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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, or use the district look up tool to find your districts. Are there residency requirements? Are you currently registered to vote in the jurisdiction? Ask the County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections Department to confirm this and, if not, get registered!
Get informed. The County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections Department provides resources for potential candidates, which includes a Candidate Guide.
Contact the County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections Department and notify the Candidates and Campaigns Department that you are a potential candidate (city candidates contact the City Clerk). 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.
Some offices require nomination petitions to be filed in order to qualify for the ballot. Please consult the Candidates and Campaigns Department 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 Candidate Report on the County of Sacramento Voter Registration and Elections Department's website to see if you are qualified. If the candidate report indicates that you are not qualified, call the Candidates and Campaigns Department 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.
Find information about candidate statements, district information and other campaign information by visiting our website.
