Candidate Filing Period Begins in One Week

SAINT PAUL — Today, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State reminds individuals interested in running for most public offices in Minnesota in 2016 that the official candidate filing period begins in one week. 

The official filing period runs from May 17 to May 31, and candidates for federal, state, county, and some local offices must file for office during this period for their name to appear on the ballot.

Candidate filing requirements vary depending on the office, whether the candidate is a member of a major or minor political party, and whether the office is partisan or nonpartisan.

• Candidates for President, Vice-President, and U.S. Representative must file with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. (Please note: the filing dates and process for President and Vice-President are different depending if a candidate is part of a major political party or non-major political party. For more information, click here.)
• Candidates for State Senator, State Representative, and any Judicial office may file with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State or the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides.
• Candidates for county offices must file with their county auditor.
• Municipal candidates must file with their municipal clerk.
• School district candidates must file with their school district clerk.
• Candidates for special districts, such as hospital or park districts, should contact the district’s office for information on the filing process.

Candidates can find information about filing for office, along with information on campaign finance, filing a campaign committee, and fair campaign practices, at www.sos.state.mn.us in the “Election Administration & Campaigns” section.

SOS Ritchie reminds voters of State Primary Election Aug 14

SAINT PAUL, Minn.—August 7, 2012—Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today reminded voters that the State Primary Election is Tuesday, August 14. 

"The August 14 primary election is almost here," Ritchie said. “This is the first election since redistricting and those changes directly impacted many Minnesota voters. To help voters find the information they need, such as the status of their voter registration, who will be on their ballot and how to find their polling location, this office created the one-stop election information website www.mnvotes.org.”

A state primary election serves a different purpose than a general election.  For partisan races, a primary election narrows the field of candidates for the three major political parties: Republican, Independence, and Democratic-Farmer-Labor to those who will be on the general election ballot. Primary voters also narrow the field of nonpartisan candidates in contests for judicial, county and local offices.  Voters will elect those who will represent them in public office during the general election held on November 6.

Minnesota has an "open primary," which means that voters are not required to register with a political party. However, primary voters cannot vote for candidates in more than one political party.

On Tuesday, August 14 most polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Minnesota has Election Day registration, which allows voters to register to vote at the polls.

Unofficial primary election results will be posted after the polls close at 8 p.m. on election night at www.sos.state.mn.us.  Additional voter information is available at www.mnvotes.org

"Primary voters will determine which candidates will be on the general election ballot in November,” said Ritchie "Ultimately, the public officials who will make the policy decisions that affect all Minnesotans will be nominated next Tuesday.  That is why it is so important to take the time to exercise your right to vote and cast a ballot on August 14."

MN Secretary of State provides online redistricting info

St. Paul, Minn.—February 21, 2012—The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State is providing redistricting information at www.sos.state.mn.us. The online information includes:


• State redistricting maps

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Redistricting timeline

• 2011 Redistricting Guide


“All Minnesotans appreciate the excellent work done by these judges who are devoted public servants,” said Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.


It is important to note that neither federal nor state candidates are required to live in the district in which they will run at this point in the election cycle. Residency requirements for candidates differ depending on the office they seek. State legislative candidates must reside in the district that they wish to represent by May 5, 2012 (six months before the election) and must be residents of the state for one year before the election (by November 5, 2011). Candidates for Congress do not have to ever reside in the district they seek to represent. They must be residents of the state on Election Day (by November 5, 2012), but do not have to be residents of the state before this date.


Residential address information for current legislators was provided on their affidavits of candidacy when they filed for office in 2010 including virtually all home addresses. Please note that candidates’ residential address information is private if they opted out of that requirement for security reasons as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 204B.06, Subd. 16, clause (c). Complete 2010 candidate filing information is available as a downloadable text file at: http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/media/CandDetails.txt?t=42166.59.


Informational guides for candidates that include residency requirements and filing deadlines for major and minor parties are available at: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=138.