Elections
City Elections and Nomination of Candidates
The City Clerk and the Dubuque County Auditor are responsible for making election information available to candidates requesting nomination papers for election to City office (Affidavit of Candidacy and Nomination Petition). Completed papers must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque. Questions can be directed to the Dubuque County Elections Department, 880 Central Avenue, 563-589-4457, or the City Clerk's Office, 50 W. 13th Street, 563-589-4100.
Nomination Papers
Candidates may begin collecting signatures at any time. Nomination papers must include the Affidavit of Candidacy and the Nomination Petition and cannot be accepted before the filing period begins or after 5:00 p.m. on the last day nomination papers can be filed with the City Clerk.
Since Nomination papers must be filed with the City Clerk not more than 71 days and not less than 47 days before a regular City election, the Secretary of State's Office publishes an Election Calendar for each year, which specifies the type of election, election dates, and the candidate filing periods.
It is not necessary for the candidate to appear in person to file the nomination papers. A representative may deliver the completed forms to the City Clerk. However, papers rejected for any reason, must be returned directly to the candidate.
Additional Resources
Candidate's Guides to City elections at Iowa Secretary of State website.
The Dubuque County Elections Department, a division of the Auditor’s Office, is responsible for administering elections in the county. For more information on upcoming elections in Dubuque, visit www.dubuquecountyiowa.gov/elections
Iowa Law provides cities with a variety of choices for the election of City officials. There are four nomination processes:
- Primary election (candidates file nomination petitions)
- Nomination by petition, with only one election (Chapter 45)
- Nomination by convention, with only one election (Chapter 44)
- Run-off election (candidates file nomination petitions)
The City Clerk must certify (to the County Auditor) the type of nomination process no later than 90 days before the regular City election. After certification, the nomination process cannot be changed unless the change will take effect after the regular City elections.
The City of Dubuque currently operates under the primary election nomination process.
Political Sign Regulations
The City of Dubuque’s Unified Development Code (UDC) regulates all exterior signage, including political signage, within the community.