What are campaign finance reports? What if my reports are Campaign finance reports list any contributions incomplete or contain errors? you collect and expenditures you make as a You are responsible for filing complete and accurate How to Run candidate. You must submit these reports on a campaign finance reports in compliance with all continuing basis from the time you file to run for election laws. If your campaign finance report office until your candidacy ends. Campaign finance is incomplete, or contains errors, our office will for reports are public records and available to view on notify you of the issue. You will then need to file an LeonVotes.gov. amended report fixing any issues. Local Office When are reports due? How can I avoid reporting errors? State law sets a strict schedule of due dates for If you have any questions, contact our office to ask campaign finance reports. Initially, reports are for assistance. due monthly. Closer to the election, reports are • File reports on time. Begin working on reports due biweekly after the qualifying period, and early and keep track of deadlines. then weekly just before the election. When your campaign ends, you must file a final termination • Gather required information from all contributors, report. This report shows how you disposed of any including name, address, and occupation. List remaining campaign funds. It is due 90 days after accurate descriptions of the occupation when the date your candidacy ends. The full schedule of required. due dates can be found at LeonVotes.gov. • List each individual contributor separately. • What happens if I file reports late? Know the contribution limit per contributor per election. Do not accept contributions which You may be fined if you file a late report. Fines must exceed the limit. be paid using your personal funds, not campaign funds. These fines can become expensive. The • Maintain a positive campaign account amounts are based on how late the report was filed balance. Total contributions must exceed total and the amount of funds reported. expenditures. 32314-7357 • Use campaign funds directly from the campaign How do I file my reports? account to make purchases. Be careful when You must file campaign finance reports through the using petty cash or reimbursements. Mark S. Earley online system on LeonVotes.gov. Our office will Supervisor of Elections MARK S. EARLEY S. MARK issue your credentials to access the online system ELECTIONS OF SUPERVISOR 7357 BOX P.O. FL TALLAHASSEE, 2990-1 Apalachee Parkway after you file to run for office. Tallahassee, FL 32301 You must enter any contributions or expenditures (850) 606-8683 • LeonVotes.gov that fall within the reporting period. You must [email protected] submit a waiver if you have no contributions or expenditures during a reporting period. @LeonVotes Running for Local Office The following information is provided for general reference and does not constitute legal advice. Interested parties should refer to the Florida Statutes and applicable case law. 1 2 3 4 5

Who is a candidate? FILE TO RUN SUBMIT REPORTS QUALIFY ELECTION END OF CANDIDACY A candidate is anyone interested in running for COLLECT PETITIONS FINAL REPORT office who seeks to appear on the ballot or to receive write-in votes. Candidates collect campaign If you are seeking judicial office, you must also contributions to pay for campaign expenditures and What is qualifying? appoint a person or themselves to serve as their file the Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office Candidates must qualify to seek nomination or What is the candidate petition process? (Form DS-DE 83) within 10 days. This form affirms treasurer of campaign funds. Candidates must first election to office. During qualifying, you will finalize 1. Gather petitions. To waive qualifying you have read and understand the requirements of file to run for office, then qualify to seek nomination your ballot readiness by submitting required forms fees, you may gather a minimum number the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. or election to office. and fees. Please visit LeonVotes.gov for more of petition forms signed by voters. The You may file all of the initial forms at the same time. information about specific qualifying requirements. number depends on which office you Can I announce that I want to run for office Candidates may submit qualifying forms during are seeking. Voters must live within before filing any paperwork? Where do I file forms and documents? the pre-qualifying period, 14 days before the start the district for your office to sign your You may announce your intention to become a Candidates for local offices in Leon County file with of qualifying. You must complete the qualifying petitions, except after the census in a year candidate before filing any paperwork. However, the Supervisor of Elections: process by noon on the last day of the qualifying of apportionment. you cannot open a campaign bank account, collect period. If you fail to qualify, your candidacy will end Mark S. Earley, Leon County Supervisor of Elections 2. Submit petitions. Submit your petitions to contributions, make expenditures, or collect and you will not make the ballot. Post Office Box 7357 the Supervisor of Elections for verification. petitions until you officially file to run for office. Our office will verify that your petitions 2990-1 Apalachee Parkway Does it cost anything to qualify? Tallahassee, FL 32301 are complete and correct. If a petition How do I file to become a candidate? It depends on the method used to qualify. You Phone: (850) 606-8683 form contains incorrect information or it First, you must file the Appointment of Campaign may pay a qualifying fee, which is determined is not complete, it will not count towards Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository Candidates for federal, statewide, and multi-county by the office you are seeking. If you are running qualifying. The deadline to submit (Form DS-DE 9). This form lists your candidate offices file with the Division of Elections: for office with a party affiliation, there is a party petitions for verification is noon, 28 days assessment fee you must pay as well. You can waive information, including the office you seek, your Division of Elections before the start of qualifying. You should qualifying fees by gathering the signatures of voters political party affiliation (as appropriate), the bank RA Gray Building, Room 316 submit your candidate petitions well in on candidate petitions. There are no fees to qualify that will hold your campaign account, and the name 500 South Bronough Street advance of the deadline. as a write-in candidate. However, as a write-in of your campaign treasurer. Upon filing this form, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250 3. Pay verification fees. You must pay a fee candidate your name will not appear on the ballot. you become a filed candidate. You may then open Phone: (850) 245-6200 of $0.10 per petition to the Supervisor of Instead, there will be a blank space for voters to a campaign account, collect contributions, make Elections for verification. The fee is due write your name. expenditures, and collect petitions. I filed to run for office. Now what happens? at the time you submit your petitions. Next, you must file the Statement of Candidate Filing to run is only the first step. After you become If you are unable to pay the petition fee, (Form DS-DE 84) within 10 days of filing Form a candidate, you must submit regular campaign you may file an Affidavit of Undue Burden DS-DE 9. This form affirms you have read and finance reports. You also must qualify during the (Form DS-DE 19A). understand Florida campaign finance laws and rules. qualifying period to seek nomination or election.