Information for Candidates

Candidate Filing Week is May 15 - 19. 

For best results, use a PC or laptop and Google Chrome to file. Mobile devices are not recommended.

The candidate portal will stop receiving and processing declarations at 4:00 p.m. sharp. Submit your filing before 4 p.m.

Requirements to file online (filing opens May 15 at 9 a.m. - closes May 19 at 4:00 p.m.) 

• Be registered to vote in the district (or precinct for PCO’s) for which you are filing.
• Pay filing fee online with Visa, MasterCard or American Express (cash or check only if in person) Your name will not appear on any official lists as a candidate for office until your Declaration of Candidacy is approved and your filing fee is paid. (No filing fee required for Precinct Committee Officers.)
• Provide a valid email address and phone number.
• Use a campaign mailing address, phone number, email, and website address when you file for office. If you don’t, your voter registration address will be published online in the list of candidates who have filed.
• Last day for a candidate to withdraw is May 22, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

Voters’ Pamphlet Information

Must be submitted online. Deadline to submit information is the week after filing week closes - Friday, May 26, at 4:30 p.m.
 
You will receive an email after your Declaration of Candidacy as been approved with a link to submit your voters’ pamphlet information. 

PCO’s - No pamphlet information required. This office is not included in voters’ pamphlet.  Click here Version OptionsInformation for CandidatesHeadline Version OptionsInformation for CandidatesHeadline to learn more about PCO's.

Have your biography information, statement, and photo ready before you start the pamphlet submittal process. Candidates are not given an opportunity to correct submissions.     

Please prepare the following three items in advance: 

1. Biography - Word limit - 100

The biographical information must be 100 words or less allocated between four subsection headings.

Biographical information should be organized in accordance with the four subsection headings listed below. Subsection headings are not included in the word count. See pages 11-14 of candidate election guide for rules and formatting.

• Elected Experience. (Judges use Legal/Judicial Experience) 
• Other Professional Experience. 
• Education. 
• Community Service. 

When a candidate doesn’t submit information for a particular subsection heading, “No information submitted” will appear in that subsection area.

2. Statement - Word limit 

• State Senator – 200 words - 4 paragraphs
• State Representative – 100 words - 2 paragraphs
• County offices – 200 words - 4 paragraphs
• Judicial offices – 200 words - 4 paragraphs
• Local offices – 200 words - 4 paragraphs

Hyphenated or slashed words will be counted as a separate words. (Example - "Around-the-corner" = 3 words)      

3. Photo

• Submit one portrait photo -  jpeg or .tiff (Head and shoulders) For best results use a light-colored background, (not white).
• Photos should be less than 1 MB, (If larger, photos take will take too long to load for the online guide.)  
• Clothing or insignia that suggest holding a public office are not allowed (e.g., judicial robes, law enforcement or military uniforms).
• Color or black and white photo. (Color will be used in the online guide, and converted to black and white for the printed Local Voters’ Pamphlet.)
• Candidate photos from previous local voters’ pamphlets are not available for reuse. Candidate must submit a new photo online.

Additional Resources

Public Disclosure Commission
Candidates are advised to verify that they are in compliance with all state, county, and local laws.

Archived Election Information
Looking for examples of candidate statements? See voters’ pamphlets from previous elections.

OSOS Candidate Filing Information

Withdrawal Form

Filing Fee Petition Template