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Ballot Access, Candidate
Qualifications and How To Run For Office
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.
|
Office |
Citizenship |
Residence
and Qualifications |
Age
(when sworn in) |
Where
to File |
Term |
Partisan? |
| President
and Vice President of the United States |
from
birth |
U.S.
Resident 14 years |
35 |
Secretary of State |
4
years
(2 term limit for President only) |
Yes |
| U.
S. Senator |
9
Years |
Iowa Resident
|
30 |
Secretary of State
|
6
Years |
Yes |
| U.S.
Representative |
7
Years |
Iowa
Resident
(do not have to
live in district) |
25 |
Secretary
of State |
2
Years |
Yes |
| Governor
& Lt. Governor |
2
Years |
2
Years |
30 |
Secretary
of State |
4
Years |
Yes |
| All
Other State-Wide Offices |
Citizen |
Resident |
18 |
Secretary
of State |
4
Years |
Yes |
| State
Senator |
Citizen |
1
Year In State,
60 Days In District
(as of general election date) |
25 |
Secretary
of State |
4
Years |
Yes |
| State
Representative |
Citizen |
1
Year In State,
60 Days In District
(as of general election date) |
21 |
Secretary
of State |
2
Years |
Yes |
| County
Attorney, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder |
Citizen |
Resident |
18 |
County
Auditor |
4
Years |
Yes |
| County
Sheriff |
Citizen |
Resident
No felony convictions.
Certified peace officer (or complete
training within one year of taking office).
|
21 |
County
Auditor |
4
Years |
Yes |
|
County Supervisor |
Citizen |
Registered
voter in county (when sworn in) |
18 |
County
Auditor |
4
Years |
Yes |
| Township
Offices |
Citizen |
Resident |
18 |
County
Auditor |
4
Years |
No (changed 2005) |
| School
Board Members |
Citizen |
Eligible
Elector |
18 |
Sec.
Of Board Of Ed. |
note |
No |
Municipal
Officials
(Mayor, City Council) |
Citizen |
Eligible
Elector |
18 |
City
Clerk |
2
or 4 Years
(varies by city) |
No |
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
| District |
Seats |
Signatures |
| Iowa City |
3 seats |
50 signatures |
| Clear Creek Amana |
3 seats (at large, Districts 2 and 3)
District candidates are elected at large but must live in the district . District
2 includes Tiffin and Cosgrove, and District 3 includes Oxford. For more
details, see
map (Sec. of State; .pdf)
All voters in the school district may vote on both the District
1 seat and the at large
seat. |
50 signatures |
| Lone Tree |
2 seats |
16 signatures |
| Solon |
2 seats |
44 signatures |
| Kirkwood Directors |
Districts 4 and 5 |
Contact
Linn County Auditor
(Control county for Area X) |
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.
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