CHAPTER 3: CANDIDATE FILING PROCESS
This section of the guide contains information regarding the forms required to file for office, how to select a ballot designation, and how to submit a candidate statement.
To become a candidate for office, candidates must file various documents with the Registrar of Voters and may have to pay certain fees. For the November 5, 2024, General Election, candidates may request candidate filing documents beginning July 15, 2024, and must return the completed candidate filing documents by 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024. A non-refundable filing fee (see section A) must be paid to the elections official before candidate filing documents will be issued for certain offices. To help candidates reduce the amount of their required filing fee, candidates may circulate and submit a Petition In-Lieu of Filing Fee (see section B). This petition contains signatures of registered voters within the candidate’s district, and each valid signature on the petition will reduce the filing fee.
For certain offices, candidates must collect a designated number of valid signatures on a Nomination Petition (see section C) and submit that petition when filing to run for office.
To officially declare themselves a candidate for office, all candidates must file a Declaration of Candidacy form (see section D) . On the Declaration of Candidacy form, candidates declare which office they are running for, how their name shall appear on the ballot, and whether or not they want a ballot designation to appear on the ballot under their name. If a candidate wants a ballot designation, they must complete a Ballot Designation Worksheet (see section E). Candidates may elect to compose and submit a statement of qualifications, commonly known as a Candidate Statement that will be printed in the County Voter Information Guide. If a candidate wants a statement printed in the guide, they must indicate this request on the Candidate Statement Form (see section F).
Potential candidates for city offices must request and file candidate filing documents with the City Clerk of that city.
You may schedule an in-person or online candidate filing appointment on our website at Elections.SBCounty.gov. Online candidates for the November 5, 2024, General Election will meet online with a staff member of the Registrar of Voters’ office for help completing their forms using a video conferencing application. Important: All candidates must deliver their original Declaration of Candidacy with a wet signature by mail or in-person to the Registrar of Voters office no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024.
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