How to Run for State Office in Colorado

The Colorado Secretary of State governs elections for state office.

Making a serious run for public office is no easy chore. The formal requirements are only the beginning; getting elected is the hard part. But you do need to meet the formal requirements, which are considerable. If you are running for state office in Colorado, you can find out what those requirements are from the Colorado Secretary of State, Elections Division.

Instructions

1. Ascertain that you meet the requirements for the state office you want to run for. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of Colorado must be at least 30 years old and must have lived in the state for at least two years. Candidates for the Colorado House and Senate must be a least 25 and must have lived in the state for one year. Candidates for all offices must be citizens of the United States.

2. File a candidate affidavit with the Elections Division within 10 days of becoming a candidate. You become a candidate when you receive a campaign contribution or make an expenditure after publicly announcing your candidacy. If you choose to accept voluntary spending limits, file the form indicating your acceptance with the candidate affidavit. The appropriate forms are available from the Elections Division.

3. File a personal financial disclosure within 10 days after filing your candidate affidavit.

4. Form a candidate committee if you intend to accept campaign contributions. The committee will administer and report your campaign finances. It must be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State.

5. Get your name on the Colorado election ballot. There are four ways to do this: by party candidate nomination, party candidate petition, unaffiliated candidate petition or write-in affidavit.

References

• Colorado Secretary of State, Elections Division: How to Run for Office