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Search 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] Check with your party to see if it has different affiliation requirements.
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 in the statewide voter registration system. [3]
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.
To be named as a candidate for designation by assembly, a person must provide notice in writing as follows no less than 30 days before the assembly, unless otherwise provided by party rules: [4]
- A person seeking designation by a county assembly must provide notice to the county chair;
- A person seeking designation by a single-county district assembly that is not a county assembly must provide notice to the single-county district chair;
- A person seeking designation by a multi-county district assembly must provide notice to the multi-county district chair and the state chair; and
- A person seeking designation by the state assembly must provide notice to the state chair.
Step 3: Assembly Process
Major political party candidates may be designated for the primary election ballot during their party’s assemblies, which must be held no later than 73 days before the primary election. [5]
A candidate needs at least 30% of the assembly votes cast to be placed on the primary election ballot. [6]
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.
Step 4: Submit certificate of designation form
1. Complete the Certificate of Designation (PDF) form.
Must be signed by the chairman or secretary of the party.
2. Mail, hand deliver, email, or fax to:
Colorado Secretary of State
Attention: Ballot Access
1700 Broadway, Suite 550
Denver, CO 80290
Email: ballot.access@coloradosos.gov
Fax: 303-869-4861
The original or faxed copy must be filed with the Secretary of State no later than four days after the adjournment of the assembly. If the form is sent electronically, the original must also be filed and postmarked no later than ten days after the adjournment of the assembly. [7]
Step 5: Submit candidate acceptance form
1. Complete the Candidate Acceptance of Assembly Designation form. [8]
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. [9]
2. Mail, hand deliver, email, or fax to:
Colorado Secretary of State
Attention: Ballot Access
1700 Broadway, Suite 550
Denver, CO 80290
Email: ballot.access@coloradosos.gov
Fax: 303-869-4861
The original or faxed copy must be filed with the Secretary of State no later than four days after the adjournment of the assembly. If the form is sent electronically, the original must also be filed and postmarked no later than ten days after the adjournment of the assembly. [10]
Step 6: Submit audio recording
Candidate audio recording must be submitted to the Secretary of State no later than four 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. [11]
Step 7: Name placed on primary election ballot
[1] 1-4-601(4)(a), C.R.S.
[2] 1-4-601(2), C.R.S.
[3] 1-4-601(2), C.R.S.
[4] 1-4-601(1.5), C.R.S.
[5] 1-4-601(1), C.R.S.
[6] 1-4-601(2), C.R.S.
[7] 1-4-604(3), C.R.S.
[8] 1-4-601(3)(a), C.R.S.
[9] 1-4-601(3)(a); 1-5-407(4), C.R.S.
[10] 1-4-601(3)(a), C.R.S.
[11] SOS Election Rule 4.6.1