Qualifying for Office

Want to run for office, but not quite sure what the requirements are? 

Understanding whether you qualify to run is an important step for any candidate. Some offices require candidates to meet certain professional, educational, and other requirements before they can take office. Included on every Declaration of Candidacy is a statement, signed by the candidate and made under penalty of perjury, that the candidate meets the qualifications for office and will not withdraw once all the candidate paperwork is filed. 

Please note that county central committees, municipal offices, school district offices, and special district offices might not appear on a county ballot, depending on certain circumstances. Please contact our office for further details.

Please refer to the state and federal election laws (as applicable) to understand whether you meet the qualifications for the office you seek. Quick references are included below and in the Candidate Handbook. In the case of a conflict between the laws and the Candidate Handbook, the law, rule, or regulation will apply.

Office(s)Minimum QualificationsCitations
Federal Offices
President and Vice-President of the United States 

Party Nominated
  • Natural born US citizen
  • US resident for 14 or more years
  • 35 years or older
U.S. Const. Art. II, § 1, cl. 5
United States Representative

Voter Nominated
  • 25 years old
  • U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years
  • Resident of California
  • California registered voter
U.S. Const. Art. I, § 2, cl. 2; Cal. Elec. Code § 201
United States Senate

Voter Nominated
  • 30 years old
  • U.S. Citizen for at least 9 years
  • Resident of California
  • California registered voter
U.S. Const. Art. I, § 2, cl. 2; Cal. Elec. Code § 201
State Offices
State Assembly Member 

State Senator

Voter Nominated
  • U.S. Citizen 
  • California registered voter
  • Resident of California for 3 years 
  • Resident of the legislative district for 1 year
  • Served the legislature for less than 12 years
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. IV, § 2; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
Governor

Lieutenant Governor

Voter Nominated
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter
  • California resident for at least 5 years
  • Served less than two terms as Governor / Lt. Governor
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. V, §§ 2, 9, 11; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
Secretary of State

Voter Nominated
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter 
  • Served less than two terms as Secretary of State 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. V, § 11; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
State Controller

Voter Nominated
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter 
  • Served less than two terms as Controller
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. V, § 11; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
State Treasurer

Voter Nominated
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter 
  • Served less than two terms as Treasurer
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. V, § 11; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
State Attorney General

Voter Nominated
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter
  • Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the state at least five years immediately preceding the election
  • Served less than two terms as Attorney General
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. V, § 11; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code § 12503
State Insurance Commissioner

Voter Nominated
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter 
  • During tenure of office, not be an officer, agent, or employee of an insurer or directly or indirectly interested in any insurer or licensee under the California Insurance Code (exceptions apply)
  • Served less than two terms as Insurance Commissioner
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. V, § 11; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; 

Ins. Code §§ 12900, 12901

Member, State Board of Equalization

Voter Nominated
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter
  • Served less than two terms on State Board of Equalization
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. V, § 11; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
Superintendent of Public Instruction

Nonpartisan Office
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter 
  • Served less than two terms as Superintendent of Public Instruction 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const., art. IX, § 2; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
Judicial Offices (Nonpartisan)
Chief/Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

Presiding/Associate Justice, Court of Appeal

Judge of the Superior Court
  • US Citizen
  • California registered voter
  • Member of the State Bar for 10 years or service as a judge of a California court of record for 10 years immediately preceding the election
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Const. art. VI, §§ 15, 16; Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201
County Offices
County Central Committees/County Councils

Voter Nominated
  • Registered in California with the political party whose nomination the candidate seeks for at least 3 continuous months immediately prior to completing the Declaration of Candidacy 
  • Not registered with another qualified political party within 12 months of filing the declaration 
  • Candidates for the Democratic, Republican, and American Independent county central committees must be registered in the Supervisorial District that they wish to represent and must gather signatures of voters in the same party 
Elec. Code §§ 201, 8001, 8068
County Supervisor

Nonpartisan Office
  • 18 years old 
  • California resident
  • Registered voter in the District which the candidate seeks to represent for at least 30 days immediately before the filing deadline 
  • Supervisor shall reside in the district during his or her incumbency 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 24001, 25041
Nevada County Assessor

Nonpartisan Office
  • 18 years old
  • California resident
  • Registered Nevada County voter
  • Holds or acquires a valid appraiser's certificate issued by the State Board of Equalization within 30 days of taking office
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal Gov. Code §§ 24001, 24002.5
Nevada County Auditor-Controller

Nonpartisan Office		Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 24001, 26945, 26945.1, 26946; Nevada County Admin. Code A-II, 1.9
Nevada County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters

Nonpartisan Office
  • 18 years old 
  • California resident
  • Registered Nevada County voter 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code § 24001
Nevada County District Attorney

Nonpartisan Office
  • 18 years old 
  • California resident
  • Registered Nevada County voter 
  • Admitted to practice law in the California Supreme Court 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 24001, 24002
Nevada County Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator

Nonpartisan Office
  • 18 years old
  • California resident
  • Registered Nevada County voter
  • Meet one or more of the qualifications set forth in Sections 24004 and 24004.3 of the California Government Code
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 24001, 24004, 24004.3
Nevada County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Nonpartisan Office
  • 18 years old
  • California resident
  • Registered Nevada County voter
  • Meet one or more of the qualifications set forth in Section 27000.7 of the California Government Code
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Gov. Code §§ 24001, 27000.7
Nevada County Superintendent of Schools

Nonpartisan Office
  • 18 years old 
  • California resident
  • Registered Nevada County voter 
  • Has a valid certification document authorizing administrative services
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Educ. Code §§ 1205-1208
Municipal Offices (Nonpartisan)
City of Grass Valley City Councilmember 

City of Nevada City Councilmember

Town of Truckee Town Council
  • Registered voter of the city at the time nomination papers are issued
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code § 36502
School District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Nevada County Board of Education
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Educ. Code §§ 5030, 35107
Placer County Board of Education
  • Registered voter of the district residing within the trustee area
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Educ. Code §§ 5030, 35107
Sierra Joint Community College District
  • Registered voter of the district residing within the trustee area
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Educ. Code §§ 5030, 35107
Chicago Park School District

Clear Creek Elementary School District

Grass Valley School District

Nevada City Elementary School District

Nevada Joint Union High School District

Penn Valley Union Elementary School District

Pleasant Ridge School District

Tahoe Truckee Unified School District

Twin Ridges Elementary School District

Union Hill School District 
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Educ. Code §§ 5030, 35107
Airport District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Truckee Tahoe Airport District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony

Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 22401
Community Service District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Beyers Lane Community Service District

Lake of the Pines Rancho Community Service District

Mystic Mine Community Service District 
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony

Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 61000 – 61009
Fire District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Higgins Area Fire Protection District

Nevada County Consolidated Fire Protection District

North San Juan Fire Protection District

Ophir Hill Fire Protection District

Peardale-Chicago Park Fire Protection District

Penn Valley Fire Protection District

Rough and Ready Fire Protection District

Truckee Fire Protection District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony

Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13841
Hospital District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Tahoe Forest Hospital District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 32100
Public Utility District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Donner Summit Public Utility District

Truckee Donner Public Utility District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 15952
Recreation and Park District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Bear River Recreation and Park District

Oak Tree Community Park and Recreation District

Truckee Donner Park and Recreation District

Western Gateway Recreation and Park District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 5783.1, 5784.1
Sanitary District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Truckee Sanitary District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 4730.1
Water District Offices (Nonpartisan)
Nevada Irrigation District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Water Code §21100
San Juan County Ridge Water District

Washington County Water District
  • Registered voter of the district 
  • Not convicted of a disqualifying felony
Cal. Elec. Code §§ 20, 201; Cal. Water Code § 30500