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2022 Candidate Information
Important notice to candidates - the deadline for prospective candidates for partisan offices to change party affiliation is June 12, 2021. Click here for more information.
Political sign ordinances are now consistent county-wide, click here for 2022 Campaign Sign Ordinance Dates.
What is a Candidate?
A candidate is defined in 97.021(3), Florida Statutes, as any person to whom any one or more of the following applies:
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Any person who seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of a petitioning process;
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Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate;
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Any person who receives contributions or makes expenditures or gives their consent for any other person to receive contributions or makes expenditures with a view of bringing about their nomination or election to, or retention in, public office;
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Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository; or
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Any person who files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law.
However, this definition does not include any candidate for a political party executive committee.
Note....
- County Commission candidates for districts 1-5 must reside in the district for which they are qualifying at the time of being elected to office;
- School board candidates must reside in the district for which they are qualifying at the time of qualifying;
- If required, one's current position or office must be resigned under the"resign to run" law (99.012(3), Florida Statutes).
When do I announce my candidacy?
- Candidacy may be announced at any time;
- Must file Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (FormDS-DE 9) with the Supervisor of Elections office before any contributions are accepted or expenditures are made (106.021, Florida Statutes);
- Must file a Statement of Candidate (Form DS-DE 84) within ten (10) days of filing the Appointmentof Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (106.023, Florida Statutes). The Statement of Candidate is provided by the Supervisor of Elections;
- A Judicial candidate must file a Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office (Form DS-DE 83) within ten (10) days of filing an Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (106.023, Florida Statutes). The Statement of Candidate is provided by the Supervisor of Elections.
- Legislative Candidates must contact the filing officer with the Department of State Division of Elections.
Is it possible to run for a different office after I become a candidate?
Yes, under 106.021(1)(a), Florida Statutes, you may change your mind and run for a different office after becoming a candidate, providing that you do the following;
- File a new Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository, designating the new office;
- Within 15 days of the new appointment, notify, in writing, all contributors and offer to return their contributions in full or pro rata. The Request for Return of Contributions (Form DS-DE 86) may be used for such purpose;
- If, after 30 days from this notice, the contributor has not requested his contribution to be returned, you may use the funds in the campaign for your newly designated office.
Important Dates
If qualifying by petition method, 170 valid Candidate Petitions must be completed and turned in by noon, May 16, 2022.
The Elections Office may begin accepting and holding qualifying papers for county candidates on May 31, 2022.
Official Qualifying Week (6/13/2022 - 6/17/2022). Begins at noon and ends at noon. Remaining qualifying papers are submitted.
Come In and See Us
If you are interested in becoming a candidate, please stop by our office to pick up a candidate packet and ask any questions you might have. For an electronic copy of the Candidate Handbook, click here.
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