To become an official candidate on the ballot, you must:
The City of Boise partners with Ada Count Elections to ensure an open, fair, and responsive election process. All candidate filing materials need to be completed and reviewed by the Ada County Elections Office before being filed with the Boise City Clerk's Office.
Boise City Council elections are held by districts established by the Boise Districting Commission, as required by Idaho law.
In 2023, candidates in odd-numbered districts (1, 3, and 5) were elected to four-year terms and candidates in even-numbered districts (2, 4, and 6) were up for election to serve two-year terms. This staggered structure ensures that approximately half of council seats are on the ballot every two years.
| City Council – District 2 | 4 Years |
| City Council – District 4 | 4 Years |
| City Council – District 6 | 4 Years |
In 2020, the Idaho Legislature passed a law requiring cities with populations over 100,000 to conduct city council elections by district. The law also states that any unopposed candidate will be declared elected and will not appear on the ballot.
Learn more about how City Council Districts were formed
Not sure which district you live in? Use our interactive tools to find your City Council district and learn more about how representation works in Boise.
Every campaign is required to assign a treasurer in charge of managing incoming campaign funds on behalf of the candidate and during election cycles, candidates are required to disclosure certain financial information about their campaign as part of Idaho’s Sunshine Law.
Changes to Idaho Code now require Campaign Financial Disclosure Forms to be submitted to the Ada County Elections Office. Please contact their office for additional information or questions regarding the submission of such reports or reports submitted after 2020.
For more information, visit the Secretary of State’s frequently asked questions page for candidates.
If you're planning to run for office, you'll need to complete and submit required forms. The documents below help ensure your candidacy meets all legal and procedural requirements set by state and local election laws.
Declaration of Candidacy with $40 filing fee OR Petition for Candidacy -
Please review each form carefully and submit by the designated deadlines.
The Ada County Elections Office will verify candidate eligibility, validate Petition of Candidacy Signatures, notarize candidacy filing documentation, etc. Ada County suggests making an appointment with their office.
Book appointments Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Book Appointment with Ada County
They can also be reached by phone at (208) 287-6860.
All required information for the election can be found on the Ada County Elections website.
The City of Boise Clerk's Office can be reached at (208) 972-8150.
Our office has notary services available for filings.
Please fill out the form and a representative from the city will be in touch with you.