How to become a candidate

The following is just the beginning. Please call our office at 407.585.VOTE and schedule an appointment to speak about the details of running for office in Seminole County.

Who can run for office?

Anyone who is a registered voter in Seminole County.

Candidate Forms Needed To Run and Qualify for Office:

Below are links to the initial filing documents that are needed to become a candidate as well as the qualifying documents needed. Available links below also include the Candidate, Political Committee, and State Qualifying Handbooks.

DS-DE 09 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository

DS-DE 83 Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office: must be filed within 10 days after filing Form DS-DE 9

DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate: must be filed within 10 days after filing Form DS-DE 9.

*You may announce your candidacy at any time; however, you may NOT open a campaign account, accept contributions, incur expenditures or collect signatures on a candidate petition until the above forms have been filed.*

• Candidate and Campaign Treasurer Handbook  (7/2023)
• 2024 Candidate Petition Handbook  (6/14/2023)
• 2024 Political Committee Handbook  (3/2023)
• 2024 State Qualifying Handbook (12/5/2023)

Forms to be filed during Qualifying period. Qualifying documents can be submitted no more than 14 days prior to the beginning of the qualifying period.

Form 6 information (Electronic)

Form 1 information (Electronic) For Special District Candidates

1. Candidate Oath (must be notarized). The Oath depends on the office being sought:

• State and Local Partisan Office - With Party Affiliation
• State and Local Partisan Office - No Party Affiliation
• State and Local Partisan Office - Write-In Candidate
• Nonpartisan Office
• School Board
• Judicial

2. Pay the Qualifying Fee, or Submit the Petition Certificate

• Candidates must submit the petitions to the Supervisor of Elections for verification prior to noon of the 28th day preceding the first day of the Qualifying Period.
• Candidates are required to pay a $0.10 per petition signature verification fee.
• Candidates who meet the required number of valid petitions required will be issued a Petition Certificate to submit during the Qualifying Period in lieu of paying the qualifying fee. Candidates who fail to qualify by the petition method will be required to pay the qualifying fee for the office sought in order to obtain ballot position.

Filing Officer

The filing officer is the person before whom a candidate qualifies:

• Division: State, multi-county district, and judicial offices (except county court judge)
• Supervisor of Elections: County court judge, countywide, and special district offices (except multi-county offices)
• Municipal Clerk: Municipal offices 

Does it cost any money to be a candidate?

It does not cost anything to decide and file to begin running for office. However, in order to become a qualified candidate with placement on the ballot you'll need to either pay a qualifying fee or collect petitions.

What are the qualifying fees?

The fees are based on a percentage of the salary of the position being sought and whether you are running for an office based on your party affiliation. 

Below are the 2024 qualifying fees:

• County Judge: $7,224.64
• Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller: $10,819.92
• Sheriff: $13,095.96
• Property Appraiser: $10,819.92
• Tax Collector: $10,819.92
• Supervisor of Elections: $10,819.92
• County Commissioner: $6,386.16
• School Board: $1,983.04
• Special Districts (Soil and Water Conservation; Dovera CDD): $25.00
  

Fees are due during qualifying week.

Where to File?

All qualifying fees and documents for county level offices open for election in Seminole County must be complete and received by the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections office before the end of qualifying period at the following address: 

Supervisor of Elections

1500 E Airport Boulevard

Sanford FL 32773  

What are the qualifying dates?

2024 Qualifying Dates:

• Federal and Judicial offices: April 22 (noon) – April 26 (noon)         
• State, county, and special district offices: June 10 (noon) – June 14 (noon)

Can I still run without paying the qualifying fee?

Yes. For countywide offices you can gather, and have verified by our office, petition forms signed by voters using form DS-DE 104 (Rev. 09/11) Candidate Petition Form:

DS-DE 104 (English)

DE-DE 104 (Spanish)

2024 Petition Requirements (F.S. 99.095):

• Seminole County Petition threshold: 3,416
• Federal and Judicial offices - Submission deadline: March 25, 2024 (noon)             
• State, county and special district offices - Submission deadline: May 13, 2024 (noon)

You may also choose to run as a write-in candidate where your name won't appear on the ballot but you will still be a candidate.

How much of my finances will become public record? 

As part of qualifying for office you'll have to complete a statement of financial interests. At a minimum, the disclosure includes where you receive your income and what you own. If you are running for a countywide office, the disclosure must include the amounts you receive and the value of your assets and liabilities.

How often do I report my fundraising totals?

Generally, these will need to be reported monthly for all candidates and committees; but as the election gets closer, they need to be reported more often.

What are the campaign sign regulations in Seminole County?

See below:

What are the solicitation boundaries at the polls?

See our candidate FAQs for more info.

What if I want to run for office in my city?

Candidates who wish to run for city-level offices should contact their city clerk, who is the qualifying officer for mayor, city commission, or city council. 

More information about each city’s elections can be found at the following links: 

Altamonte Springs

Casselberry

Lake Mary

Longwood

Oviedo

Sanford

Winter Springs

Have additional questions?

Please see our FAQs for even more answers...