Offices to be Elected in Lewis and Clark County in 2020

Candidate Filing Information

Campaign Regulations & Campaign Finance

Political Sign Regulations

Requests for Lists of Registered Voters or Absentee Voters

School Districts Electing Officers in 2020

Please contact the school district's clerk to determine which offices are up for election in 2020. School districts conduct their own respective elections, though they have the option of requesting the county conduct the election. 

Lewis & Clark County Conservation District

The Area 3, Area 4, and Area 7 Supervisor positions are up for election in 2020. The candidate filing period opens January 9, 2020, and closes March 9, 2020, following the same calendar as County, State, and Federal offices.

Lewis & Clark County Officers to be elected in 2020

Note: it is your responsibility to determine whether or not you are eligible to hold an office. This chart is informational only; we cannot advise if you are eligible to run for office.

State and Federal Officers to be elected in 2020

Note: it is your responsibility to determine whether or not you are eligible to hold an office. This chart is informational only; we cannot advise if you are eligible to run for office.

Precinct Committee People

 All precinct committee positions are up for election in 2020. 

Special Purpose District Candidate Filing Information and Forms

• Special Purpose District Candidate Filing Form
• Form to file as a write-in candidate (write-in candidates names are not printed on the ballot)

Candidate Filing Opens: December 12, 2019

Candidate Filing Closes: February 10, 2020

Deadline to file as a write-in candidate: March 2, 2020

Filing Location: Lewis & Clark County Elections Office

Election Date: May 5, 2020

School District Candidate Filing Information and Forms

• School District Candidate Filing Form
• Form to file as a write-in candidate (write-in candidates names are not printed on the ballot)

Candidate Filing Opens: December 12, 2019

Candidate Filing Closes: March 26, 2020

Deadline to file as a write-in candidate: April 2, 2020

Filing Location: School District Clerk's Office

Election Date: May 5, 2020

County Candidate Filing Information and Forms

• County Candidate Filing Form 
• Form to file as a write-in candidate (write-in candidates names are not printed on the ballot)

Candidate Filing Opens: January 9, 2020

Candidate Filing Closes: March 9, 2020

Deadline to file as a write-in candidate for the Primary Election: March 30, 2020

Deadline to file as a write-in candidate for the General Election: August 31, 2020

Date of Primary Election: June 2, 2020

Date of General Election: November 3, 2020

Filing Location: Lewis & Clark County Elections Office

Information on qualifications and filing fees Note: it is your responsibility to determine whether or not you are eligible to hold an office. This chart is informational only; we cannot advise if you are eligible to run for office.

Information on how to file for office

Information for Indigent Candidates. Please also review the information on the Secretary of State's Website at https://sosmt.gov/elections/information/.

State and Federal Candidate Filing Information and Forms

• State and Federal Candidate Filing Form (Filing can be done online for state and federal offices. Visit https://sosmt.gov/elections/filing/#2020-candidate-information.)
• Form to file as a write-in candidate (write-in candidates names are not printed on the ballot)

Candidate Filing Opens: January 9, 2020

Candidate Filing Closes: March 9, 2020

Deadline to file as a write-in candidate for the Primary Election: April 8, 2020

Deadline to file as a write-in candidate for the General Election: September 9, 2020

Filing Location: Montana Secretary of State's Office

Information on qualifications and filing fees Note: it is your responsibility to determine whether or not you are eligible to hold an office. This chart is informational only; we cannot advise if you are eligible to run for office.

Information on how to file for office

Information for Independent, Minor Party, and Indigent Candidates is available on the Secretary of State's Website at https://sosmt.gov/elections/information/.

Each party may elect at each Federal Primary Election one person of each sex to serve as committee representatives for each election precinct. The committee representatives must be residents and registered voters of the precinct. The powers and structure of political parties are further outlined in Montana Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 38. 

To file as a candidate for Precinct Committeeman or Precinct Committeewoman at the 2020 Federal Primary Election, submit the Declaration for Nomination and Oath of Candidacy for Precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen to the elections office by 5:00pm on March 9, 2020. If the election for a Precinct's Committeeman and Committeewoman positions is not contested, the election for Committeeman and Committeewoman will be canceled in that Precinct.

If you have questions about the candidate filing or the Primary Election process for Precinct Committeepeople, please contact the county elections office.

For more information on Party Central Committees, please contact the Democratic or Republican party's State or County Central Committees directly.

Independent, minor party, or indigent candidates must collect signatures in order for their name to appear on the ballot. The signatures collected must be from registered voters eligible to vote for the office, and must total at least 5% or more of the total votes cast for the successful candidate for the same office at the last general election.

For more information on running as an independent, minor party, or indigent candidate, please review the sosmt.gov/elections/information/. 

For a list of the number of signatures required to run as an indigent candidate in Lewis and Clark County, click here.

The Commissioner of Political Practices enforces campaign finance and campaign practice laws. For more information about campaign practices, finances, and related reports, visit the Commissioner of Political Practices' website.

In the City of Helena political signs are regulated by city ordinance and cannot be placed on city property or on public rights-of-way, including boulevards between the sidewalk and street. The Helena Community Development Department has some information about sign regulations. If you have questions or would like to report a violation, contact Elroy Golemon at 406-447-8448.

In the State of Montana the Montana Department of Transportation regulates political sign placement on interstate highways in accordance with Administrative Rule 18.6.246. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Right of Way Bureau at 406-444-6068.

If you have a complaint about a political sign that is not in Helena City limits or along the interstate, we recommend you contact the candidate or candidate's political party directly. If you are not sure how to contact the candidate or candidate's party, please call us at 406-447-8339 or email us at elections(at)lccountymt.gov for assistance.