How do I get my name on the ballot for an election in Minneapolis?

Our Office only handles the offices of Mayor, City Council, Park Board, Board of Estimate and Taxation, and School Board.  If you would like to run for any other elected position, you will need to file with a different office.

To be on the ballot for a Minneapolis election, you must come to our office in-person during the candidate filing period to fill out paperwork with our staff and pay a filing fee or submit a petition with signatures from voters.  

You can find more information on our Filing for Office page.

How much does it cost to run for office?

The filing fee to be on the ballot depends on the office.

Instead of paying a filing fee, candidates can also submit a petition with signatures from eligible voters.  

You can find more information on our filing fees/petition page. 

How do I file a petition instead of paying the filing fee?

Petitions need to meet all legal requirements in order to be accepted by the filing officer. This includes being on no larger than legal size paper. See all legal petition requirements from the Minnesota Secretary of State. Remember, Minneapolis has specific signature requirements depending on which office you are running for. Contact your legal counsel if you have additional questions.

You will turn in all completed petition pages to the filing officer when completing the Affidavit of Candidacy. The official will confirm all pages meet legal requirements and provide a receipt to show it has been received.

Within 24 hours of receiving the petition, a team of election officials will verify the total number of eligible and non-eligible voter signatures according to Minnesota Rules 8205.1050 and 8205.1010.

If the petition is not accepted, you may collect additional signatures to submit before the filing deadline or pay the filing fee instead.

Your Affidavit of Candidacy is officially filed after the petition verification process has been completed and accepted.

What responsibilities do I have once I file for office?

When you file for office, you are agreeing to take on responsibilities under state law.  Failing to fulfill these responsibilities may result in legal action against you and your campaign. 

These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Filing campaign finance reports
• Submitting ethics filings
• Following fair campaign practices

What name can I use on the ballot? 

You must use your true name or the name by which you are commonly and generally known in the community.

Your name on the ballot may not give you an advantage over an opponent. This includes words describing your occupation, qualifications, principles, or opinions.

Your name will appear exactly as you write it on your Affidavit of Candidacy. This includes any special characters and capitalizations.

Can I list a political party affiliation or principle?

All City and School Board offices are nonpartisan. Your name will be on the ballot without partisan designation.

However, if you are running for Mayor or City Council (only), the Minneapolis City Charter allows you to list up to three words for a political party or principle. This information comes from your Affidavit of Candidacy.

Rules for your three-word political party or principle:

• Providing one is not required, but a member of the public could challenge this.
• You may not use the word “endorsed” or anything frivolous, obscene, or discriminatory.
• Political Party names may not be combined and only one can be provided.
• Political Party names may not be shortened or abbreviated. For example, you must write out Republican (not GOP) or Democratic-Farmer-Labor (not DFL).

What if I don't live in the district I'm running for when I file?

To run for a specific office, you must live in the corresponding election district for at least 30 days before the General Election. When you sign your Affidavit of Candidacy, you will affirm that you currently live there or will be living there at least 30 days before the election.

Can I run for office if I'm going to be out of state during the filing period?

Yes. Minnesota election law says you can submit your filing paperwork and filing fee/petition within the seven days prior to being out of the state. You must also submit in writing why you are unable file during the filing period. 

You may file in person at our office during regular business hours. 

Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services
980 E. Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414

The election is over, do I need to do anything?

Make sure you are reachable with the information you provided when you filed for office. This includes checking the email and phone number you used for your affidavit of candidacy.

Additionally:

• All candidates must submit a Certification of Filing within 7 days of the election.
• If you have raised or spent more than $750 on your campaign, you are required to keep filing campaign finance reports until you file a Final report. There may be other requirements as well, depending on your situation.

More information can be found on our Campaign Finance Reports page.

If you are unsure about what you are required to do, please contact our office. 

Can I withdraw from the election after filing?

If you submit an Affidavit of Withdrawal before the deadline, your name will not be placed on the ballot. The withdrawal deadline is the Thursday two days after the end of the candidate filing period at 5 p.m.   Please contact our office if you would like to withdraw.

If the withdrawal deadline has passed, your name will still appear on the ballot even if you withdraw. Minnesota election law doesn’t allow ballots to be changed after printing.

The filing fee cannot be returned if you withdraw from the race.

I have more questions, who can I talk to about this?

If you have questions about running for office or campaign finance, please reach out to our candidates and campaign finance staff.  They can be reached by emailing mpls.campaigns@minneapolismn.gov or by calling 612-331-8683.

How do I accept contributions for my campaign?

You can start accepting contributions for your campaign before you file for office.  You must set up a separate bank account for your campaign.

There are limits on how much donors can contribute.  More information can be found on our Campaign Finance Reports page.

You must record information about the contributors to your campaign and the expenditures you make for campaign purposes.  A full list of this information can be found in the report contents section of our website.

Once you raise or spend more than $750 for your campaign, you must file your first campaign finance report.  You are required to do this, even if you have not yet filed for office.  

More information can be found on our Campaign Finance Reports page.

Do I need to record donor information for all contributions, even small ones?

Yes, you need to record the information for all donors, regardless of the amount of the contribution.  Anonymous contributions should not be accepted. This includes cash donations at events where you cannot confirm the donor.

Do you I need to create a campaign bank account?

You must create a separate bank account for your campaign.  The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board and Office of the Secretary of State websites have additional guidance on opening an account:

MN Office of the Secretary of State Bank Account Guidance

MN Campaign Finance Board Bank Account Guidance

Do I need to file campaign finance reports?

You are required by state law to file your first campaign finance report within 14 days of when you first raise or spend more than $750 for your campaign, even if you have not yet filed for office.  Failure to file required reports may result in fines or other penalties.

More information can be found on our Campaign Finance Reports page.

How do I file my first campaign finance report?

Campaign finance reports are filed through the MapLight campaign finance system.  

Detailed steps on how to set up an account and file your first report can be found in our Campaign Finance Filer Guide.

What is MapLight?

MapLight is the system used by Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services to accept campaign finance reports and ethics filings from candidates.

It is also used to publicly display the information submitted in those reports for the public to view.   You can access MapLight here: MapLight campaign finance system.

Do I need a MapLight account?

All candidates running for office in Minneapolis need a MapLight account.  All candidates must submit a Statement of Economic Interest within 14 days of the end of the candidate filing period.  This form is submitted through MapLight.  All candidates must also submit a Certification of Filing within 7 days after the election.

Additionally, if you raise or spend more than $750 on your campaign, you must submit campaign finance reports through MapLight.

More information on required reports can be found on our Campaign Finance Reports page.

More information on how to set up an account and file your first report can be found in our Campaign Finance Filer Guide.

Can I self-fund my campaign?   If so, are there limits on how much I can contribute?

Minneapolis EVS cannot offer legal advice or guidance on the question of whether or not candidates self-funding their campaigns are subject to contribution and expenditure limits. We recommend you consult with legal counsel on questions of election law. 

All contributions from a candidate and expenditures made by a candidate on behalf of the campaign should be reported in the same manner as other contributions and expenditures.

Can my campaign make contributions to other campaigns?

Minneapolis EVS cannot offer legal advice or guidance on the question of whether or not candidate committees can contribute other candidate committees. We recommend you consult with legal counsel on questions of election law.

How do I end my requirement to file future reports?

You can end your requirement to file future campaign finance reports by filing a “Final Report” for your campaign.  Final reports can be filed when your campaign has $100 or less in assets and no debts. 

Please contact our office if you have questions on how to file a Final Report in MapLight.

Who is running for office this year?

As candidates file during the candidate filing period, they will be added on our candidate filings page.  We cannot provide a final list of candidates who will be on the ballot until the candidate filing period ends.

Candidates can announce their candidacy and participate in campaign activities before filing for office, but our office cannot provide a list of these candidates.

I have a complaint about a candidate. What do I do?

If you feel a candidate or campaign has committed a violation, you can file a complaint with the Minnesota Court of Administrative Hearings or contact the Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State.  Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services cannot provide legal advice on how to file complaints. 

How do I report an issue about campaign signs?

As an office, we do not oversee campaign sign laws and rules. The Zoning and Enforcement Division of Community Planning & Economic Development is responsible for signs in Minneapolis. Please contact Minneapolis 311 or the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings to report an issue.

More information can be found on our Campaign sign information page.