The Secretary of State is the filing officer for statewide, legislative, and judicial 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
State, Legislative, & Judicial Office Filing Requirements
Candidate filings must be filed by deadlines listed in the Candidate Calendar. Candidates are encouraged to submit filings online using the Candidate Filing Utility. Forms needed for a complete filing include:
Partisan Candidates
- One of the following forms may be used by partisan candidates based on the method used to seek candidacy.
- Certificate of Endorsement (SFN 17196) - political party endorsement only
- Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704)
- Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 2703)
- Statement of Interests (SFN 10172)
Non-Partisan Candidates
- Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704)
- Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 2703)
- Statement of Interests (SFN 10172)
Campaign Finance
Candidates for statewide, legislative, and judicial office are subject to the registration and campaign finance and disclosure requirements found in NDCC § 16.1-08.1. Create an account or login to your existing account to enter disclosure information and file campaign disclosure statements. For more information about campaign finance filing, review the Campaign Finance FAQ.
Partisan Candidates
Eligibility | Terms
Partisan candidates can be placed on the ballot in 1 of 2 ways:
- Endorsement from their political party in the respective jurisdictions - Certificate of Endorsement (SFN 17196)
- Statewide - endorsed at statewide convention
- Legislative - endorsed at legislative district meeting
- By way of petition - Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704)
- Statewide - 3% of total votes cast in the same office and with the same political affiliation at the last General Election but no more than 300 signatures of qualified North Dakota voters.
- Legislative - 1% of of the total population of the legislative district but no more than 300 signatures of qualified North Dakota voters.
Petition/Certificate of Nomination may not be circulated or signed prior to January 1st of election year.
Governor & Lt. Governor
Eligibility
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 15th following the election
Legislator | Senate & House of Representatives
Eligibility
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 1 year before election
- Must live in the district in which they are seeking office
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Additional Resources for Legislative Candidates
- Statistics and Legislative Petition Signature Requirements for North Dakota Legislative Districts – Information to help determine the number of signatures for a candidacy petition by legislative district.
- Legislative Districts Listing by County – A listing of all the legislative districts in each county.
- Map of North Dakota Legislative Districts
Secretary of State
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
State Auditor
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
State Treasurer
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Attorney General
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
- Must be licensed to practice law in North Dakota
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Insurance Commissioner
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Agriculture Commissioner
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Public Service Commissioner
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 6-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Tax Commissioner
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Non-Partisan Candidates
Eligibility | Terms
Non-partisan candidates can be placed on the Primary ballot by way of petition only and must collect at least 300 signatures - Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704).
Superintendent of Schools
Eligibility
- Must be at least 25 years of age
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota for at least 5 years before election
Term
- 4-year term of office beginning at December 1st following the election
Supreme Court Justices
Eligibility
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota
- Must be licensed to practice law in North Dakota
- May not engage in the practice of law, or hold any public office, not judicial in nature
Term
- 10-year term of office beginning at January 1st following the election
District Court Justice
Eligibility
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Resident of North Dakota
- Must be licensed to practice law in North Dakota
- May not engage in the practice of law, or hold any public office, not judicial in nature
Term
- 6-year term of office beginning at January 1st following the election
Independent Candidates
Independent candidates for partisan statewide and legislative offices can qualify for the General Election ballot by way of petition only.
- Statewide - at least 1,000 signatures of qualified North Dakota voters.
- Legislative - 2% of of the total population of the legislative district but no more than 300 signatures of qualified North Dakota voters.
Forms needed for a complete filing include:
- Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704)
- Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 2703)
- Statement of Interests (SFN 10172)
Petition/Certificate of Nomination may not be circulated or signed prior to 150 days before the filing deadline for the General Election.
Write-in Candidates
A person who intends to be a write-in candidate for a statewide, legislative, or judicial office must file the following by the deadline listed in the Candidate Calendar. NDCC § 16.1-12-02.2