Elections

Municipal Elections are held every other year during odd-numbered years.

In 2018, Salt Lake City will hold a Special Bond Election. For more information, click here.
In 2019, elections are for Mayor and City Council Districts 2, 4, and 6.
In 2021, elections are for City Council Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7.

All seats are a four-year term.

Becoming a Candidate

Important Dates

Candidate Filing Period – June 3, 2019 through June 7, 2019

Primary Election – August 13, 2019

General Election – November 5, 2019

Declaring Candidacy

Declarations of Candidacy must be filed in person at the Office of the City Recorder, located in Room 415, City & County Building, 451 South State Street during office hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. between June 1st and June 7th (excluding Saturday and Sunday).

The filing officer must read the constitutional and statutory qualification requirements for office to the candidate and the candidate must state whether or not they meet those requirements.

Requirements

Candidate must be a registered voter
Be a resident of Salt Lake City for 12 months immediately preceding the date of the election, and in the case of Council member, be a resident of the council district 12 months immediately preceding the date of election
Have no other compensated employment with Salt Lake City Corporation
Register a Personal Campaign Committee before receiving any political contributions or spending any money for campaign expenses
File periodic Campaign Finance Statements

A person may be a candidate for only one office at any one election

Mayoral Candidate

$352, fee
Or in lieu of fee, submit a nominating petition signed by 315 residents: 45 within each council district who are at least 18 years of age.
Form: Nomination Petition-Mayor

Councilmember Candidate

$84, fee
Or in lieu of fee, submit a nominating petition signed by 75 residents within the council district who are at least 18 years of age.
Form: Nomination Petition-Council

Forms Required

Declaration of Candidacy Paperwork

Personal Campaign Committee Paperwork

City and State Election Laws

Salt Lake City Election Laws

As a candidate, you have the responsibility of becoming familiar with the election process and investigating state and local laws governing elections.

Campaign Financial Disclosure, Salt Lake City Code 2.46

Elections, Salt Lake City Code 2.68

State of Utah Election Code
(see titles 10 and 20A)

Finance Disclosure and Contribution Limits

Campaign Finance Disclosures

Disclosures regarding contributions and expenditures are required by all candidates.
Salt Lake City has provided access to each candidate’s reports.

Campaign Finance Online Reporting System

Campaign Contribution Limits Per Election Cycle

No person shall make contributions during any election cycle to any candidate or to any political committee with respect to any election for city office, that, in the aggregate, exceed the following amounts:

Mayor – $3,560

Council – $760

Calculations based on Consumer Price Index at beginning of Election Cycle.

Midterm Vacancies

Salt Lake City Code 2.06.050 Vacancy Filling:

In the event of a vacancy in the council, it shall within thirty (30) days of the occurrence and declaration of such vacancy, by majority vote of the remaining council members, appoint a qualified elector of the city to fill the unexpired term. The appointee shall serve with all of the rights and powers of a duly elected council member, until the next election and the date a successor is duly elected, qualified and sworn into office. A vacancy shall occur if a council member shall die, resign, terminate legal domicile within the corporate limits of the city and the appropriate council district boundaries, or be judicially removed from office.

What are Political Committees?

A group of persons cooperating to aid or promote the success or defeat of a candidate or issue, including the making of donations to a personal campaign committee. “Political Committee” does not mean an individual, a personal campaign committee, individuals who are related and who make contributions from a joint checking account, an entity that provides goods or services to a candidate or committee in the regular course of its business at the same price that would be provided to the general public, or a business entity using its own funds, except a business entity whose intended purpose is to act as a political committee.

The “purpose” of a political committee means an act done with intent or in such a way as to influence or tend to influence, directly or indirectly, the nomination or election of a candidate or the passage or defeat of any issue on the ballot at a municipal election.

Political committees must register with the State of Utah and also with Salt Lake City Recorder’s Office.

Registration Form

Registration and Past Results

Voter Registration

To check your registration status, register to vote, or update your address within the county click here to be redirected to the Salt Lake County Clerk Website.