How to Become a Candidate
The information provided below is a BRIEF overview of what it takes to become a candidate. Requirements may vary depending on the specific office you seek to qualify for.
| BE ADVISED |
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These guidelines are for reference only. They are not to be construed as legal advice or representation. For any particular set of facts or circumstances, refer to the applicable state, federal law, and case law, and/or consult a private attorney before drawing any legal conclusions or relying upon this information.
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| IMPORTANT NOTICE |
You MUST be a FILED Candidate BEFORE you can:
Open a campaign bank account, Collect petitions, Collect ANY contributions or Make ANY expenditures. |
Who can become a candidate?
(section 99.021, F.S.)
| To become a candidate for an Okeechobee County office you MUST: |
1. Be a qualified elector (registered voter) of Florida.
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2. Live within the county or district designated at the time of assuming office.
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3. If you are running for County Commission, you must live within the district designated at the time of election.
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| 4. If you are running for School Board, you must live within the district designated at time of assuming office. |
What is a candidate?
(SECTIONS 97.021 (5), OR 106.011 (3), F. S.)
| A candidate means a person to whom any one of the following applies: |
- Appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository;
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- Seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of a petitioning process;
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- Seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate;
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- Receives contributions or makes expenditures, or gives their consent for any other person to receive contributions, make expenditures, with a view to bringing about their nomination or election to, or retention in, public office;
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- Files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law.
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- However, this definition does not include any candidate for a political party executive committee.
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Candidate Status
Announced Candidate:
Any person who has made a public statement of intent to run for public office. This person MAY NOT collect petition signatures, open a checking account, accept any contributions or expend funds until he/she becomes a FILED CANDIDATE.
Filed Candidate:
Any person who has appointed a campaign treasurer, designated a campaign depository for the purpose of depositing campaign contributions, and files form DS-DE 9 (Appointment of Campaign Treasurer) with the filing officer. After the DS-DE 9 has been officially filed with the filing officer this person MAY collect signatures, open a checking account, accept contributions or expend funds.
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Required Paperwork for Filed Candidate Status
(sections, 106.021, 106.023, and 105.031, F.S.)
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DS-DE 9
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Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and
Designation of Campaign Depository |
DS-DE 84
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Statement of Candidate |
DS-DE 83
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Statement of Candidate (Judicial Candidates ONLY) |
Qualified Candidate:
Any person who files all of the required forms with the Supervisor of Elections during the qualifying period and either pays the qualifying fee or qualifies by petition. Candidate's name is printed on the ballot.
Where to File:
Office Sought
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Qualifying Officer
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• State
• Multi-County District
• Circuit Judge
• Legislative
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Department of State
Division of Elections |
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• Constitutional Officers
• County Commission
• County Court Judge
• School Board
• Soil and Water Conservation District
• Precinct Committeemen &
Committeewomen
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Supervisor
of Elections |
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• City of Okeechobee
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Municipal Clerk |
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| NOTE... |
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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;
School Board candidates must reside in the district for which they are qualifying at the time of qualifying;
Write-In candidates who are running for a district office that has a residency requirement, must reside in the district at the time of qualifying;
If required, one's current position or office must be resigned under the "resign to run" law (99.012(3), Florida Statutes).
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