Getting Ready: 2009 General City Elections

Understanding the Basics of City Elections

The City Clerk serves as the chief election officer responsible for: Overseeing candidate filing, Printing ballots, Publishing notices and sample ballots, Overseeing absentee voting, Designating election judges and clerks, and Selecting polling places.

The Candidate Filing Process

Every candidate for Mayor or Council must file a declaration of candidacy: Attesting they meet the qualifications required by law, and Declaring the office and term for which they are running.

The declaration must be accompanied by on of two items: A nonrefundable filing fee of $40, OR A petition of candidacy signed by at least 5 qualified city electors.

Idaho law requires every candidate for Mayor or Council to meet the following qualifications: At least 18 years of age, A U.S. citizen, The candidate’s primary residence must be within the city, The address of the candidate’s voter registration must match the residence address on the candidate’s declaration, and The candidate must be a resident of the city for at least 30 days before their declaration Is submitted to the City Clerk.

The period for candidates to file their declarations and petitions of candidacy: Begins Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m., and Ends Friday, September 4 at 5 p.m.

The candidate’s name will appear on the ballot exactly as written on the declaration of candidacy. It is permissible for candidates to use initials for their first or middle name. A nickname should be put in quotes within the person’s legal name: Jeffrey “Scooter” Owens.

The declaration of candidacy must be signed by candidate and notarized by a duly authorized Idaho notary. The petition of candidacy must be signed by the person soliciting petition signatures and notarized by a duly authorized Idaho notary. The City Clerk or Deputy City Clerk (if a duly authorized Idaho notary) may notarize the forms.

Petition signatures are often gathered by the candidate personally, but may be collected by any person who is: At least 18 years of age, and An Idaho resident. Candidate must take petition to County Clerk’s office for verification of signatures before filing with the City Clerk. County Clerk or Deputy County Clerk will attach a written certification of the number of signatures of qualified city electors.

Before accepting the nominating forms from the candidate, the City Clerk must confirm: That the candidate is registered to vote in the City, and That the candidate’s residence address provided on the declaration of candidacy matches the address listed in the voter registration database.

Why does the City Clerk need to check to see if a candidate is registered? The individual may have been purged from the registration rolls, or may have moved and is registered at the incorrect address. In either case, the individual needs to re-register before filing their declaration. This is easy to fix as long as it is done before the candidate files.

City Clerk will only accept the candidate’s filing forms once they are satisfied the candidate meets the qualifications established by law.

Questions?

Deadlines for the 2009 General City Election

Published Notice to Potential Candidates Friday, August 21: 1 st day for City Clerk to publish a notice to potential candidates including: The name of the City, Date of the election, Offices up for election, Declarations of candidacy are available from the City Clerk, and The candidate filing deadline. Idaho Code

Opening Deadline for Candidate Filing Monday, August 24: 1 st day for candidates to file declarations of candidacy. The declaration must be accompanied by ONE of the following: A nonrefundable filing fee of $40, OR A petition with at least 5 signatures of qualified city electors. Idaho Code through

Published Notice to Potential Candidates Friday, August 28: Last day for the City Clerk to publish a notice to potential candidates including: The name of the City, Date of the election, Offices up for election, Declarations of candidacy are available from the City Clerk, and The candidate filing deadline. Idaho Code

Closing Deadline for Candidate Filing Friday, September 4: Last day for candidates to file declarations of candidacy. The declaration must be accompanied by ONE of the following: A nonrefundable filing fee of $40, OR A petition with at least 5 signatures of qualified city electors. Idaho Code through

Write-in Candidate Filing Deadline Tuesday, October 20: Last day for write-in candidates to file a declaration of intent affirming their qualifications and the office for which they are running. Write-in candidates do not have to submit a filing fee or petition with their declaration of intent. Idaho Code and A.

Deadline for Applications for Challengers & Watchers Thursday, October 29: Deadline for candidates to submit written request for challengers & watchers—a candidate may appoint one of each. Challengers are at the polling place to challenge voters’ qualifications. Watchers are at the polling place to watch the conduct of the election, including counting of votes. Idaho Code

Questions & Answers

Question: Can a candidate sign their own petition? Answer: Yes. There is nothing in the law that prohibits a candidate, or their spouse or adult family members from signing the candidate’s petition (as long as all are qualified city electors).

Question: Can candidates campaign on Election Day? Answer: Yes, but campaigning within or near a polling place is a criminal offense (“electioneering”). Campaigning is prohibited within the polling place or in any building in which an election is being held (such as the absentee polling place). Campaigning is also prohibited within 100 feet of a polling place. Measurement is taken from the main entrance to the building, or the closest entrance to the polling area. Idaho Code

Questions?