What candidates must do to qualify for the ballot in Florida
If you're running for elected office in Florida, you will need to follow several steps in a particular order to qualify for the ballot. We break it down.
Last week on the tallyED Blog, we covered the initial paperwork candidates need to complete to get their campaign off the ground.
In case you missed it, the first two forms potential candidates need to file are as follows:
— Form DS-DE 9: Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Depository
— Form DS-DE 84: Statement of Candidate
Pursuant to Section 99.061(7) of the Florida Constitution, all items required for qualifying must be received in CORRECT and COMPLETE order by the end of the qualifying period. If they are not, you will not be deemed a qualified candidate.
There are two qualifying periods for 2024.
1st Qualifying Period for 2024: Federal (U.S. Senator, Congress), State Attorney (Judicial Circuits 1-19), Public Defender (Judicial Circuits 1-19), Judicial (Justices of the Supreme Court, District Court of Appeals and Circuit Court Judges)
Noon Monday, April 22, 2024 — Noon Friday, April 26, 2024
Note: The Florida Division of Elections will begin accepting qualifying documents on April 8, 2024. See Section 99.061(8).
2nd Qualifying Period for 2024: State Senator, State Representative, County Office and Special Districts
Noon Monday, June 10, 2024 — Noon Friday, June 14, 2024
Note: The Florida Division of Elections will begin accepting qualifying documents on May 27, 2024. See Section 99.061(8).
Qualifying paperwork for County and District offices MUST be submitted to your local Supervisor of Elections Office as the qualifying officer.
The following items must be received by your local Supervisor of Elections or the Florida Division of Elections no later than the end of the qualifying period:
1) Form DS-DE 9
2) Form DS-DE 84
3) Loyalty Oath
Depending on party affiliation and the type of office, file one of these forms:
— Federal Offices: DS-DE 300A, DS-DE 300B, DS-DE 300C
— State/Local Partisan Offices: DS-DE 301A, DS-DE 301B, DS-DE 301C
— School Board Races: DS-DE 304SB
— Judicial Races: DS-DE 303JU
— Nonpartisan Races: DS-DE 302NP
4) Financial Disclosure
Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests for the year 2023, either Form 1 or Form 6, depending on the office:
— Form 1 (Special Districts)
— Form 6 (County Offices)
5) Candidate Petitions or Qualifying Fee
Petition submission deadline for the 1st Qualifying Period is 12 p.m. March 25, 2024.
Petition submission deadline for the 2nd Qualifying Period is 12 p.m. May 13, 2024.
Petition Certification issued by the Supervisor of Elections
OR
Qualifying fee paid by a check from the campaign bank account
Items 3-5 cannot be accepted until the qualifying period.