IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CANDIDATES
The party change deadline for the 2024 Election Cycle was June 11, 2023. Candidates who run in a Partisan race to have been a registered member of the political party 365 days before the beginning of qualifying. This includes persons seeking to qualify for office as a candidate with no party affiliation.
We've compiled some information that we hope you'll find helpful. For more information, please feel free to call us at (850) 674-8568.
What is a candidate?
A candidate is defined in Sections 97.021(3) and 106.011(16), Florida Statutes (F.S.), 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 the 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 his or her consent 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.
- Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository.
- 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.
Please keep the following in mind:
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County Commission candidates must reside in the district for which they are qualifying at the time of being elected to office.
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School Board candidates must by the date she or he assumes office, be a resident of the district school board member residence area from which she or he was elected.
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If required, one's current position or office must be resigned under the "resign to run" law (s. 99.012(3), F.S.).
- S. 99.021(1)(b) and (c), F.S., respectively require that candidates for party nomination have been a member of that particular party for the 365 days prior to the beginning of the qualifying period, and that candidates running without party affiliation have not been a member of any party for that period. Candidates that do not meet those requirements can still qualify as write-in candidates.
When do I announce my candidacy?
You may tell folks at any time that you plan to run for office, however:
Is it possible to run for a different office after I become a candidate?
Yes, under s. 106.021(1)(a), F.S., you may change your mind and run for a different office after becoming a candidate, providing that you do the following;
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File a new “Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository,” designating the new office.
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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.
Call or visit our office! If you’re thinking about becoming a candidate, please give us a call or stop by our office for more information.