Clips From the Clerk
Candidate Info
State law requires state prospective candidates to be affiliated with the appropriate Political Party no later than the first business day of January immediately preceding the Primary Election, "unless otherwise provided by Party Rule."
For 2026:
- Presumably, candidates seeking designation by Petition must be affiliated by the first business day of the January before the Primary Election.
A local Political Party may deviate from Statute and require a longer or shorter affiliation period in its own Bylaws or Rules. Always check local Party Rules!
County candidates are required to file Campaign Finance Forms and Reports with the Secretary of State's Office (SOS). Candidates must file the Candidate Affidavit online with the SOS within 10 days of announcing their candidacy. We encourage prospective candidates to file their Candidate Affidavits in TRACER at the time they submit their initial paperwork to the County Clerk and Recorder.
The County Clerk's Office will verify that the proper paperwork has been filed before placing the candidates' names on the ballot.
Candidates are required to provide an audio recording of the pronunciation of their name. This is used for the audio ballots that are available on our ballot marking devices (BMDs) and accessible voting devices that enable voters to navigate a ballot via audio recording.
There are two ways a candidate may get his/her name on the Primary Election ballot*. They are:
It is important to note that candidates must obtain Party DESIGNATION to appear on a Primary Election ballot, and that the winner of the Primary Election obtains the Party's NOMINATION to appear on the General Election ballot.
*Write-in candidates can participate in the election but their names are not on the ballot.
In Colorado we have Major Parties and Minor Parties. What is the difference?
Major Political Party: A party whose candidate received at least 10% of the gubernatorial vote at the last election. Major Political Parties are eligible to have candidates on the Primary Election ballot. Currently this includes:
- Democratic
- Republican
Minor Political Party: A Minor Political Party is any political party recognized by the Secretary of State other than a Major Political Party. Minor Political Parties rarely participate in the Primary Election but place candidates directly on the General Election ballot. Currently for Saguache County (as of 2025) this includes:
- American Constitution
- Approval Voting
- Center
- Forward
- Green
- Libertarian
- No Labels
- Unity
Candidates
Sections 1-1-104(17), 1-4-802,1-4-901, 1-4-902, 1-4-904(2)(b), 1-4-905, 1-4-906, 1-4-908,1-4-909, 1-4-912, C.R.S.
Unaffiliated candidates are not allowed on the Primary Election ballot. Unaffiliated candidates participate in the General Election. They will get on the General Election ballot through the Petition process.
- Candidates who "win" the Primary Election are considered "nominated" and move on to the General Election. No further information is required from the candidate.
- If a candidate loses the Primary Election, he/she may not run again in the General Election for the same office.
Disclaimer
Links may appear in articles from ‘Clips from the Clerk” that may be used to link to other blog(s) or websites. These links are provided solely as a courtesy to our article visitors as a means of convenient access to information contained therein. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed in “Clips from the Clerk” articles do not necessarily represent the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Saguache County Clerk’s Office. These articles are solely for information and not intended to offend anyone or anything. Such articles are designed to provide general information on the subject matter covered. The Saguache County Clerk’s Office remains neutral in all things. You are responsible for properly analyzing and verifying any information you intend to rely on.
