Disclaimer: This is not legal advice; consult your election office or a professional for guidance.
Pre-Election Steps to Run for Local or State Office
1. Determine Eligibility
Research the basic qualifications for the office you’re interested in, such as age, residency, and voter registration status. These details are typically available through your state’s election website or local election office.
2. Choose the Office
Decide which specific position you want to run for, whether it’s a local role (e.g., city council, school board) or a state role (e.g., state representative, governor). Each office may have its own rules and filing processes.
3. Gather Information
Contact your local or state election office to get the necessary forms, deadlines, and details about the process. This might include nomination petitions, candidacy forms, or other paperwork required to officially declare your intent to run.
4. File as a Candidate
Submit a declaration of candidacy or similar paperwork to the appropriate election authority (e.g., county election office for local races or state election office for state races). This often involves providing personal information and paying a filing fee, if applicable.
5. Collect Signatures (if required)
For many offices, you’ll need to gather a certain number of signatures from registered voters on a petition to qualify for the ballot. The election office will provide the petition forms and specify how many signatures are needed and by when.
6. Submit Petitions
Once signatures are collected, turn in the completed petitions to the election office by the designated deadline. The office will verify the signatures to ensure they meet the requirements.
7. Set Up a Campaign Structure
Establish how you’ll manage your campaign. This could involve opening a campaign bank account, forming a campaign committee, or designating someone to handle finances and record-keeping.
8. Understand Financial Reporting
Learn about campaign finance rules from the election office, including any thresholds for contributions or spending that trigger reporting requirements. Obtain the forms and filing dates needed to track donations and expenses.
9. Plan Your Campaign
Develop a strategy to reach voters. This might include creating campaign materials (e.g., signs, flyers), attending community events, or requesting a walking list (a list of registered voters, often available to candidates) from the election office.
10. Appoint Watchers (if desired)
For election day, you may be allowed to designate a limited number of poll watchers to observe the voting process in districts where you’re on the ballot. Check with the election office for rules and limits.
11. Prepare for Write-In Option (if applicable)
If you’re running as a write-in candidate instead of appearing on the ballot, confirm the process with the election office. Some jurisdictions suggest providing voters with cards or stamps showing your name as registered.
Key Notes
- Deadlines are critical—missing them could disqualify you. Get a calendar of dates from the election office.
- All forms, fees, and requirements depend on your location and the office you’re seeking.
- For specifics (e.g., number of signatures, filing fees, or exact forms), reach out to your county or state election office directly.
- This is a high-level guide based on typical steps candidates follow. To proceed, your next move would be contacting your local or state election office for the detailed requirements tailored to your situation.