How to Run for Office in Nevada
Getting on the Ballot
Nevada compresses candidacy into a two-week window in March: for non-judicial offices, declarations of candidacy are accepted only from the first Monday in March through the second Friday, by 5 p.m. (judicial offices use a separate, earlier window). You start in the Secretary of State's online candidate filing portal, which generates your packet, then finish with your filing officer - the Secretary of State now accepts in-person, mail, or even virtual filings for statewide candidates, but the declaration of candidacy must be signed before a notary or your filing officer.
Who your filing officer is depends on the map: the Secretary of State for statewide and multi-county offices (with locations in Carson City and Las Vegas), the county clerk or registrar of voters for county offices and any district contained within one county, and the city clerk for city offices. Filing fees are modest and scale with the office; minor-party candidates need their party's candidate list on file with the Secretary of State before they can file individually, and independents qualify by petition verified through the counties.
Mind the residency clock - you must actually live in the district for the statutory period before the close of filing, and you'll show ID and proof of address when you file.
Where Local Candidates File
School board and county-level candidates file with their county clerk/registrar of voters during the same March window, and city council or mayoral candidates file with the city clerk (some cities run on their own election timetables - confirm with the clerk early). Fees are typically payable only in cash, cashier's check, or money order at county offices.
Campaign finance stays inside the same agency: candidates file contribution and expense reports electronically with the Secretary of State through its online (Aurora) filing system, on a fixed statutory calendar - there is no separate ethics commission for campaign money in Nevada.
Worth Knowing
- "None of These Candidates" can pull a real share of the statewide vote - it can't win, but it can decide who does, so factor it into your margin math.
- The filing window is genuinely short - two weeks, once every two years for most offices. Miss it and there's no cure.
- Your declaration must be notarized if you don't sign it in front of the filing officer.
- Judicial candidates file in a separate January window, a recurring source of confusion for courthouse-adjacent offices.
Official Nevada Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.