File for office

Complete the affidavit of candidacy

In order to file for office, you need to fill out an affidavit of candidacy (PDF, 1MB).

See the Filing process section to learn where to file the affidavit.

Complete a nominating petition

If you are running as a member of a major political party or for a nonpartisan office, you do not need to file a nominating petition.

If you are running for a partisan office but not as a member of a major political party, then you must file a nominating petition (PDF, 1MB) with the required number of signatures.

The number of signatures you need depends on what office you are running for.

• You need 500 signatures for county, state legislative and judicial.
• You need 2,000 signatures for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, Secretary of State.
• The signatures must be of eligible voters who live in the district.
• You must get the signature during the filing period. (Election calendar)

File in person or by mail.

Who can file at Hennepin County?

• Candidates for County Commissioner, Three Rivers Park Board, County Sheriff, County Attorney 
• Candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, Secretary of State, State Senator, State Representative, and any Judicial office – IF the candidate resides in Hennepin County
• Other candidates file at other locations 

Payment options

You may pay the fee with a check (made out to Hennepin County Treasurer) or submit a petition in place of the fee.

• County offices – $50
• State Senator and State Representative – $100
• Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, Secretary of State – $300
• Judicial offices – $300
• Petition in place of filing fee
• Combined nominating petition and petition in place of filing fee (PDF, 1MB)

To file

Affidavit and petition or payment must be received during the filing period.

Submit your affidavit of candidacy (PDF, 1MB) and payment or petition in person or by mail to:

Hennepin County Elections
Hennepin County Government Center
300 S Sixth St, MC 680
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0012

If you file by mail, we’ll email you receipt confirmation and mail a candidate filing packet.

All candidates must:

• Be eligible to vote in Minnesota
• Not have filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election
• Be 21 years of age or more upon taking office
• Have maintained residence in their district for at least 30 days before the general election

Governor or Lieutenant Governor

These candidates must:

• Have participated in the party's most recent precinct caucuses, or intend to vote for a majority of the party's candidates at the next general election
• Be at least 25 years old upon assuming office
• Be a resident of Minnesota for at least 1 year before the general election

Judicial Offices

These candidates must:

• Be licensed to practice law in Minnesota
• Not be over 70 years of age before the first Monday of next January

State Senator or Representative

These candidates must:

• Be a resident of Minnesota for at least 1 year before the general election
• Be a resident of their district for at least 6 months before the general election

County Sheriff

• Must be licensed as a peace officer in Minnesota

Holding 2 offices at the same time

• Minnesota Statutes provide that 1 person cannot hold certain combinations of offices at the same time, with very few exceptions.

Campaign signs

Your city may have ordinances restricting the number and size of campaign signs. 

If your city doesn't have a local ordinance, campaign signs may be posted in any size or any number. 

If your city has a local ordinance, campaign signs may be posted in any size or any number from 46 days before the state primary through 10 days following the state general election in an even year.

Right of way information from MnDOT

Multiple unit dwellings

Candidates and accompanying campaign volunteers are allowed access to multiple unit facilities (i.e. apartment, dormitory, nursing home).

They may knock on doors of individual units, conduct voter registration activities, and leave campaign materials for residents. 

This access:

• Does not include admittance into a particular apartment, room, or residential unit
• Requires identification as a prerequisite
• Limits visits to a reasonable number of persons and reasonable hours
• Requires a prior appointment to gain access to the facility

Campaigning near or within the polling place

Campaigning is not allowed inside the polling place or within 100 feet of the building.

If the polling place is on public property, no one can campaign anywhere on the property, even beyond 100 feet.

You can't display campaign t-shirts, buttons, or literature relating to specific candidates, official political parties, or ballot questions on the ballot that day. These political materials will need to be covered up or removed while in the polling place.

Violations of fair campaign practices should be submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings. 

Minnesota Secretary of State - Campaigning

Cybersecurity Campaign Playbook