Deadline: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 by 9:00pm to file the following required documents.

Certificate of Candidacy

A Certificate of Candidacy designating the individual as a candidate to appear on the Primary ballot for an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. Download the Statement of Organization.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates (a PDF is available for local candidates that describes the materials needed for filing). The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee.

Deadline: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 by 9:00pm to file the following required documents.

Certificate of Candidacy

A Certificate of Candidacy designating the individual as a candidate to appear on the Primary ballot for an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. Download the Statement of Organization.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates (a PDF is available for local candidates that describes the materials needed for filing). The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee.

(Only Green and Libertarian)

In order for a non-principal political party candidate to be placed on the General Election ballot on November 4, 2014, there are two major filing deadlines that must be met.

Deadline #1 – Tuesday, February 25, 2014 by 9:00p.m.

Declaration of Intent

A Declaration of Intent designating the individual as a candidate seeking the nomination of the political party to an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office. This action alone does not qualify a candidate for the General Election ballot.

Deadline #2 – Monday, August 4, 2014 by 5:00p.m.

The deadline to file the Statement of Organization, Financial Disclosure Statement, Certificate of Nomination, Certificate of Candidacy and filing fee are not required to be in person, however, they must be received by the election office by the deadline, and postmarks will not be accepted.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. This must be established prior to conducting any campaign finance activity.

Certificate of Nomination

The appropriate election office must receive official documentation, executed pursuant to the party’s constitution and/or by-laws, indicating the candidate’s nomination to the office sought. This document may come directly from the political party to the appropriate election office. If the appropriate election office does not receive the Certificate of Nomination, the candidate does not qualify for the ballot.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates. The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the General Election ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee. If filing by mail, it is not recommended to send cash.

After filing the required documents and payment of the fees, the Declaration of Intent automatically becomes the Certificate of Candidacy, making the candidate eligible to be placed on the General Election ballot.

In order for a petition candidate to be placed on the General Election ballot on November 4, 2014, there are two major filing deadlines that must be met.

Deadline #1 – Tuesday, February 25, 2014 by 9:00p.m.

Declaration of Intent

A Declaration of Intent designating the individual as a candidate seeking nomination by petition to an elective office must be filed in person at the appropriate election office. This action alone does not qualify a candidate for the General Election ballot.

Deadline #2 – Monday, August 4, 2014 by 5:00p.m.

The deadline to file the Statement of Organization, Financial Disclosure Statement, Petition, Certificate of Candidacy and filing fee are not required to be in person, however, they must be received by the election office by the deadline, and postmarks will not be accepted.

Statement of Organization

At the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy, a candidate for State or local office is also required to have established an authorized candidate campaign committee. This must be established prior to conducting any campaign finance activity.

Petition

File the petition containing the required number of signatures (PDF) for the office that you are seeking.

Financial Disclosure Form

A Financial Disclosure Form is required for all State and local candidates. The Financial Disclosure Form is to be filed with the controlling agency; however, it is the policy of the election boards to accept the form when a candidate files for office. The form covers the previous calendar year (not the current year in which the candidate files). It is important to note that a candidate for a state office and various county offices are required to have the financial disclosure form notarized. If the form is not notarized, it will be deemed not filed and the candidate will not appear on the General Election ballot. If filing for a judicial office, the candidate must file an original and one copy, otherwise it also will be deemed not filed. A candidate may file a receipt as proof if the candidate previously filed a financial disclosure form for the calendar year required for the candidacy. For additional information about filing the financial disclosure, please contact the appropriate controlling agency.

Filing Fee

Filing fees depend upon the office sought. The fee must be paid either by check, money order or cash. It is permissible for a state or local candidate’s campaign finance entity to pay the fee. If filing by mail, it is not recommended to send cash.

After filing the required documents and payment of the fees, the Declaration of Intent automatically becomes the Certificate of Candidacy, making the candidate eligible to be placed on the General Election ballot.

1. General Information

• Candidates must file a Certificate of Candidacy with the appropriate State or local election office depending on the office sought.
• A Statement of Organization to form an authorized candidate campaign committee must accompany the Certificate of Candidacy (unless the candidate is already associated with a candidate committee or if running for federal office).
• Candidates must file a financial disclosure statement in accordance with State or local law (if applicable for that office) prior to or at the time of filing the Certificate of Candidacy.
• A filing fee is not required for a write-in candidate.
• The candidate may file the Certificate of Candidacy by mail. All required documents should be mailed together. It is important to note, the Certificate of Candidacy and the Financial Disclosure Statement must be notarized for State office.

Recommendation: It is recommended that a write-in candidate file as early as possible in order to appear on various candidate lists including the write-in candidate list on the specimen ballots. Additionally, early filing enables the candidate the option to designate challengers and watcher at the polling place.

The Certificate of Candidacy may be filed in person. If filed in person, the candidate must provide identification (preferably a driver's license or official State ID).

2. Deadline

• Write-in candidates must file no later than the Wednesday before the General Election. If mailed, the appropriate election office must receive the Certificate of Candidacy and all requisite documents by the deadline. Timely postmarked or faxed copies will not be accepted. Original signatures are required. In no case will a filing be accepted later than 5:00 P.M. on the Wednesday before the General Election.
• However, if the write-in candidate or the authorized candidate campaign committee makes expenditures that are equal to or greater than $51 in the promotion of the candidate, then the Certificate of Candidacy must be file no later than 7 days after the $51 threshold is exceeded.

3. Campaign Finance Entity - Required

• Each write-in candidate must file a Statement of Organization to form an authorized candidate campaign committee except for federal Write-in candidates.
• The authorized candidate campaign committee must be formed regardless of whether the candidate plans to have any financial activity. The candidate committee is required to file campaign finance reports periodically during the election year.
• Candidates who do not plan to have campaign finance activity greater than $1,000 may file an Affidavit of Limited Contributions and Expenditures in lieu of a detailed campaign finance report. The Affidavit may be Efiled on this site. The Affidavit must be filed for every reporting period. Only when the Affidavit is marked final will the filing obligations end. It is the personal responsibility and liability of the Chairman and Treasurer of the committee to file the reports or Affidavit. The maximum late fee penalty is $250 per report.
• Prior to the campaign finance report filing deadline, the officers of the committee and the candidate will receive a pre-report notice (Blue postcard) in the mail. If you believe the notice was sent in error, please contact SBE immediately, otherwise late fees will accrue.

4. Voting

To cast a write-in vote on the voting machine

• Touch the box to the left of the word "Write-in" in the contest you wish to cast a write-in vote.
• Using the electronic keyboard, enter the candidate's name, last name first. Then press RECORD WRITE-IN to cast your vote. Your vote will not be counted unless the record button is pushed.
• Any abbreviation, misspelling, or minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate shall be disregarded in determining the validity of the write-in vote as long as the intended candidate can be determined. Writing the last name only will constitute a valid vote, unless there is more than one candidate with the same last name.
• Writing in the name of the candidate for Governor or the name of the Lieutenant Governor is sufficient to the cast of a vote for the joint office.
• Candidates may give out cards containing a diagram and instructions, including how to spell the candidate's name.

To cast a write-in vote on the audio ballot:

• A voter must select “Write-in” by following the audio ballot's recorded instructions for using the keypad to make selections.
• The voter will hear instruction for entering a write-in candidate's name using the keypad. Letters are assigned to the numeric keys similar to a telephone.
• The voter will use the keypad to enter, change and confirm each letter as he or she enters a write-in candidate's name.
• After entering a write-in candidate's name, the voter needs to follow the audio ballot's instructions to continue voting the rest of the ballot.
• The voter can follow the audio ballot's recorded instructions for changing a vote, including a write-in vote, before casing his or her ballot if he or she chooses.

To cast a write-in vote on an absentee or provisional ballot:

• A voter must write the name of the write-in candidate on the designated write-in line under the contest title.
• The voter must completely fill in the oval to the left of the write-in candidate's name.
• In the case of an absentee ballot, the voter will need to contact their local board of elections for a new ballot if he or she changes his or her mind after writing a write-in candidate's name before casting the ballot.
• In the case of a provisional ballot, the voter will need to see the Provisional Ballot Judge for a new ballot if he or she changes his or her mind after writing a write-in candidate's name before casting the ballot.