapproval.  [8]

For a faster response, please provide an email address where we can send your letter of approval/disapproval.

 

Step 7: Start circulating petition

After receiving approval for petition format, begin circulating the petiton according to the specified dates.  For circulation dates please review the election calendar (PDF).

Party petitions cannot be circulated nor signatures obtained any time prior to the last Monday in March. [9]

 

Step 8: Stop circulating petition

For circulation dates please review the election calendar (PDF).

 

Step 9: Submit petition and candidate acceptance form

The completed petition must be filed no later than 75 days before the primary election. [9]

1. Complete the Candidate Acceptance of Petition Nomination form and have it notarized. [10]
   
   The form must state the candidate’s name the way it will appear on the ballot. Candidate names cannot contain any title or degree designating the business or profession of the candidate. [11]
   
   
2. Attach the notarized acceptance form to the completed petition. [12]
   
   
3. Mail or hand deliver to:
   
   Colorado Secretary of State
   Attention:  Ballot Access
   1700 Broadway, Suite 200
   Denver CO, 80290

Step 10: Signature verification and notice of sufficiency or insufficiency

Petition signatures will be verified by the Secretary of State and if found to be sufficient, will be deemed valid, unless a protest is made in writing within five days after the statement of sufficiency is issued. [13]

We will notify you of your petition’s sufficiency or insufficiency in writing. For a faster response, please provide an email address where we can send the statement of sufficiency/insufficiency.

 

Step 11: Submit audio recording

Candidate audio recording must be submitted to the Secretary of State no later than 75 days before the primary election. 

The audio recording must state the candidate’s name exactly as it appears on the candidate acceptance form, as this is how the candidate’s name will appear on the ballot. [14]

Audio Recording Instructions.

 

Step 12:  Name placed on ballot

Minor party candidates nominated by petition are placed on the general election ballot unless there is more than one candidate for that office nominated by assembly and/or petition; then the candidates are placed on the primary ballot. [15]

 

 

 

[1] 1-4-801(3); 1-4-802(1)(g), C.R.S.
[2] 1-4-801(4), C.R.S.
[3] 1-4-501(1), C.R.S.
[4] 1-4-905(1), C.R.S.
[5] 1-4-904(2)(b), C.R.S.
[6] 1-4-903, C.R.S.
[7] 1-4-901, C.R.S.
[8] 1-4-903, C.R.S.
[9] 1-4-801(5), C.R.S.
[10]  1-4-906, C.R.S.
[11] 1-4-906 & 1-5-407(4), C.R.S.
[12] 1-4-906, C.R.S.
[13] 1-4-908 & 1-4-909(1), C.R.S.
[14] SOS Election Rule 10.4.1
[15] 1-4-1304, C.R.S.