The Secretary of State is the filing officer for federal contests. A candidate is not considered filed until their complete filing is received by the Office of the Secretary of State.
File Online - Candidate Filing Utility
Federal Offices
Eligibility | Terms | Filing Requirements
President and Vice President of the United States
Eligibility
- Only natural born citizens who are at least 35 years of age
- Resided within the United States for at least 14 years
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at 12 noon on January 20th following the election
Candidate Requirements
Ways for candidates to get on the ballot:
- Political Party Candidate - Certificate of Nomination - Endorsement from their political party
- Independent/Party Not Established in North Dakota - Petition of Nomination - containing the signatures of at least 4,000 qualified North Dakota electors.
- Petition of Nomination may not be circulated or signed prior to January 1st of a presidential election year. Petition circulators do not need to be ND qualified electors.
Filing Requirements
Candidates are encouraged to submit filings online using the Candidate Filing Utility. Forms needed for a complete filing include:
- One of the following forms may be used by candidates based on the method used to seek candidacy.
- Certificate of Nomination for Presidential Electors (SFN 50883) - political party nominations
- Petition/Certificate of Nomination For Political Party Not Established in North Dakota (SFN 58578) – independent/party not established candidates
- Certificate of Nomination - Presidential Electors/ National Form (SFN 50905) - Political Party Not Established in North Dakota Candidates Only
- Certificate of Nomination - Presidential Electors/ National Form (SFN 50905) - Political Party Not Established in North Dakota Candidates Only
- Affidavit of Candidacy (President and Vice President of the United States) (SFN 52500) – each candidate
- Statement of Interests (SFN 10172)
Write-In Candidate
A person who intends to be a write-in candidate for President and Vice-President of the United States must file a Certificate of Write-In Candidacy with the Secretary of State (NDCC § 16.1-12-02.2). The Certificate of Write-In Candidacy must contain the complete address of the candidate and the names and complete addresses of the candidate’s 3 presidential electors. A Certificate of Acceptance signed by the candidate’s presidential electors must accompany the Certificate of Write-In Candidacy, as well as a Statement of Interests (SFN 10172).
United States Senate
Eligibility
- Must be at least 30 years of age
- Citizen of the United States for at least 9 years
- Resident of North Dakota
Term
- 6-year term of office beginning at 12 noon on January 3rd following the election
Candidate Requirements
Ways for candidates to get on the ballot:
- Political Party Candidate - Certificate of Endorsement or Petition/Certificate of Nomination
- Petition of Nomination may not be circulated or signed prior to January 1 of an election year.
- Independent - Petition/Certificate of Nomination - containing the signatures of no more than 1,000 qualified North Dakota electors.
- Petition of Nomination may not be circulated or signed prior to 150 days before the General Election filing deadline of an election year.
Filing Requirements
Candidates are encouraged to submit filings online using the Candidate Filing Utility. Forms needed for a complete filing include:
- Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704) containing the signatures of not more than 300 qualified North Dakota electors (Primary) or 1,0000 qualified electors (General) OR Certificate of Endorsement (SFN 17196).
- Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 2703)
- Statement of Interests (SFN 10172)
Interaction with Federal Laws
Candidates for Congress are subject to the registration and financial disclosure requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, a candidate is subject to registration and financial obligations when the campaign exceeds $5,000 in either contributions or expenditures.
Questions may be directed to:
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
1050 First Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20463
Toll Free: 1-800-424-9530
Website: www.fec.gov
United States House of Representatives
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Citizen of the United States for at least 7 years
- Resident of North Dakota
Term
- 2-year term of office beginning at 12 noon on January 3rd following the election
Candidate Requirements
Ways for candidates to get on the ballot:
- Political Party Candidate - Certificate of Endorsement or Petition/Certificate of Nomination
- Petition of Nomination may not be circulated or signed prior to January 1 of an election year.
- Independent - Petition/Certificate of Nomination - containing the signatures of no more than 1,000 qualified North Dakota electors.
- Petition of Nomination may not be circulated or signed prior to 150 days before the General Election filing deadline of an election year.
Filing Requirements
Candidates are encouraged to submit filings online using the Candidate Filing Utility. Forms needed for a complete filing include:
- Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704) containing the signatures of not more than 300 qualified North Dakota electors (Primary) or 1,000 qualified electors (General) OR Certificate of Endorsement (SFN 17196).
- Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 2703)
- Statement of Interests (SFN 10172)
Interaction with Federal Laws
Candidates for Congress are subject to the registration and financial disclosure requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, a candidate is subject to registration and financial obligations when the campaign exceeds $5,000 in either contributions or expenditures.
Questions may be directed to:
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
1050 First Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20463
Toll Free: 1-800-424-9530
www.fec.gov