Becoming a Candidate
All candidates for public office must file a candidate affidavit, which can be picked up in the City Clerk’s Office. A person becomes a candidate at the point where they publicly announce an intent to seek public office and thereafter receives a contribution or makes an expenditure in support of their candidacy. The candidate affidavit must be filed with the City Clerk's Office within 10 days of becoming a candidate.
Qualifications:
- Registered elector of the City of Manitou Springs.
- A citizen of the United States for at least five years.
- Must have resided in Manitou Springs for no less than one year.
- If seeking a ward position, you must be a resident of the ward at the time of appointment and during the tenure in office.
Filing for Office
In order to run for a municipal office, a nomination petition must be circulated and submitted during the filing period.
August 3, 2021, marks the first day nomination petitions may be circulated. Nomination petitions must be submitted in person to the City Clerk's Office by 5 p.m. on August 23, 2021.
Nomination petition packets will be available in the City Clerk’s Office on August 3, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.
2021 Election Calendar
Upon Candidacy | Candidate Affidavit due within ten (10) days of becoming a candidate (C.R.S. 1-45-110(1)) |
August 3 | First day Nomination Petitions may be circulated (C.R.S. 1-4-805) |
August 23 | Last day Nomination Petitions may be circulated (Turn in to City Clerk by 5:00 p.m.) (C.R.S. 1-4-805) |
August 27 | Last day Nomination Petition signatures, if determined by the City Clerk to be insufficient, may be amended, corrected or replaced (C.R.S. 1-4-805) |
September 1 | Lot drawing for the order in which candidate’s names will appear on the ballot which will be conducted by the City Clerk. |
September 3 | Last day to finalize the City’s ballot and certify contents to the El Paso County Election Office (C.R.S. 1-5-203(3)(a)) |
October 11 | First day mail ballots may be sent to registered electors and made available at the El Paso County Election Office (C.R.S. 1-7.5-107(3)(a)) |
October 12 | Campaign report due to City Clerk per Fair Campaign Practices Act (covers period through October 7, 2021) (C.R.S. 1-45-108(2)(a)(II)) |
October 29 | Campaign report due to City Clerk per Fair Campaign Practices Act (covers period from October 8, 2021 through October 24, 2021) (C.R.S. 1-45-108(2)(a)(II)) |
November 2 | ELECTION DAY |
December 2 | Campaign report due to City Clerk per Fair Campaign Practices Act (covers period from October 25, 2021 through November 27, 2021) (C.R.S. 1-45-108(2)(a)(II)) |
Annually | Campaign report due (if applicable) on November 1st of each year following election (C.R.S. 1-45-108(2)(a)(II)) |
Campaign Finance Information
Local candidates and committees file all campaign finance reports with the City Clerk. This includes candidate committees, as well as local political and issue committees.
Candidates must form a candidate committee to accept contributions and make expenditures under the authority of that candidate, unless they opt to be a standalone candidate who does not accept contributions and only spends their own money. Candidate committees must register with the City Clerk's Office before accepting contributions or making expenditures.
There are standard reporting deadlines for all candidates and committees, noted in the election calendar above. Additional reports may be required depending upon specific campaign activities.
For more information about campaign finance law and reporting requirements, review the following resources:
Campaign Finance Forms
All campaign finance forms are available to on the Secretary of State's website. Most forms have both a PDF and Word version ready to download.
If you have questions or need assistance please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 719-685-2554 or cityclerk@manitouspringsco.gov.
*Please note that the City Clerk’s Office cannot provide legal advice.