Candidate Information

If you're interested in elected office and file for office as a candidate, you'll need to comply with laws and rules related to campaigning.  Use this site to learn more about those steps and requirements. 

First, Become a Candidate
The first official step as an individual interested in elected office is to complete the Affidavit of Candidacy and file for the office. The Blue Earth County Elections Office is the filing official for residents of Blue Earth County for certain state offices, as well as county-level offices.  We are also the filing location for the City of Mankato.  Learn more about filing as a candidate here.

Candidates filing in 2022 will need to file in person.

• You may file in the Elections Office at the Blue Earth County Historic Courthouse, 204 S. 5th Street, Mankato.
• Please bring the correct fee amount; checks are preferred.  Credit cards can be accepted, there is a processing fee.

The earliest you may file is 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17 and all affidavits, including filing fees, must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31st.

If candidates have any questions, please contact us at 507-304-4341 or via email.

Steps Needed to File for Office as a Candidate 

1. All candidates must file an Affidavit of Candidacy stating, in part, the name of the office sought, that the candidate is an eligible voter, the candidate has no other affidavit on file for any other office for the election, the candidate meets the qualifications for the office, and name provided is the candidate's true name or name by which the candidate is commonly known in the community.
2. All candidates should submit a Name Pronunciation Guide which ensures your name is pronounced correctly on assistive voting devices that read ballots to voters.
3. All candidates must submit a Campaign Financial Certification of Filing form. 
4. All candidates must have their Affidavit of Candidacy witnessed by a Notary Public or other officer empowered to take and certify acknowledgement.
5. All candidates must submit the appropriate filing fee. This must be paid at the time of filing the Affidavit of Candidacy. For county offices, the fee is $50. For Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor and City of Mankato offices, the fee is $20. For any other offices, contact our office. Check, exact cash, and credit card (with an additional fee) can be accepted.
6. After the completed forms and filing fee are received by the Elections Office, candidates will receive a copy of an accepted candidacy filing and the candidacy will be entered into the state's candidate filing system. 

Please note, a candidate who provides the filing fee by a check or other instrument for which sufficient funds are not available will have his or her name removed from the ballot and is liable for all costs incurred by election officials in removing the name from the ballot (Minnesota Statutes 204B.11). Also, please note fees are subject to change and are non-refundable.


Information and Resources Once You're a Candidate
When you file for office, it is the candidate’s (and/or the campaign’s) responsibility to understand all the laws and rules related to running for elected office. Some information may be provided to you in paper format, but it is all available below. These are the many resources that candidates will likely find helpful.  We encourage you to review this.  The information is divided into sections for various elected offices.

We strongly encourage you to review the campaign financial reporting information section below.

Candidates for City of Mankato offices will want to review information provided by the city.

Candidates for Board of Soil and Water Conservation District offices will want to review information provided by the Blue Earth County Soil and Water Conservation District.

All Candidates

• The Minnesota Campaign Manual is an easy-to-understand digest of the state laws related to campaigning.  
• Affidavit of Candidacy to file for elected office.
• Pronunciation Guide to ensure our name is pronounced correctly on assistive voting devices that read ballots to voters.

• Absentee Voting/Campaign Notice explains what activities are prohibited around the Historic Courthouse.  
• Campaign Financial Reporting information
  • Campaign Financial Reporting Dates
  • Campaign Financial Report form  
  • Campaign Financial Certification of Filing must be completed by all candidates. 
• Address of Residence Form to be used if a candidate has a residential address that is classified as private data.  
• Campaign Signage Information
  • MN Dept of Transportation website  
  • MN Dept of Transportation letter 
  • City of Mankato Sign Ordinance 
• IRS and State Fact Sheets and Information for Candidates and Campaigns
  • Filing Requirements website 
  • Filing Requirements Fact Sheet 
  • Filing Requirements information 
  • Minnesota Campaign Finance Board website
• Minnesota’s Law on Auto Dialing
  • Auto Dialing Law memo from the Minnesota Attorney General for candidates and campaigns  
• Data Requests Forms for Campaign Use
  • Voter Registration List Request form 
  • Map Request form 
  • Polling Place List Request form 
  • Precinct Finder Request form 
  • Accepted Absentee/Mail Ballot List Request form 
• Campaign Security Information
  • Secretary of State memo on cyber-security 
  • Secretary of State Campaign Cyber-security website
  • Campaign Cyber-security Playbook 
• Affidavit of Withdrawal to remove name from ballot.