Information for Candidates
New Information for Candidates
The state has created Declaration of Candidacy packets, please use these forms for all elections. Candidates will pick up the filing forms from you, fill out their information and complete the Petition of Candidacy or pay the $40 filing fee. Completed forms are to be turned in to the city. You will then send the forms to me to verify the petition signatures as well as the candidate information. Please send these to me as soon as you receive them. Once verified I will send you a certification. Filing packets are also available on the Blaine County Elections Website.
After the filing period has closed, you must send a certification of candidates to the election office. This form will allow your candidates to be placed on the ballot. If I do not receive this form your candidates will not be on the ballot. The deadline for the candidate certification is September 15th if you could please try to turn these in as soon as the filing period closes that would be great.
I have also attached the write-in filing packet, these will follow the same procedures as above. Please note this deadline is the last day of candidate filing, this is due to legislative changes in 2023.
If a candidate would like to withdraw their petition for candidacy, they will need to submit a withdrawal form to the City Clerk on or before September 22nd at 5pm. Please let me know if you have any withdrawals ASAP. The deadline to submit ballot questions is September 18th, please let me know if your district is planning to run a ballot question.
Campaign finance is handled by the county. Per Idaho Code 67-6603 no contribution shall be received, or any expenditure made by or on behalf of a candidate until they appoint a political treasurer. A candidate may appoint him/herself as their own political treasurer. A Candidate is exempt from filing reports until such a time as the candidate receives contributions or expends funds in the amount of $500 or more. Any candidate that reaches the $500 threshold must create a Campaign Finance account through the Secretary of State Campaign Finance Portal.
Voters can request an absentee ballot online at www.idahovotes.gov or submit the paper form to the Elections Office via email, mail or drop it at the office. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November Election is Friday, October 27th. Please note requesting an absentee ballot online will be unavailable from August 18th through 29th due to August elections throughout the state.
Early Voting will be available at the Elections Office October 16th though November 3rd, 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. Absentee ballots will be mailed out beginning October 10th. Voters can mail or drop off their absentee ballot to our office or our drop box on the east side of the Old Courthouse.
Also included is a filing deadline publication provided by the Secretary of State's Office for your reference. Cities are responsible for publishing their own filing deadline notice, this notice must be published between August 27th and September 3rd.
Important dates:
August 27 - September 3 Notice of Filing Deadline published by city clerk.
August 28 at 8:00 am City Candidate filing opens.
September 8 at 5:00 pm Candidate filing deadline.
September 8 at 5:00 pm Write-in candidate filing deadline for city candidates.
September 15 Deadline for the city clerk to certify candidates.
September 18 at 5:00 pm Ballot Question Submission deadline
October 16 - November 3 Early Voting
October 27 at 5:00 pm Absentee Ballot Request deadline
November 7 Election Day
November 14 Canvass of Votes
November 17 Deadline for City Clerk to issue certificates of Election, this should be done immediately after county canvass.
The full 2023 Idaho Election Calander can be found online at sos.idaho.gov.
