For: US Representative & US Senate
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
- Eligibility for nomination
- Contact your political party
- Assembly process
- Submit certificate of designation form
- Submit candidate acceptance form
- Submit audio recording
- Name placed on ballot
Step 1: Eligibility for nomination
Candidates
must meet the basic qualifications
for office.
A candidate must be registered as affiliated with that party no later than the first business day of January of the election year. [1]
Candidates who wish to gain ballot access through the party assembly must receive at least 30% of the votes cast by assembly delegates present and voting for that specific office at the party assembly. [2]
Proof of
registration and affiliation qualifications will be as shown on the
voter registration books of the county clerk and recorder. [3]
Review the election calendar (PDF) for specific dates.
Step 2: Contact Your Political Party
Potential candidates should contact their
party to determine the exact date and time of the assembly. The political party
will be able to answer questions about party protocol, announcements, party
campaign rules, etc. [4]
Political Party Information
Step 3: Assembly Process
Major
political party candidates for United States Representative may be designated
for the primary election ballot during their party’s district assembly, which
must be held no later than 73 days before the primary election.
A candidate
needs at least 30% of the votes cast to be placed on the primary election
ballot. [5]
If no candidate receives at least 30% of the votes cast, a second
ballot must be cast. If on the second
ballot, no candidate receives at least 30% of the votes cast, the two
candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be placed on the primary
election ballot. [5]
Step 4: Submit certificate of designation form
- Complete the Certificate of Designation (PDF) form.
Must be signed by the chairman or secretary of
the party.
- Mail or hand deliver to:
Colorado Secretary of State
Attention: Ballot Access
1700 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80290
The original
or faxed copy of both forms must be filed with the Secretary of State no later
than four days after adjournment of the assembly. If the forms are sent electronically, the
originals must also be filed and postmarked no later than ten days after
adjournment of the assembly.
Late filing
of the Certificate of Designation by Assembly will not deprive a candidate of
his or her candidacy. [6]
Step 5: Submit candidate acceptance form
- Complete the Candidate Acceptance of Assembly Designation form and have it notarized. [7]
The Candidate
Acceptance of Designation form must state the candidate’s name exactly as it will
appear on the ballot. Candidate names
may not contain any title or degree designating the business or profession of
the candidate. [8]
- Mail or hand deliver to:
Colorado Secretary of State
Attention: Ballot Access
1700 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80290
The original
or faxed copy of both forms must be filed with the Secretary of State no later
than four days after adjournment of the assembly. If the forms are sent electronically, the
originals must also be filed and postmarked no later than 10 days after
adjournment of the assembly.
If the Candidate Acceptance of Designation is
not filed within the specified time, the candidate will be deemed to have
declined the nomination. [9]
Step 6: Submit audio recording
Candidate audio recording must be submitted to
the Secretary of State no later than 10 days after the adjournment
of the assembly. 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. [10]
Audio Recording Instructions.
Step 7: Name placed on ballot
Major party candidates nominated by assembly are placed on the primary election ballot. [11]
[1] 1-4-601(4)(a) & 1-4-1304(2)(b), C.R.S.
[2] 1-4-601(2); 1-4-1304(1.5)(b)(II), C.R.S.
[3] 1-4-501(1), C.R.S.
[4] 1-4-601(1), C.R.S.
[5] 1-4-601(2), C.R.S.
[6] 1-4-604(3), (5) & 1-4-601(3)(a), C.R.S.
[7] 1-4-906, C.R.S.
[8] 1-4-601(3)(a); 1-5-407(4), C.R.S.
[9] 1-4-604(3), (5); 1-4-601(3)(a), C.R.S.
[10] SOS Election Rule
10.4.1
[11] 1-4-601(1), C.R.S.
