Qualifying

Pre-Qualifying

A potential candidate should first check with the Supervisor of Elections to verify which district/seats are up for re-election.

Residency requirements

Some offices have residency requirements:

• County Commission candidates - must reside in the district for which they are qualifying at the time of being elected to office FS 100.041(2)(a) provides that a county commissioner is deemed elected on the date that the county canvassing board certifies the results of an election. (Effective 1/1/2008)
• School Board candidates - must reside in the district for which they are qualifying at the time of qualifying.

Depository/treasurer requirements

A potential candidate must use form DS-DE 9 to designate a depository (bank) and appoint a treasurer before:

• Qualifying for office
• Obtaining petitions
• Accepting contributions
• Making expenditures

FS 106.021

Party affiliation

If you plan to run for an office as a partisan candidate, please be aware of FS 99.021(2)(b) which states:

• In addition, any person seeking to qualify for nomination as a candidate of any political party shall, at the time of subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in writing:
  1. The party of which the person is a member.
  2. That the person has not been a registered member of any other political party for 365 days before the beginning of qualifying preceding the general election for which the person seeks to qualify.

Pre-Qualified candidates (click here to obtain candidate forms)

You are considered a pre-qualified candidate after you:

• Designate a depository (bank)
• Appoint a treasurer

Pre-qualified Candidates:

• Can begin collecting petitions
• Can begin accepting contributions
• Can begin making expenditures
• Must begin filing periodic reports

Petition Process

As an alternative to paying the qualifying fee, a pre-qualified candidate may qualify by means of the petitioning process. FS 99.095

Number of Signatures Required

The number of valid signatures required is:

• Equal to one percent (1%) of the total number of Hernando County registered voters as of the last general election
• 1,234 for a candidate seeking county office in 2014

Valid Signatures Due By

The required amount of valid signatures must be submitted to the Supervisor of Elections office for verification:

• Before Noon, May 5, 2014

Notification from SOE

Prior to the first day of Official Qualifying:

• The Supervisor of Elections will notify you, in writing with a Petition Certification Form, whether the required number of valid signatures were obtained

Your Petition Certification Form must be filed at the time of Official Qualifying.

Petition Fees

The $0.10 per signature (valid or invalid) checked fee must be paid:

• Prior to qualifying

Undue Burden

If you find that paying the fee is a burden on your campaign, you may be exempted from paying this fee by filing with the Supervisor of Elections office at the time petitions are submitted for verification:

• Form DS-DE 19D Affidavit of Undue Burden 

Official Qualifying

Qualifying Dates

Potential candidates may pre-qualify (pre-file) at any time, however, there are specific Official Qualifying dates.

Qualifying Dates

Noon, April 14 – Noon, April 18, 2014

*Note: Qualifying papers will be accepted beginning
March 31, 2014, pursuant to Section 99.061(8), F.S.

• U.S. Representative
• Judicial
• State Attorney & Public Defender (20th Circuit only)

Noon, June 2 – Noon, June 6, 2014

*Note: Qualifying papers will be accepted beginning
May 19, 2014, pursuant to Section 99.061(8), F.S.

• Governor and Cabinet
• State Senator
• State Representative
• County Offices
• Special Districts

Forms Needed for Qualifying

Approximately 30 days prior to the start of Official Qualifying, the Supervisor of Elections will mail each pre-qualified candidate:

• Forms needed for qualifying
• Any other necessary information needed for qualifying

Qualifying Fees

A candidate may qualify for office by paying a qualifying fee.

Partisan Candidates

The fee for partisan candidates is:

• 6% of one year's salary of the office sought

Fee breakdown:

• 3% Filing fee
• 2% Party Assessment
• 1% Election Assessment*

Nonpartisan Candidates

The fee for nonpartisan candidates is:

• 4% of one year's salary of the office sought

Fee breakdown:

• 3% Filing Fee
• 1% Election Assessment*

 * Note: The Election Assessment goes to the Florida Elections Commission.

List of Fees for County Offices

For a list of qualifying fees for county offices, contact:

• The Supervisor of Elections (352) 754-4125

Additional information about qualifying

For additional information on candidate qualifying, please visit the:

• Florida Division of Elections website