So, you think you may want to run for office? Most first-time candidates, and many experienced candidates, have lots of questions about the process. In an effort to address some of those questions, what follows is an explanation of some of the basics of becoming a candidate for office. By no means is this meant to be a comprehensive explanation of everything a candidate needs to know. Once a candidate files, he or she will receive a complete candidate handbook with all relevant information. In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact our Candidate Qualifying department at (850) 595-3908 or (850) 595-3900.

In addition, you may click here to view a PowerPoint presentation that helps explain the process (this may be a long download over a dial-up connection). If you cannot view the PowerPoint version of the presentation, a .pdf version is available here. (This too is intended merely to summarize the process of becoming a candidate, and is not meant to be a comprehensive explanation of all relevant portions of Florida's Election Laws.)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CANDIDATE?
A candidate is any person to whom any one or more of the following applies. A person who:

• Seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of the petitioning process
• Seeks to qualify for nomination or election as a write-in candidate
• Receives contributions or makes expenditures, or consents for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bringing about his or her nomination or election to, or retention in, public office
• Appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository
• Files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law

HOW DO I BECOME A CANDIDATE?
The first thing that you must do is file the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository, Form DS-DE 9, with the filing officer. A candidate must designate the office for which he or she is a candidate at the same time he or she appoints a campaign treasurer and designates a campaign depository. A candidate may appoint a campaign treasurer and designate a campaign depository at any time, but no later than the date a candidate files for office. Nothing prohibits a person from announcing his or her intention to become a candidate prior to filing a Form DS-DE 9, so long as no contributions are received and no expenditures are made.

Next, the Statement of Candidate, Form DS-DE 84, must be filed by the candidate with the filing officer within 10 days after filing Form DS-DE 9.  This form states that the candidate has received, read, and understands the requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.

WHAT IS QUALIFYING FOR OFFICE, AND HOW AND WHEN DO I DO IT?
Qualifying is a term that is used when referring to the legal process to get a candidate's name on the ballot to be considered for election. The process, which is described below, is required by law.

Candidate qualification for State and Local Candidates begins Noon, June 16, 2008, and ends Noon, June 20, 2008. For Federal and Judicial Candidates, qualifying begins Noon, April 28, 2008, and ends Noon, May 2, 2008.

For local offices in Escambia County, your filing officer is:
Honorable David H. Stafford
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
Post Office Box 12601
213 Palafox Place, 2nd Floor
Pensacola, FL 32591-2601
Phone: (850) 595-3900

For multi-county and statewide offices, your filing officer is:
Division of Elections
RA Gray Building, Room 316
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
Phone: (850) 245-6200

At qualifying time, you must file additional papers, which can be obtained from your filing officer. You may file your papers in person with the filing officer, or you may mail your qualifying papers to the above address. Qualifying papers must be received, and in order, at the office of the Supervisor of Elections prior to noon on the last day of qualifying.

DOES IT COST ANYTHING TO QUALIFY?
Candidates must pay a qualifying fee or file by the petition process, unless filing as a write-in candidate.

In general, the qualifying fees for partisan candidates is 6% of the annual salary of the office the candidate is seeking. The qualifying fee for nonpartisan candidates is 4% of the annual salary of the office the candidate is seeking. A specific dollar amount can be obtained here. The qualifying fee must be paid from a check drawn on the campaign account. The Florida Statutes provide that your qualifying fee will be returned only if you withdraw from your candidacy BEFORE qualifying ends. (Fees for municipal candidates are different -- contact the Supervisor of Elections office for additional information).

Florida Statute (99.095) provides for qualifying by petition process.  Any person who qualifies by this process shall not be required to pay the qualifying fee or party assessment. The number of petitions required for a specific local office can be found here. For more information about the petitioning process, contact the filing officer for the office you seek.