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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact theirstate election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Nevada, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines.These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Nevada. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates,click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contactstate election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Seestate election laws

Year-specific filing information

2026

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2026 U.S. Congress elections andAlaska elections, 2026

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Nevada in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nevada, clickhere.

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Nevada in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nevada, clickhere.

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Nevada State House of Representatives candidates in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nevada, clickhere.

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Nevada State Senate candidates in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nevada, clickhere.

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Process to become a candidate

See statutes:Title 24, Chapter 293 of the Nevada Revised Statutes

A candidate inNevada may access the ballot in one of three ways: as a major party candidate, as a minor party candidate, or as an independent candidate. Write-in candidates are not permitted in this state. Voters can only cast a vote for candidates whose names appear on the ballot.^[8]

Major party candidates

Amajor party candidate must have been affiliated with his or her party by December 31 of the year preceding the election. If a candidate changes his or her affiliation after that date, he or she can no longer run as a major party candidate.^[9]

Major party candidates are nominated via primary election. There are two ways in which a major party candidate may be placed on the primary election ballot:^[10]

• by filing a declaration of candidacy and paying the filing fee during the candidate filing period, which begins on the first Monday in March and ends on the second Friday in March following that Monday; the declaration must include the following:^[11]
  • the residential address of the candidate, which must be in the appropriate district of the state corresponding to the office being sought
  • a copy of a government-issued photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or document issued by a government entity in order to prove the residence address listed on the declaration
  • the candidate's Social Security number, license number, or state identification number
• by having 10 or more registered voters file a certificate of candidacy on behalf of any registered voter they wish to nominate as a candidate for their major party; this must be done no earlier than the first Monday in February and no later than the first Monday in March preceding the primary election (if nominated in this way, the candidate must file an acceptance of candidacy with the required filing fee during the candidate filing period)^[11][4]

The filing fees mentioned above vary according to the office being sought and can be paid by cash, cashier's check, or certified check. Personal checks, campaign checks, and credit cards are not acceptable forms of payment. The filing fees are detailed in the table below.^[12][13][14]

If the candidate is seeking office in theUnited States House of Representatives orNevada State Legislature in a district within a single county, he or she must file with the county clerk of that county. Candidates for all other offices must file with theNevada Secretary of State.^[15]

Minor party candidates

Minor parties must file a list of candidates with theNevada Secretary of State before any minor party candidates can file individually. This list must be signed in the presence of a notary public by the party officer named to do so on the minor party's certificate of existence. The list must be filed during the candidate filing period, which starts on the first Monday in March and ends on the second Friday in March following that Monday.^[5][16]

Once the candidate list has been submitted to theNevada Secretary of State, a minor party candidate can file his or her declaration of candidacy and pay the required filing fee (detailed above). These must be filed during the candidate filing period. If the candidate is seeking office in theUnited States House of Representatives orNevada State Legislature in a district within a single county, he or she must file with the county clerk of that county. Candidates for all other offices must file with theNevada Secretary of State.^[15][5][16]

Minor party candidates are not permitted to participate in the primary election. Minor parties nominate their candidates to be placed on the general election ballot and may field only one candidate for each office appearing on the ballot.^[17]

Independent candidates

Independent candidates may run only in the general election. Independent candidates must petition to be placed on the ballot. This may be done in one of two ways:^[2][3]

• by submitting a petition containing signatures of registered voters equal in number to at least 1 percent of the total votes cast at the last general election for the same office the candidate seeks
• by submitting a petition containing 250 signatures of registered voters if the candidate seeks statewide office, or containing 100 registered voters' signatures if the candidate seeks any other office

Before circulating a petition, a candidate must file a copy of the petition with theNevada Secretary of State after January 2 of the year of the election. The petition may be circulated as soon as the copy has been filed. The completed petition must then be filed with the counties where the petition was circulated in order to be verified. In order to have the petitions verified in time to file them during the candidate filing period, which starts on the first Monday in March and ends on the third Friday in June preceding the general election, the petitions must be submitted to the counties 10 business days before the last day of the candidate filing period. A verified petition may then be filed with the declaration of candidacy and filing fee with theNevada Secretary of State unless the candidate is seeking office in a district existing entirely within one county. Such candidates file all documents and fees with the county clerk of the appropriate county.^{[2][3][18][19][15]}

Petition requirements

See also:Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process in order to gain ballot access. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining topetitions andcirculators.

Format requirements

In Nevada, the rules regulating the use of petitions are the same no matter the purpose of the petition.

• Prior to circulation, copies of all petitions must be submitted to theNevada Secretary of State for approval.^[20] Once the petition has been approved, it can be signed by any registered voter in the appropriate district.^[21] A registered voter who signs the petition may be affiliated with any political party without losing his or her party standing or the right to vote in his or her party's primary.^[22]
• All petitions must adhere to the following format:^[20][21]
  1. If longer than one page, the pages must be bound together and numbered sequentially.
  2. The name of the candidate and the office being sought must be displayed. No more than one candidate's name may appear on the petition.
  3. The county the petition is being circulated in must be displayed, and only voters in that county may sign.
• Once the petition has been completed, it must be submitted to the county or counties in which it was circulated so it can be verified. This must be done 25 business days before the last day the petition must be officially filed.^[21][23][20]

Signature requirements

An individual who signs a petition must include his or her name, address, and the date of signing. Each signature must be made in ink. Any signature not made in ink will be disregarded. The circulator of the petition must sign, before a notary public, an affidavit on the back of the petition verifying that all signatures were recorded in the circulator's presence. The circulator must also affirm that, to the best of his or her knowledge, all signers were registered voters at the time of signing.^[21][23]

Circulation requirements

Circulators of petitions are not required to be registered voters inNevada. The statutes do not stipulate any requirements for circulators inNevada.^[21]

Contact information

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also:State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Nevada can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Nevada County Clerks and Voter Registrars

Click here for a list

Nevada Secretary of State, Elections Division

101 North Carson Street, Suite 3

Carson City, Nevada 89701-3714

Phone: 775-684-5705

Fax: 775-684-5718

Email:nvelect@sos.nv.gov

Website:https://www.nvsos.gov/sos

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email:clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website:https://www.eac.gov

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Do you need information about elections inyour area? Are you looking foryour local election official?Click here to visit theU.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

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Term limits

State executives

See also:State executives with term limits andStates with gubernatorial term limits

State executive term limits inNevada are as follows:^[24]

• Thegovernor may serve a total of two terms.
• Thelieutenant governor may serve a total of two terms.
• Thesecretary of state may serve a total of two terms.
• Theattorney general may serve a total of two terms.
• Thetreasurer may serve a total of two terms.
• Thecontroller may serve a total of two terms.

State legislators

See also:State legislatures with term limits

Members of theNevada State Legislature are term-limited to serve a total of 12 years, six terms in theNevada State Assembly and three terms in theNevada State Senate.^[25]

Term limits were imposed on Nevada state legislators by a 1996ballot initiative and took effect for those elected in 1998.

Congressional partisanship

See also:List of United States Representatives from Nevada andList of United States Senators from Nevada

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation fromNevada.

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature ofNevada.

Nevada State Senate

Nevada Assembly

Related legislation

The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Neveda. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page onBallotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

The Ballot Bulletin

TheBallot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from ourElection Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.

• The Ballot Bulletin: November 21, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: November 14, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: November 7, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: October 31, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: October 24, 2025

Subscribe

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Nevada
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Nevada
• Nevada elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Nevada
• Counties in Nevada
• List of United States Representatives from Nevada
• List of United States Senators from Nevada
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Nevada Secretary of State
• Official Website of the Federal Election Commission
• Nevada Secretary of State, "Candidate Information"
• Nevada Secretary of State, "Campaign Guide 2024"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

Footnotes

v • e Election policy Election legislation Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker •Ballotpedia's The Ballot Bulletin •Election legislation tracking: list of sub-topics •Absentee/mail-in voting •Early voting •Election dates and deadlines •Election Day voting •Ranked-choice voting •Redistricting •Voter registration Election administration Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •Washington, D.C. •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Voting policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida 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policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Redistricting policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Recount laws Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for political candidates Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for presidential candidates Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for political parties Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Electoral systems Single-winner system •Multi-winner system •Block voting system •Plurality voting system •Majority voting system •Top-two primary •Blanket primary •Open primary •Closed primary •Semi-closed primary •Top-four primary •Ranked-choice voting (RCV) •STAR voting •Approval voting •Fusion voting