10 Things You Need to Know to Declare Your Campaign
10 Things You Need to Know to Declare Your Campaign
- Make sure you are qualified for the office that you seek.
Contact the relevant governing agency to find out the candidate
and officeholder requirements. Are there residency requirements?
Are you currently registered to vote in the jurisdiction? Ask the
San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division to confirm
this and, if not, get registered!
- Get informed. The San Mateo County Registration & Elections
Division provides resources for potential candidates including a
Candidate Guide and seminars for potential candidates.
- It is also important to know your Election Official. For school and special district candidates, the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division is the Election Official. For city candidates, the City Clerk is the Election Official.
- Contact the San Mateo County Registration & Elections
Division and notify the Filing Officer that you are a potential
candidate (city candidates contact the City Clerk). Make an
appointment to declare your candidacy. Forms cannot be mailed to
you. The Candidate Filing Period for regularly scheduled
elections opens 113 days before Election Day and closes 88 days
before Election Day.
- Don’t wait until the last minute to file your documents! If
there is a problem, you may not be able to fix it in time. Call
650.312.5222 to schedule an appointment during the filing period.
The San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division does not
schedule appointments for the last day of the filing period.
- Some offices require nomination petitions to be filed in
order to qualify for the ballot. Please consult the proper
Election Official to inquire about this requirement. Candidates
should pick up their nomination papers early in the Candidate
Filing Period to allow enough time for signature gathering and
certification.
- Be prepared to fill out a Statement of Economic Interest,
Form 700, and disclose personal financial holdings. Download Form
700 on the Fair Political Practices Commission’s website.
- Don’t forget your checkbook when filing your candidate
statement. Payment MUST be submitted with your statement, or the
statement will not be accepted!
- After you file to run for office, check the Roster of
Candidates on the San Mateo County Registration & Elections
Division’s website to see if you are qualified. If the
roster of candidates indicates that you are not qualified, call
the Filing Officer to see what you still have to do to get
qualified.
- Research state regulations regarding the political activity
of candidates by contacting the
Secretary of State at 916.653.6224 and the Fair Political Practices
Commission at 866.275.3772.
- Visit the League of Women Voters website to learn about services offered to candidates. Find information about candidate statements, district information and other campaign information.