- Home
- Your Government
- Elected Officials
- Clerk / Auditor
- Elections
- Candidate Qualifications & Filing
Candidate Qualifications & Filing
Grand County residents that are considering running for local office are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with the Clerk/Auditor's Office to review candidacy requirements. Call (435) 259-1321 or email elections@grandcountyutah.gov.
Unaffiliated County Candidate Packet
- Unaffiliated Nomination and Declaration of Candidacy Filing Instructions (PDF)
- Unaffiliated Declaration of Candidacy Forms (PDF example only, updated 2.17.26, forms must be filled out in person at the Clerk/Auditor's Office.
Candidate Filing Deadlines
⇒ Signature petition packets for Grand County offices for unaffiliated candidates can be submitted starting 8am January 2, 2026, and are due by 5pm on June 15, 2026. See Utah Code § 20A-9-502(5). Unaffiliated candidates cannot be nominated or officially declare their candidacy until they have acquired the required number of qualified petition signatures. See the Filing Instructions for more details.
⇒ Candidacy declarations for Grand County offices for candidates affiliated with a registered political party that is not a qualified political party can be submitted starting at 8am on January 2, 2026, and are due by 5pm on April 27, 2026. See Utah Code § 20A-9-202(1). This deadline will not be relevant to most candidates - reach out to the Elections team if you are unsure.
Grand County officials are voted on during even year election cycles, whereas municipal elections for Moab City and the Town of Castle Valley occur during odd year election cycles.
For filing deadlines for elected positions within the City of Moab, Town of Castle Valley, Spanish Valley Water & Sewer Improvement District, or Moab Valley Fire Protection District, please contact those bodies directly.
View Election Dates & Deadlines HERE, including candidate-specific deadlines.
2026 Grand County Candidate Filing Fees
| County Commission | $250.52 |
| County Attorney | $989.81 |
| Clerk/Auditor | $607.43 |
| Sheriff | $777.06 |
| School Board | $50.00 |
Qualification Requirements for Grand County Elected Officials
Candidates interested in running for countywide offices must file with the County Clerk/Auditor's Office. Candidates running for citywide offices must file with their City Recorder's Office.
For candidacy requirements for elected positions within the City of Moab, Town of Castle Valley, Spanish Valley Water & Sewer Improvement District, or Moab Valley Fire Protection District, please contact those bodies directly.
Candidacy qualifications for the Grand County Commission:
- U.S. Citizen at time of filing.
- Resident of Grand County for at least one year prior to the date of the election.
- For candidates filing within a specific Grand County district, must be a resident of that district for at least one year prior to the date of the election.
- Be a registered voter in Grand County for at least one year immediately before the member's election.
- Not convicted of certain crimes.*
The commission is made up of two at-large seats, and five district seats.
Candidacy requirements for the above elected offices:
- U.S. Citizen at time of filing.
- Registered voter in Grand County.
- Resident of Grand County for at least one year prior to the date of the election.
- Not convicted of certain crimes.*
Utah Code 17-66-201; 17-69-2; 17-70-2; 17-71-2; 17-74-2; County Ordinance 2.04.040
Candidacy requirements for the Grand County Assessor:
- U.S. Citizen at time of filing.
- Registered voter in Grand County.
- Resident of Grand County for at least one year prior to the date of the election.
- Become a state-licensed or state-certified appraiser no later than 36 months after the day on which the individual's term of office begins.
- Not convicted of certain crimes.*
Candidacy requirements for the Grand County Attorney:
- U.S. Citizen at time of filing.
- Registered voter in Grand County.
- Resident of Grand County for at least one year prior to the date of the election; or was appointed and is currently serving as Grand County Attorney and became a resident of Grand County within 30 days after receiving appointment to the office.
- An attorney licensed to practice law in Utah who is an active member in good standing of the Utah State Bar.
- Not convicted of certain crimes.*
Utah Code 17-66-201; 17-68-2; County Ordinance 2.04.040
Candidacy requirements for the Grand County Sheriff:
- U.S. Citizen at time of filing.
- Registered voter in Grand County.
- Resident of Grand County for at least one year prior to the date of the election.
- Successfully met the standards and training requirements established for law enforcement officers under Title 53, Chapter 6, Part 2, Peace Officer Training and Certification Act; or have passed a certification examination as provided in Section 53-6-206; and
- Submit a certificate issued by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Division created under Section 53-6-103 stating that the candidate has met the qualifications to be certified as a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103.
- If elected, before taking office, must be qualified to be a correctional officer, as defined in Section 53-13-104; or a correctional facility manager by having successfully completed a correctional facility management course that is offered by a certified academy in both an online web-based format and in a classroom format and that is approved by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council created in Section 53-6-106.
- Not convicted of certain crimes.*
Candidacy requirements for the above elected offices:
- U.S. Citizen at time of filing.
- Registered voter in Grand County.
- Resident of Grand County for at least one year prior to the date of the election.
- Licensed professional land surveyor in the state of Utah at the time of filing.
- Not convicted of certain crimes.*
*An individual convicted of certain crimes (Utah Code § 20a-2-101) loses the right to hold office until convictions have been expunged OR the individual meets all of the following requirements: (1) 10 years have passed since the individual’s most recent felony conviction, (2) The individual paid all court-ordered restitution and fines; (3) the individual completed probation, granted parole, or completed the term of incarceration associated with the felony; and (4) an individual convicted of an election related misdemeanor has restored their rights to hold office according to Utah Code § 20A-2-101.3.
Financial Disclosures
Advisory: If a candidate fails to timely file their disclosure report in an election year, Utah law requires either the removal of that candidate's name from the ballot or that votes cast for that candidate not be counted.
Candidates may download the 2026 Financial Disclosure Report Template HERE (excel file).
View submitted Candidate Financial Disclosures - Click Here
Filing for candidacy using a nickname or middle name
Before you submit your Declaration of Candidacy, you may need to feel out the Name Affidavit found in the Candidate Packet if you want anything other than your legal first and last name on the ballot. This affidavit requires five signatures from other individuals. Do not wait until the last minute to fill out this form if you plan to submit your Declaration of Candidacy. Contact the Grand County Clerk/Auditor's Office if you are unsure if this is required for you.
Follow us on social media: