Getting Started as a Candidate

Thinking about running for office in Orange County? This page will guide you through the key steps, forms, and requirements to become an official candidate. From filing the necessary paperwork to understanding qualifying fees and using petitions, we break down everything you need to know to get your campaign started on the right foot.

Understanding the Candidate Process

Running for office involves several steps that occur over the course of many months. These steps are required by Florida election law and ensure that candidates meet all legal requirements before appearing on the ballot. Although every campaign is different, most candidates follow the same general process.

Typical Candidate Timeline

Decide to run for office
File the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository Form DS-DE 9 (PDF)
File the Statement of Candidate Form DS-DE 84 (PDF) and, for Judicial candidates also Form DS-DE 83 (PDF)
Open a campaign bank account
Begin fundraising and campaign activity
Begin submitting campaign finance reports
Collect petition signatures or prepare to pay the qualifying fee
Submit required financial disclosure forms
Qualify during the official qualifying period
Continue campaigning through Election Day

TIP

Candidates are encouraged to start early so they have adequate time to meet all requirements and deadlines.

All required forms are available on the Florida Division of Elections website.

Preparing to Become a Candidate

Before officially filing as a candidate, it is important to review the requirements for the office you plan to seek. Each office has specific qualifications that may include residency requirements, district requirements, and political party requirements.

Before Filing, Candidates Should:

Confirm they meet all eligibility requirements for the office
Review residency requirements and district boundaries
Review political party affiliation requirements, if applicable
Identify a campaign treasurer
Select a financial institution for the campaign account
Decide whether to qualify by petition signatures or by paying the qualifying fee

TIP

Taking time to review these requirements before filing can help avoid issues later in the process.

Residency Requirements

Residency requirements vary by office. The following summarizes when a candidate must meet residency qualifications.

Must Be a Resident at the Time of Assuming Office

City Commissioner
Constitutional County Officers
Judges
School Board Members

Must Be a Resident at the Time of Election

County Commissioner
County Mayor

Must Be a Resident at the Time of Election and Meet Additional Requirements

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Cabinet Members: Have been a Florida resident for the preceding seven years.
State Senators and Representatives: Have lived in Florida for two years prior to the election and reside in the district from which they were elected. Legislators assume office on Election Day.

Federal Offices

U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives: Must be an inhabitant of the state when elected.

Write-In Candidates

Must meet the residency requirements for the office sought.

Party Affiliation Requirements

A candidate seeking to qualify as a political party candidate must have been a member of that party for 365 days before the start of the qualifying period.

A candidate seeking to qualify with no party affiliation (NPA) must not have been a member of any political party for 365 days before the start of the qualifying period.

For the 2026 Election Cycle, the Deadlines to Change Party Affiliation Were:

April 20, 2025: for the first qualifying period
June 8, 2025: for the second qualifying period.

Filing as a Candidate

The first official step in becoming a candidate is filing the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (Form DS-DE 9). This form establishes the campaign and identifies:ing petition qualifying information is as of the November 2024 General Election book closing.

The candidate
The office for which you are running
The campaign treasurer
The candidate’s political affiliation (for County Constitutional Offices only)
The campaign bank
The campaign account

Once the DS-DE 9 form is filed, candidates may open their campaign bank account and begin accepting contributions and making campaign expenditures. It is important to note that campaign activity, including fundraising and spending, cannot begin until this form is filed.

All Candidates

Within 10 days of filing the DS-DE 9, you must submit form DS-DE 84: Statement of Candidate. This form may be submitted with your other paperwork and confirms that you have read and understand the requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes, which include strict compliance requirements and potential penalties for violations.

Soil & Water Conservation Districts/Community Development Districts

A candidate who does not collect contributions and whose only expense is the filing fee or petition signature verification fee is not required to appoint a campaign treasurer or designate a primary campaign depository.

Judicial Candidates Only

Judicial candidates must also submit a Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office (DS-DE 83) within 10 days of filing the DS-DE 9. This form may also be submitted at the same time as your other paperwork.

TIP

Do not forget to Designate the Depository on Form 9, Line 18.

Campaign Finance Responsibilities

After filing as a candidate, campaign finance reporting becomes one of the most important responsibilities. Candidates must regularly report:

Campaign contributions
Campaign expenditures
Loans
Transfers

These reports provide transparency to voters and ensure compliance with Florida election law. Campaign finance reports must be filed on a regular schedule established by the state. Missing these deadlines can result in fines and other penalties.

Reporting Schedule

From the time a campaign treasurer is appointed until qualifying, reports must be filed by the 10th day following the end of each quarter. After the last day of qualifying, reports must be filed:

On the 60th day before the Primary Election.
Biweekly on each Friday through the 4th day before the General Election.
On the 25th and 11th days before both the Primary and General Elections.
A termination report must also be filed within 90 days after you become unopposed, are elected, eliminated, or withdraw.

Read more information on the Campaign Finance page.

Candidate qualifying

Qualifying is the final administrative step that places a candidate’s name on the ballot. To appear on the ballot, candidates must qualify through one of two methods: submitting petition signatures or paying the qualifying fee. During the qualifying period, candidates must submit all required forms and documentation to the appropriate filing officer.

Read more information on the Candidate Qualifying page.

Advertising & Disclaimers

Most political advertisements are required to include a disclaimer that clearly states who paid for the advertisement.

For candidates, the disclaimer should follow one of these formats:

“Political advertisement paid for and approved by (candidate name), (party affiliation), for (office sought)” or “Paid by (candidate name), (party affiliation), for (office sought)”

For write-in candidates, the disclaimer should read:

“Political advertisement paid for and approved by (candidate name), write-in candidate, for (office sought)” or “Paid by (candidate name), write-in candidate, for (office sought)”

These disclaimer requirements apply across a wide range of formats, including:

Printed materials such as mailers
Television and radio advertisements
Digital and online advertising

Exceptions

Candidate petitions
Items designed to be worn
Novelty items valued under $10, provided they do not oppose a candidate

Non-Incumbent Advertising Rules

The word “for” must appear in the advertisement between the candidate’s name and the office sought (e.g., “Jon Snow for Mayor”). This requirement does not apply to bumper stickers or wearable items.
The term “re-elect” may not be used by a candidate who is not the current officeholder.