Become a Candidate
A candidate is defined in 97.021(7), Florida Statues, as any person to whom any one or more of the following applies:
- Any person who seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of a petitioning process:
- Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate:
- Any person who receives contributions or makes expenditures or gives their consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures with a view to bringing about their nomination or election to, or retention in, public office:
- Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository; or
- Any person who files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate’s oath as required by law.
Announced Candidate
Any person who has made a public statement of intent to run for public office. This person MAY NOT collect petition signatures, open a checking account, accept any contributions or expend funds until he/she becomes a FILED CANDIDATE.
Filed Candidate
Any person who has appointed a campaign treasurer, designated a campaign depository for the purpose of depositing campaign contributions, and files form Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (DS-DE 9) with the Supervisor of Elections. This person MAY collect signatures, open a checking account, accept contributions or expend funds.
Qualified Candidate
Any person who files all of the required forms with the Supervisor of Elections during the qualifying period and will either pay the qualifying fee or qualify by petition. The candidate’s name is printed on the ballot.
THE REMOVAL OF A CANDIDATES SIGNS WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE CANDIDATE OR PROPERTY OWNER IS A CRIMINAL ACT AND IS SUBJECT TO THE PENALITIES PRESCRIBED UNDER F.S. 812.041.
- Candidacy may be announced at any time;
- Must file Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (Form DS-DE 9) with the Supervisor of Elections office BEFORE you collect any money toward your candidacy, spend any money in furtherance of your candidacy, collect signatures to qualify by the Petition Process, or open a bank account. (106.021, Florida Statutes);
- Must file a Statement of Candidate (Form DS-DE 84) within ten (10) days of filing the Appointment of 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 the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (106.023, Florida Statutes). The Statement of Candidate is provided by the Supervisor of Election
- Legislative Candidates must contact the filing officer with the Department of State Division of Elections.
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
1. The party of which the person is a member
2. That the person has been a registered member of the political party for which he or she is seeking nomination as a candidate for 365 days before the beginning of qualifying preceding the general election for which the person seeks to qualify.
