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Meet Wesley

STEPS TO BECOME A CANDIDATE

The materials on this page should answer many of the questions you may have about filing/qualifying for office, but it is not comprehensive. It is your responsibility, as a candidate, to follow all relevant Florida election laws and local charters that might have a bearing on your filing or your qualifications to run for office. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact our Candidate Services department at 352-620-3290 or Candidates@VoteMarion.Gov.

The information on this page applies to candidates for county office, who qualify with our office. Candidates for federal, state or multi-county offices should contact the Florida Division of Elections.

STEP 1 - File Your Intent:

File with the Election Center the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository, form DS-DE 9.

This form MUST be filed prior to opening the campaign depository, accepting contributions, making expenditures, or circulating petition forms. Filing your intent for candidacy is not complete until filing forms are accepted and date/time stamped by the Marion County Election Center.

Special District candidates are not required to file DS-DE 9 or open a campaign account unless you collect contributions or make expenditures for anything other than the filing fee or petition verification fee. (F.S. 99.061)

STEP 2 - File Statement of Candidate:

Within 10 days after filing the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository, you MUST file a Statement of Candidate, form DS-DE 84, indicating that you have been provided access to, read, and understand the requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes.

Judicial Candidates MUST also file a Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office: DS-DE 83.

STEP 3 - Choose Your Qualifying Method:

Petition Process (F.S. 99.095 , Rule 1S-2.045)

A person who seeks to qualify as a candidate for any office (excluding Municipal candidates) and who meets the petition requirements is not required to pay the qualifying fee, party assessment or election assessment.

Information about petition requirements and verification fees will be available at a later date.

Petitions, form DS‐DE 104, may be gathered and submitted to the Election Center any time after filing form DS‐DE 9.

For petition guidelines, refer to the Candidate Petition Handbook provided by the Florida Division of Elections and Rule 1S‐2.045.

Pay Qualifying Fee (F.S. 99.092)
Information on qualifying fees will be available at a later date.

The qualifying fee must be paid with a check drawn on the campaign account and signed by the campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer.

In lieu of the petition method a Special District candidate may pay a $25.00 qualifying fee during the official qualifying period.

Write-In Candidate (F.S. 99.061)
A Write‐In Candidate:

  • Is not required to pay a filing fee, election assessment fee, or party assessment fee.
  • Is not required to submit nominating petitions.
  • Is not entitled to have his or her name printed on the ballot.

STEP 4 - Qualify During the Official Qualifying Period:

All candidates are required to qualify during the official qualifying period.

If the candidate is running for a county office, special district office, or party executive committee, the qualifying officer is:

The Honorable Wesley Wilcox, Supervisor of Elections

Qualifying location:
Marion County Election Center.
981 NE 16th Street
Ocala, FL 34470

If the Candidate is running for a municipal office, the qualifying officer is the Clerk of that municipality.

CANDIDATE QUALIFYING FORMS

It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that he or she files all required forms and timely completes the candidate qualifying process.

A form is considered "filed" when it is accepted and date/time stamped by the Marion County Election Center.

JUDICIAL

Initial Filing:

DS-DE 9: Appointment of Campaign Treasurer/ Designation of Campaign Depository

DS-DE 83: Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office

DS-DE 84: Statement of Candidate

Filed during Qualifying:

DS-DE 303JU: Judicial Office Candidate Oath

Form 6: Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests (for previous calendar year)

Form 6A & 6B: Code of Judicial Conduct, Gift Disclosure Form, and Report of Business Interests

Optional:

DS-DE 104: Candidate Petition Form

Nickname Affidavit

Candidate Authorization Form

 

COUNTY AND SCHOOL BOARD

Initial Filing:

DS-DE 9: Appointment of Campaign Treasurer/ Designation of Campaign Depository

DS-DE 84: Statement of Candidate

Filed during Qualifying:

DS-DE 301: Candidate Oath – State and Local Partisan Office

DS-DE 302NP: Candidate Oath – Nonpartisan Office

DS-DE 304SB: Candidate Oath – School Board Nonpartisan Office

Form 6: Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests (for previous calendar year)

Optional:

DS-DE 104: Candidate Petition Form

Nickname Affidavit

Candidate Authorization Form

 

SPECIAL DISTRICT

Initial Filing:

Candidate Affidavit Intent Special District

Filed during Qualifying:

DS-DE 302NP: Candidate Oath - Nonpartisan Office

Form 1: Statement of Financial Interests (for previous calendar year)

Optional:

DS-DE 104: Candidate Petition Form

Nickname Affidavit

Candidate Authorization Form

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Under Florida law, F.S. 668.6076, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.