Handbook·Elections

Running for office in Idaho

State page·Verified 2026-07-10

This page covers what's specific to Idaho on top of the general guide to filing for local office.

Filing in Idaho

Idaho splits its candidate filing process by level of office. Candidates for the Legislature, statewide constitutional offices, and federal office file with the Idaho Secretary of State, and as of 2026 that process moved online through VoteIdaho.gov instead of requiring an in-person trip to the Capitol. Candidates for county and city office file with their county or city clerk, where paper Declaration of Intent forms remain an option alongside the new online system. To reach a partisan primary ballot, a legislative or statewide candidate either pays a filing fee or submits a nominating petition with a set number of verified signatures, not both. Independent candidates skip the fee entirely and qualify only through petition signatures. Because Idaho shortened its filing window for 2026, treat exact dates as cycle-specific rather than assumed to repeat.

Deadlines and numbers

  • 2026 legislative/statewide/federal filing window: 8am Monday through 5pm Friday, February 27, 2026 (one week, shortened from the prior two-week window)
  • 2026 withdrawal deadline: March 6, 2026
  • 2026 county and local filing window: March 2, 2026 at 8:00am through March 13, 2026 at 5pm local time
  • 2026 partisan filing fees: Governor $300, U.S. Senator $500, U.S. Representative $300, State Senator or State Representative $30
  • Signature-in-lieu option, State Representative: at least 50 verified signatures of qualified electors from the legislative district, instead of the fee

The dossier could not confirm exact filing fee amounts for county and city office candidates (county commissioner, mayor, city council), since these are set locally, and did not confirm signature-in-lieu thresholds for statewide offices beyond the State Representative figure. Route both to /engage or your county or city clerk.

Where to go