What is a Candidate?
A candidate is defined in F.S. 97.021(7) 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 a petitioning process.
- Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate
- Any person who receives contributions, makes expenditures, or gives their consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures witha a view to bringing about their 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.
Do I need to live in the district when I qualify?
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 assuming office.
Candidate Party Change
Any candidate seeking to qualify for nomination as a candidate of any political party shall, at the time of subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in writing that they have not been a registered member of any other political party for 365 days before the beginning of qualifying preceding the general election for which the person seeks to qualify (F.S. Section 99.021)
- A person seeking nomination as a candidate for a political party bust be a member of that political party for 365 days before the beginning of the qualifying period.
- A person seeking to qualify for office as a candidate with no party affiliation cannot be a member of a political party 365 days before the beginning of the qualifying period.
OFFICE ADDRESS
401 Long Avenue
Port St Joe, FL 32456
OFFICE HOURS
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (ET)
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (CT)
Monday – Friday
QUICK LINKS
Florida Division of Elections
Florida Commission on Ethics
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