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Ballot Access, Candidate Qualifications and How To Run For Office

• Official Party Status

• Age and Residence Qualifications to Hold Office

• Signature Requirements
  • Nomination Papers for November 4 Election (Secretary of State web site, all forms .pdf)
  • Federal and State Office
  • County and Township Office
  • School Board
  • City Offices

• Campaign Finance and Signs

Official Political Party Status

The Code of Iowa defines a "political party" as a party which, at the last preceding general election, won at least two percent of the total vote for president or governor.  A political party or group which does not qualify for official party status is officially known as a "non-party political organization."

Currently, Iowa has two official political parties, the Democrats and Republicans.  Under a new procedure, as of January 1, 2008, voters may also register with two officially recognized political organizations: the Green and Libertarian Parties.

Political parties nominate their candidates in primary elections, held in June.  Democratic and Republican candidates must petition to appear on the primary ballot.  Political organizations, parties without organization status, and independent candidates may qualify for the November general election ballot through a process known as nomination by petition.  The name of the organization (for example, "Know-Nothing Party") may appear on the ballot, or the candidate may be listed as "nominated by petition."

If a non-party political organization candidate for president or governor wins more than 2% of the statewide vote for president or governor, that organization can become an official political party. If this happens:

• The party will hold precinct caucuses and a primary.
• The winners of the primary will automatically be on the general election ballot.

The Green Party and Reform Party have earned and then later lost full party status in recent years, though the Greens now have political organization status.

Competing Non-Party Political Organization Nominations

In 2000, two candidates - Pat Buchanan and John Hagelin - filed to run for President in Iowa under the identical designation "Reform Party."  Under the Iowa Administrative Code [721-21.201(44)],  Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver conducted a random drawing on August 24, 2000.  Buchanan's name was drawn.  Hagelin appeared on the 2000 ballot as "Nominated by Petition."

Age and Residence Qualifications for Public Office in Iowa

Age, residence, and other requirements vary by the type of office.

All candidates must complete an affidavit of candidacy, a legal documents stating the candidate's intent to seek office.

Most candidates must also complete a petition in order to qualify for the ballot.  The number of signatures varies by office.

School Board Term Length

Through the 2007 school election, school elections were held every year, and school board members were elected to three year terms. In 2008, state law was changed. School elections will be held in off numbered years only, beginning in 2009, and terms will be four years.

The September 9, 2008 school election will be the last even year school election.

Signature Requirements for Office in Iowa

For more information on filing for statewide or federal office, please contact the office of the Iowa Secretary of State.

Federal and State Office

President and Vice President of the United States

Democratic and Republican Nominations

Determined by national party conventions.  Delegates to national conventions are chosen in caucuses and primaries in each state.  Traditionally, the Iowa caucuses are the first major event in the nomination process.

• 2008 Iowa Caucus: Democrats and Republicans had caucuses on January 3.
• Democratic National Convention, August 25 - 28, Denver.
• Republican National Convention, September 1 - 4, Minneapolis.

President/Vice President, Nomination by Petition
(non-party organizations, independent candidates)

It is up to each state to determine how presidential candidates may qualify for the ballot.  Most states have a petition procedure.  Each non-party organization determines how to choose its own nominee.  Most parties have a convention.  Usually these are many months earlier than the Democratic and Republican parties, to allow more time to complete petitions.

More information on the efforts of other parties to qualify for the ballot can be found at the websites Politics1 and Ballot Access News.

Iowa requires 1500 total signatures, including signatures from at least 10 counties.

Filing period: July 28 - August 15, 2008 for November 4, 2008 general election.  File with Iowa Secretary of State.

More information on filing for President from Iowa Secretary of State (.pdf)

U.S. Senator, Party Primary

Filing Period: February 25-March 14, 2008  for June 3, 2008 primary.  File with Iowa Secretary of State.  Six year terms.

1. Signatures equaling 1/2 of 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party in the last general election. 

2. 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party in each of at least ten counties.

The seat currently held by Senator Harkin will be on the 2008 ballot; Senator Grassley was elected in 2004 to a term that expires in 2010.

Governor, Party Primary

Filing period: February 27-March 17, 2006  for June 6, 2006 primary.  (Four year term, not on ballot in 2008.)  File with Iowa Secretary of State.

  Signature requirements: same as U.S. Senator.

Other Statewide Offices, Party Primary

(Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of State, Treasurer)

Filing period: February 27-March 17, 2006  for June 6, 2006 primary. (Four year terms, not on ballot in 2008.) File with Iowa Secretary of State.

1. 1,000 signatures.

2. At least 50 signatures in each of at least ten counties.

U.S. Senator, Nomination by Petition

Filing period: July 28 - August 15, 2008 for November 4, 2008 general election.  File with Iowa Secretary of State.

1500 total signatures, including signatures from at least 10 counties.

The Senate seat currently held by Tom Harkin is on the ballot in 2008.

Governor and Other Statewide Offices, Nomination by Petition

Filing period: July 31 - August 18, 2006 for November 7, 2006 general election.  (Four year terms, not on ballot in 2008.)  File with Iowa Secretary of State.

1500 total signatures, including signatures from at least 10 counties.

U.S. Representative, Party Primary

Filing Period: February 25-March 14, 2008  for June 3, 2008 primary.   File with Iowa Secretary of State.

1. Signatures equaling 1% of the total vote for the candidate's party (governor or president) in the last general election.

2. Signatures equaling 2% of the total vote for the candidate's party in the last general election in at least half of the counties in the district.

U.S. Representative, Nomination by Petition

Filing period: July 28 - August 15, 2008 for November 4, 2008 general election.  File with Iowa Secretary of State.

Minimum of 300 signatures from the congressional district.

All 435 U.S. House seats are two year terms and will be on the 2008 ballot.

State Legislature

State Senate terms are four years.  In Johnson County, Senate District 40 will be on the 2008 ballot.  The senators for Districts 15, 39 and 45, the other Johnson county districts, was elected to four year terms in 2006.

State House of Representatives terms are two years and all seats will be on the 2008 ballot.

State Legislature, Party Primary

Filing Period: February 25-March 14, 2008  for June 3, 2008 primary.   File with Iowa Secretary of State.

State Senate: Minimum of 100 signatures from the Senate district.

State Representative: Minimum of 50 signatures from the House district.

State Legislature, Nomination by Petition

Filing period: July 28 - August 15, 2008 for November 4, 2008 general election.  File with Iowa Secretary of State.

State Senate: Minimum of 100 signatures from the Senate district.

State Representative: Minimum of 50 signatures from the House district.

County Office

Four year terms.

Party Primary

Filing Period: March 3- March 26, 2008 for June 3, 2008 primary.  File with county auditor.

• Board of Supervisors, Auditor, Sheriff: : A minimum of 100 signatures for Democrats and Republicans. (2 percent of the votes cast for president or governor in the last general election or 100 signatures, whichever is less).

• County Attorney, Recorder, Treasurer: same requirements, not on ballot in 2006.

Nomination by Petition

Filing period: August 4-27, 2008 for November 4, 2008 general election.  File with county auditor.  The Johnson County Auditor allows candidates running for county office through the nomination by petition procedure to file a declaration of intent beginning on the first day of filing for the party primaries.

• Board of Supervisors, Auditor, Sheriff: 250 signatures (or 1% of the registered voters, whichever is less).

• County Attorney, Recorder, Treasurer: same requirements, not on ballot in 2006.

Board of Supervisors: Seats currently held by Supervisors Harney, Neuzil and Sullivan will be on the 2008 ballot; Supervisors Meyers and Stutsman were elected to four year terms in 2006.

Nonpartisan Offices Elected at General Election

Filing period: August 4-27, 2008 for November 4, 2008 general election.  Four year terms.  File with county auditor.

• Agricultural Extension Council:  25 signatures.  Four seats on 2008 ballot.

• Soil & Water Conservation Board: 25 signatures.  Three seats on 2008 ballot.

• Township Trustee: Affidavit of candidacy.  Two to be elected per township in 2008; some townships may also elect a third trustee or a clerk to two year terms to fill vacancies.

Recent changes in township official election procedure:

• Through the 2004 election the offices of township clerk and trustee were partisan.  Only an affidavit of candidacy was required to file in the June primary.  Candidates wanting to run in November as nominated by petition needed ten signatures.
• In 2006 township offices became non-partisan.  For the 2006 election only, all candidates had to file petitions with ten signatures.
• Beginning with 2008, township candidates need only file an affidavit of candidacy, and no petitions are required.  The offices remain non-partisan.

School Board

School elections are held each September.  Terms are three years and are staggered.  (Beginiing in 2009, terms will be four years and elections will only be held in odd-numbered years.) File with school district.  School board is a non-partisan office.  Iowa City and Clear Creek Amana have seven board members; Lone Tree and Solon have five members.

Filing period: July 7 - 31 for September 9, 2008 school election.

Signature requirements: 1% of the registered voters in the school district (as of May 1 of election year) or 50 signatures, whichever is less.  (Changed in 2004.)

Seats and Requirements for 2008

City Offices

City elections are held in November of odd numbered years.  Last city election: November 6, 2007.  All cities elect council members.  All cities except Iowa City also elect a mayor.  More information on Iowa City Mayor and Council Districts

Terms are two or four years and vary by city.  Candidates file with the city clerk.  All city offices in Johnson County are non-partisan.  (Iowa law allows cities to elect officials on a partisan basis, but no cities in the state currently choose this option.)

Iowa City has seven council members; all other Johnson County cities have five members.

Cities with Primaries

Iowa City and University Heights require a primary election if enough candidates file.

• Iowa City At Large seats: Two elected each two years; primary if five or more candidates file.
• Iowa City District seats: One elected per district; primary if three or more candidates file.
• University Heights Mayor: Primary if three or more candidates file.
• University Heights Council: Five elected each two years; primary if 11 or more candidates file.

Only Iowa City required a primary in 2007.

Filing period

• Cities with primary: August 13 - 30 for November 6, 2007 election (with October 9, 2007 primary)
• Cities without primary: August 27 - September 20 for November 6, 2007 election.

Signature Requirements

Iowa City requirements are based on the number of votes cast in the most recent election.  2007 requirements:

At Large: 237 signatures (based on 2005)
District A: 147 signatures (based on 2003)
District C: 151 signatures (based on 2003)

Requirements for other cities:

• Coralville, North Liberty: 25
• All Other Cities: 10

Campaign Finance

Candidates for state or local office who raise or spend more than $750 must open a campaign committee and file campaign finance reports.  Contact the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board for more information.  (Note: As of January 1, 2003, all campaign committees file with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board and not with the Auditor's Office.)

Congressional and presidential candidates file disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission.

Sign Regulations

Many local communities have regulations about sign placement.  However, all restrictions on when signs may be put up have been overturned as unconstitutional restrictions on free speech.  Certain regulations still apply:

• Signs may not be placed in the right of way on the road.  Generally this includes the area between the sidewalk and the street.
• Signs may not be within 300 feet of a polling place on election day (an exception is allowed for signs at people's homes)
• Signs may not be placed on corporate property as this is considered an illegal corporate campaign contribution.
• Signs may not be larger than 32 square feet.
• A disclaimer ("Paid for by Re-Elect John Doe Committee") is not required.