Allamakee County Auditor explains earlier candidate filing dates for Primary Cities, now including Waukon and Lansing
submitted by Denise Beyer
Allamakee County Auditor, Commissioner of Elections
The Cities of Lansing and Waukon in Allamakee County are both Primary Cities for the upcoming City Election scheduled for November 4, 2025. This means these cities have the potential to have a Primary Election if more than twice the number of candidates file for any seat that is on the ballot.
For example, for one mayor seat (such as in Waukon this year), a Primary would be required if three or more candidates submit nomination paperwork for Mayor. If three at-large council seats will be on the November ballot (such as is the case in Lansing this year), then seven or more filed candidates would trigger the need for a Primary Election.
Filing dates for city government candidates from Lansing and Waukon began Monday, August 11 and will last through Thursday, August 28. If a Primary Election is required for either Lansing or Waukon, or both, it would be held Tuesday, October 7.
The top vote-getters at the Primary would then be candidates on the Regular City Election ballot November 4. All other cities in Allamakee County are Chapter 45 cities with candidate filing beginning August 25 and continuing through September 18.
WHAT IS A PRIMARY CITY?
If a city adopts Iowa Code Chapter 376 by ordinance for their election nomination process, and does not specify, by that same ordinance, that they are a Chapter 44 or 45 city, or does not choose Runoff Provisions, then they are a Primary City by default. The cities of Lansing and Waukon currently fall into the Primary City category.
City primary elections are non-partisan, as are all city elections. Candidates do not need to declare a political party on their nomination paperwork for any city election.
The earlier filing timeline for primary city candidates (August 11-28 this year) allows the Auditor’s office time to determine if a Primary Election is required, based on the number of candidates who filed paperwork for each seat on the ballot. If a City Primary Election is required, then ballots must be ordered as soon as possible, newspaper publication prepared, precinct workers hired, machines programmed and all other preparation steps finished.
WHO MOVES FORWARD TO NOVEMBER?
Of the candidates with the highest number of votes in a Primary Election, twice the number of candidates as will be elected will be placed on the November ballot for the Regular City Election. For a “vote for 1” race, the candidates with the two highest Primary Election vote totals will move on; for a “vote for 3” race, six will move on and be listed on the Regular City Election ballot.
For questions regarding the City Primary Election process or any other election related questions, contact the Allamakee Auditor’s office at 563-568-3522.
