Filing for Candidacy

Qualify To Be a Candidate

Unless otherwise specified, all candidates must be registered to vote in the state, qualified to vote in an election for the office sought, and 21 years of age by the date of the election. To find the specific requirements for certain offices, visit General Candidate Requirements.

File a Notice of Candidacy

Candidates must file their notice of candidacy with the proper board of elections. Download the form and find more information on where and how to file at the Notice of Candidacy page.

Pay the Appropriate Filing Fee

When a candidate files a notice of candidacy, he or she also must pay a filing fee for the office sought. Find a chart of filing fees by office type, as well as information about where candidates for specific offices file their notices of candidacy on the Filing Fees page.

Organize a Candidate Committee

Within 10 days of first activity, a candidate must file an Organizational Report. Find more information at Candidate Committees.

What Is the “First Activity”?

A candidate committee is required to register with a board of elections within ten days of taking the first among certain activities that are deemed to have begun the committee’s organization. The first of the following activities by the candidate starts the ten days:

1. Receiving money or anything of value in support of the campaign; or
2. Spending money in support of the campaign; or
3. Giving consent for anyone else to receive money or spend money for the purpose of bringing about that individual’s nomination or election for office; or
4. Filing a notice of candidacy.