Candidates How to Run For Office

Very Important! You MUST file Form DS-DE 9, Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates, with the Supervisor of Elections BEFORE you collect any money toward your candidacy, spend any money in furtherance of your candidacy, collect signatures to qualify by the petition process, or open a bank account.

Within ten (10) days of filing the DS-DE 9, you must file Form DS-DE 84, Statement of Candidate (Form DS-DE 83 if judicial candidate), in which you affirm that you have been provided access to read and understand the requirements of Chapter 106 of the Florida Statutes, which covers campaign finance laws. Chapter 106, Florida Statute, can be found on the Division of Elections website.

Once you have filed the above-mentioned form, DS-DE 9, with the Supervisor of Elections Office, let your campaign begin!!! Make sure you are well educated on political disclaimers that must appear on signs, advertisements, mail-outs, and other campaign items. A Candidate and Campaign Treasurer Handbook can be found on the Division of Elections website.

Once you file your DS-DE 9, you are required to file campaign finance reports with the Supervisor of Elections on or before the designated due dates. All contributions collected, regardless of who contributes, must be tracked through the campaign account and must be reported. This includes any personal funds you, as the candidate gives to yourself to further your candidacy. Contributions also include expenses paid for by others and must be reported as an in-kind contribution to your campaign account. Any expenditures incurred throughout your candidacy must also be reported. If you have no activity in your campaign account for a certain reporting period, you may file a waiver of report. Reports shall be filed no later than midnight on the date due and must be filed through the online candidate financial reporting portal, which can be accessed through the Supervisor of Elections website.

Campaign Report Late Filling Fees

Pursuant to F.S. 106.07(8)(b) – A candidate who does not file a report on the designated due date, will be subject to a fine of $50 per day for the first 3 days late and, thereafter, $500 per day for each late day, not to exceed 25% of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by the report. However, for reports immediately preceding the primary and general elections, the fine will be $500 per day for each late day, not to exceed 25% of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by the late report. Such a fine shall be paid to the Supervisor of Elections within 20 days after receipt of the notice of payment due, unless an appeal is made to the Federal Elections Commission pursuant to paragraph (c). All fines are to be paid out of the candidate’s personal funds and not the campaign funds. These fines cannot be reported as a campaign expenditure.

Termination reports are due with the Supervisor of Elections office within 90 days of a candidate becoming unopposed, withdrawing from their candidacy, being eliminated, or becoming elected to office. Any candidate failing to file a termination report by the due date will be subject to a $50 per day fee for each late day, not to exceed 25% of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered by the late report.

2025 – 2026 CALENDAR OF REPORTING DATES AND TERMINATION REPORTS
You can access a list of Reporting Dates on the Supervisor of Elections website https://www.taylorelectionsfl.gov/campaign-finance-deadlines/

Pay the qualifying fee as listed below based on the office sought. Qualifying fees are payable from the candidate’s campaign account. For partisan candidates, the qualifying fee is 6% of the annual salary, and for nonpartisan candidates, the qualifying fee is 4% of the annual salary. Checks are made payable to the Taylor County Supervisor of Elections.

County Commissioners – $37,830.00 x 6% = $2,269.80
School Board – $34,398.00 x 4% = $1,375.92
City Council – $25.00 plus 1% election assessment
$14,600.19 x 1% = $146.01

Please note there is an additional 1% election assessment that city candidates must pay as required by the Florida Elections Commission (if the candidate is financially unable to pay the 1% election assessment, a signed sworn statement may be completed)

Or

Complete the candidate petition process:

• Obtain certified petition signatures of 1% of the total number of registered voters in the district in which the candidate is seeking, as of the last general election. (County Offices Only)
• Obtain certified petition signatures of 100 registered voters residing in the city district in which you are seeking, as per the requirements of the City Charter (City Offices Only)

Petition Signatures Required for 2026

Candidate Petition Due Date – (Noon) May 11, 2026

• School Board District 1 – 22 petitions (Precincts 12, 14)
• County Commissioner/School Board District 2 – 20 petitions (Precincts 2, 8)
• County Commissioner/School Board District 4 – 23 petitions (Precincts 1, 6, 7)
• City Council – 100 petitions in lieu of paying the $25.00 filing fee, along with a sworn statement of inability to pay (Districts 4, 5)

Petition Process

Before collecting any signatures, the candidate MUST file a form DS-DE 9, Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository with the Supervisor of Elections. The format of the petition shall be prescribed by the Division of Elections and shall be used by candidates to reproduce petitions for circulation. The Supervisor of Elections office shall be paid 10 cents for each signature checked. The candidate petition form can be found on the Division of Elections website, look for form DS-DE 104.

Candidates running for local offices:

1. Reside within the limits of the city and within the boundaries of the district for which the candidate seeks to qualify for at least six (6) months prior to the date of their qualifying for office. Per City Charter, six months prior to qualifying is December 8, 2025.
2. Complete an Oath of Candidate (Article II, Section 2.02(A) – City Charter)