Candidate Elections

Every odd year, school board elections take place in Colorado. The upcoming school board election will be held on November 4, 2025. Below are our resources regarding candidate elections, divided by topic. 

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Candidate Petition Process

If a school board has open seats and needs to hold an election, the district must take steps to participate in the election, coordinated with the county clerk. Districts appoint a staff member as the Designated Election Official (DEO) who will be responsible for implementing required tasks, which begin by notifying the county clerk of the intent to participate in the election at least 100 days before the election.

Potential school board candidates must submit petitions signed by residents of the district. Once petitions have been submitted by school board candidates, the DEO is also responsible for verifying that each signature on the petition is valid and that that the signer lives in the correct location.  Checklists and a cheat sheet to help DEOs with the technical petition verification responsibilities are available below. 

Finally, after the election, school boards have some reporting responsibilities and must hold a special board organizational meeting shortly after the election, including other responsibilities.

Below you will find helpful information about the district and DEO's responsibilities to implement the election: 

• Candidate Petition Process Timeline: A timeline of important dates for the 2025 election is available here, including responsibilities after the election is held. 
• Checklist for Candidate Petition Process: A checklist for DEOs for reviewing petitions and ensuring they are compliant.
• Checklist to Cancel the Board Election: A checklist for DEOs to help determine whether the election can be cancelled and how to cancel.
• Candidate Petition Verification Cheat Sheet: Cheat sheet to help DEOs verify signatures on candidate petitions. 
• Filling a Vacancy on the Board: Instructions for filling a vacancy and appointing a new board member. 
• Frequently Asked Questions Candidate Petition Process: Extensive list of frequent questions about the candidate petition process.
• Board Organizational Meeting: Once the election is over, boards need to hold a special meeting to appoint new officers and organize the new board. 

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Fair Campaign Practices Act

Additionally, boards should be aware of the Fair Campaign Practices Act. This Colorado law prohibits school districts - including board members, superintendents, and even employees - from spending public money or making statements in support of candidates and ballot measures within their professional role. Some exceptions apply.

Candidates must also comply with the Fair Campaign Practices Act by submitting regular reports of their financial expenditures, and DEOs may choose to provide information about the FCPA to potential candidates. 

Below you will find an overview of the FCPA and Do's and Don'ts for the Board, Superintendents, and District Employees.

• Fair Campaign Practices Act Overview: Basic information about the Fair Campaign Practices Act. 
• Fair Campaign Practices Act Do's and Don'ts: A quick overview of what boards, superintendents, and employees can do according to the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Forms and Resolutions

Below are forms and resolutions relevant to the candidate election process. For all forms and resources, click here.

• Acceptance of Nomination to be a Candidate 
• Acceptance of Nomination to be a Candidate - Spanish
• Affidavit of Intent of Write-In Candidate
• Affidavit of Intent of Write-In Candidate - Spanish
• Affidavit of School Director on Qualification for Office
• Affidavit of School Director on Qualification for Office - Spanish
  
• Call for Nominations for School Directors
  
• Cancellation of School Board Election - by Acclamation
• Cancellation of School Board Election - No Candidates
• Cancellation of School Board Election and Notice of Vacancy
  
• Certificate of Election - Elected by Acclamation
• Certificate of Election - Elected by Voters
• Confidentiality Affidavit
• Notice of Intent to be a Candidate
• Notice of Intent to be a Candidate - Spanish
• Oath of Office before Board President
• Oath of Office before Board President - Spanish
• Oath of Office before Notary or Other Authorized Person
• Oath of Office before Notary or Other Authorized Person - Spanish
• Official Notice of Intent to Participate in Election