20A-9-202. Declarations of candidacy for regular general elections.

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

(a)An individual seeking to become a candidate for an elective office that is to be filled at the next regular general election shall:

(i)except as otherwise provided in Subsection (1)(b), Part 5, Candidates Not Affiliated with a Party, or Part 6, Write-in Candidates, file a declaration of candidacy in person with the filing officer on or after January 1 of the regular general election year, and, if applicable, before the individual circulates nomination petitions under Section 20A-9-405 ; and

(ii)pay the filing fee.

(b)Subject to Subsection 20A-9-201(7)(b) , an individual may designate an agent to file a declaration of candidacy with the filing officer if:

(i)the individual is located outside of the state during the entire filing period;

(ii)the designated agent appears in person before the filing officer;

(iii)the individual communicates with the filing officer using an electronic device that allows the individual and filing officer to see and hear each other; and

(iv)the individual provides the filing officer with an email address to which the filing officer may send the individual the copies described in Subsection 20A-9-201(5) .

(c)Each county clerk who receives a declaration of candidacy from a candidate for multicounty office shall transmit the filing fee and a copy of the candidate's declaration of candidacy to the lieutenant governor within one business day after the candidate files the declaration of candidacy.

(d)Each business day during the filing period, each county clerk shall notify the lieutenant governor electronically or by telephone of candidates who have filed a declaration of candidacy with the county clerk.

(e)Each individual seeking the office of lieutenant governor, the office of district attorney, or the office of president or vice president of the United States shall comply with the specific declaration of candidacy requirements established by this section.

(a)Each individual intending to become a candidate for the office of district attorney within a multicounty prosecution district that is to be filled at the next regular general election shall:

(i)file a declaration of candidacy with the clerk designated in the interlocal agreement creating the prosecution district on or after January 1 of the regular general election year, and before the individual circulates nomination petitions under Section 20A-9-405 ; and

(ii)pay the filing fee.

(b)The designated clerk shall provide to the county clerk of each county in the prosecution district a certified copy of each declaration of candidacy filed for the office of district attorney.

(a)Before 5 p.m. on the first Monday after the fourth Saturday in April, each lieutenant governor candidate shall:

(i)file a declaration of candidacy with the lieutenant governor;

(ii)pay the filing fee; and

(iii)submit a letter from a candidate for governor who has received certification for the primary-election ballot under Section 20A-9-403 that names the lieutenant governor candidate as a joint-ticket running mate.

(i)A candidate for lieutenant governor who fails to timely file is disqualified.

(ii)If a candidate for lieutenant governor is disqualified, another candidate may file to replace the disqualified candidate.

(4)Before 5 p.m. no later than the last business day in August, each registered political party shall:

(a)certify the names of the political party's candidates for president and vice president of the United States to the lieutenant governor; or

(b)provide written authorization for the lieutenant governor to accept the certification of candidates for president and vice president of the United States from the national office of the registered political party.

(a)A declaration of candidacy filed under this section is valid unless a written objection is filed with the clerk or lieutenant governor no later than 5 p.m. on the last business day that is at least 10 calendar days before the deadline described in Subsection 20A-9-409(4)(c) .

(b)If an objection is made, the clerk or lieutenant governor shall:

(i)mail or personally deliver notice of the objection to the affected candidate immediately; and

(ii)decide the objection within three business days after the day on which the objection is filed.

(c)If the clerk or lieutenant governor sustains the objection, the candidate may cure the problem by:

(i)amending the declaration or petition no later than 5 p.m. on the first business day that is at least three calendar days after the day on which the objection is sustained; or

(ii)filing a new declaration no later than 5 p.m. on the first business day that is at least three calendar days after the day on which the objection is sustained.

(i)The clerk's or lieutenant governor's decision upon objections to form is final.

(ii)The clerk's or lieutenant governor's decision upon substantive matters is reviewable by a district court if prompt application is made to the court.

(iii)The decision of the district court is final unless the Supreme Court, in the exercise of its discretion, agrees to review the lower court decision.

(6)Any person who filed a declaration of candidacy may withdraw as a candidate by filing a written affidavit with the clerk.

(a)Except for a candidate who is certified by a registered political party under Subsection

(4), and except as provided in Section 20A-9-504 , before 5 p.m. no later than the last business day in August of a general election year, each individual running as a candidate for vice president of the United States shall:

(i)file a declaration of candidacy, in person or via a designated agent, on a form developed by the lieutenant governor, that:

(A)contains the individual's name, address, and telephone number;

(B)states that the individual meets the qualifications for the office of vice president of the United States;

(C)names the presidential candidate, who has qualified for the general election ballot, with which the individual is running as a joint-ticket running mate;

(D)states that the individual agrees to be the running mate of the presidential candidate described in Subsection (7)(a)(i)(C) ; and

(E)contains any other necessary information identified by the lieutenant governor;

(ii)pay the filing fee; and

(iii)submit a letter from the presidential candidate described in Subsection (7)(a)(i)(C) that names the individual as a joint-ticket running mate as a vice presidential candidate.

(b)A designated agent described in Subsection (7)(a)(i) may not sign the declaration of candidacy.

(c)A vice presidential candidate who fails to meet the requirements described in this Subsection

(7)may not appear on the general election ballot.

(8)An individual filing a declaration of candidacy for president or vice president of the United States shall pay a filing fee of $500.

Amended by Chapter 329 , 2026 General Session