Candidate Information

In 2008, the following offices will appear on the ballot:

• President & Vice President (4 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 35 years old, a natural born citizen, and a U.S. citizen for at least 14 years.

• United States Senator (6 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and a resident of Montana.
  
  
• United States Representative (2 year term) Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and a resident of Montana.
  
  
• Governor and Lieutenant Governor (4 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for at least 2 years.
  
  
• Attorney General (4 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 2 years, and a practicing attorney for at least 5 years.
  
  
• State Auditor (4 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for at least 2 years.
  
  
• Secretary of State (4 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Montana for at least 2 years.
  
  
• Superintendent of Public Instruction (4 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 2 years, and carry a bachelor’s degree.
  
  
• Supreme Court Chief Justice (8 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 2 years, and a practicing attorney for at least 5 years.
  
  
• Supreme Court Justice #3 (8 year term)
  Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 2 years, and a practicing attorney for at least 5 years.
  
  
• District Court Judge (6 year terms)
  Various seats are available, in District 1 (Dept. 3), 7 (Dept. 2), 8 (Dept. 4), 13 (Depts. 4 and 5), 18 (Dept. 2), 20 (Dept. 1) & 21 (Dept. 2). Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 2 years, and a practicing attorney for at least 5 years.
  
  
• Public Service Commissioner (4 year terms)
  Seats are available in Districts 2, 3 and 4. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and must live in the district they seek to represent.
  
  
• State Senator (4 year terms)
  Twenty-five seats are available, in Districts 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47 and 50. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 1 year, and a resident of the county and/or district they seek to represent for at least 6 months preceding the election.
  
  
• State Representative (2 year terms)
  Seats are available in all 100 districts. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for at least 1 year, and a resident of the county and/or district they seek to represent for at least 6 months preceding the election.

Detailed information and maps on the redistricted legislative boundaries are available.

Anyone who wants to run in the primary election as a member of a qualified political party must have filed with the Secretary of State’s Office anytime between 8 a.m. on January 22, 2008 and 5 p.m. on March 20, 2008.

If you are interested in running as a presidential candidate, an independent, write-in candidate or as a representative of a party that has not qualified for the ballot in Montana, please contact Elections and Government Services at (406) 444-5346 or by email at soselection@mt.gov.

Candidate filings

Legislative Districts

Detailed information and maps on the new legislative districts are available at the following website:

• 2003 Districting and Apportionment Plan, with links to a number of different maps and detailing recent changes
• Map of the 2007 Montana Legislature

Political Party Affiliations

Anyone who wants to run in the primary election as a member of a qualified political party must have filed with the Secretary of State’s Office anytime between 8 a.m. on January 22, 2008 and 5 p.m. on March 20, 2008.

Four political parties are qualified for the ballot in Montana. If you are interested in running as an independent or as a representative of a party that has not qualified for the ballot in Montana, please contact the Secretary of State's toll-free voter hotline below for more information.

Filing Forms and Fees:

All the forms below are in .pdf format. The free Acrobat Reader is available for download to use these forms.