October 2022
Mike Hogan
DUVAL COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
105 East Monroe Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: 904-255-8683 * Fax: 904-255-3433
BECOMING A
CANDIDATE IN
DUVAL COUNTY
1
PRIOR TO MAKING THE DECISION TO RUN FOR OFFICE:
Running for political office is a big decision. Things to consider before you run include but are not limited
to the following:
1. Research the office: what are the duties of the office, does it have requirements such as residency, how
long does the term last, and how much time is involved when in the office.
2. Have you been a member of a political party for 365 days prior to the first day of qualifying for the
office? Have you been registered with no party affiliation for 365 prior to the first day of qualifying?
Qualifying week begins at noon of the 71st day prior to the primary or first election but not later than
noon of the 67th day prior to the date of the primary or first election. Qualifying for federal and judicial
seats begins at noon on the 120th day prior to the primary election, but not later than noon of the 116th
day prior to the date of the primary election.
3. Talk to your family to decide if running for office is right for you.
4. Do you have the time for running the campaign, attending candidate functions, attending meetings,
talking to voters?
5. Are you involved in your community? Do you belong to civic and/or political organizations?
6. Do you have volunteers you can rely on? How much time would they be available to volunteer and
when would they be available?
7. Research candidates from previous elections to see how much money they collected and how they spent
their funds. Go to the Duval County Supervisor of Elections website: Candidate/Committee Lists,
Reports & Profiles (duvalelections.gov)
8. What bank or credit union will you use to deposit campaign funds? The depository must be named on
the form when filing for office. Find a depository that will open a campaign account for you and has
minimal fees. Do not open the account until you have filed the DS-DE 9 with our office. The campaign
account must be a separate account. A few depositories to consider are: VyStar Credit Union, Regions
Bank, Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust/Truist
9. Banks are starting to require candidates to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) prior to
opening their campaign account. To obtain an EIN, you can apply online at: How to Apply for an EIN |
Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov). You can identify yourself as a “Political Organization”, as you will
primarily operate for the purpose of accepting contributions and influencing the election of yourself. An
EIN is not required by campaign finance law.
10. All candidates are required to disclose personal financial information. Special District and municipal
candidates are required to file a Form 1. All other candidates file a Form 6. The forms can be found on
the Florida Commission on Ethics website.
REMEMBER, CONTRIBUTIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED, MONEY CANNOT BE SPENT
AND PETITIONS CANNOT BE COLLECTED UNTIL YOU HAVE FILED FORM DS-DE 9
WITH THE FILING OFFICER.
2
3
Becoming a Candidate
A candidate is a person who:
• Seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of the petition process;
• Seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate;
• Receives contributions or makes expenditures, or consents for any other person to receive
contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bring about their nomination or election
to, or retention in, public office;
• Appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository;
• Files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate’s oath as required by law.
This definition does not include an individual seeking a publicly elected position for a
political party executive committee. (Sections 97.021(6) and 106.011(3), Fla. Stat.)
Filing for Office
• A candidate may file at any time
• You MUST file an Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign
Depository (Form DS-DE 9) with the Supervisor of Elections Office before any
contributions are accepted, before opening a campaign account, and before expenditures
are made (106.021, Florida Statutes).
• You MUST file a Statement of Candidate (DS-DE 84) within ten (10) days of filing the
Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (106.023,
Florida Statutes).
• Candidates for County Judge MUST file a Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office (Form
DS-DE 83) within ten (10) days of filing the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and
Designation of Campaign Depository.
Once a candidate has filed the DS-DE 9, he or she may open a campaign account, collect
contributions, and spend money for their campaign. They may also collect petition signatures on
a petition. These petitions are submitted to the filing officer for signature verification. Having the
required number of petitions waives the qualifying fee.
Candidates may file in our office or submit their forms by mail. Candidates may now file their
paperwork electronically. Original signatures are not required. Please submit your filing papers by
email as a pdf or you may fax the forms to our office. The form will be considered filed only when
the filing officer receives the form (not upon mailing) and determines that the form is complete.
Once the complete DS-DE 9 is filed with our office, a candidate may receive a binder containing
the candidate and treasurer handbook, report schedule, handbook for filing reports, and other
information.
Once a candidate files to run for an office, they must submit campaign reports electronically. If
there is no activity, a waiver of report must be submitted.
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Appointing a Treasurer
A candidate may appoint himself or herself as campaign treasurer. A candidate may also appoint
another person as treasurer and appoint themselves as deputy treasurer. A candidate may have
one treasurer and up to three (3) deputy treasurers.
The treasurer must keep detailed accounts of all contributions received and all expenditures
made by or on behalf of the candidate. Such accounts must be kept current within not more than
two days after the date a contribution is received, or an expenditure is made.
When a campaign treasurer resigns or is removed by the candidate, a copy of the signed letter of
resignation or removal must be filed with the filing officer. The written notice is not effective until a
signed copy is filed with the filing officer. The letter may be faxed or emailed to the filing officer.
Filing and Qualifying as a Partisan Candidate
• All candidates qualifying for a partisan office will be required to affirm in writing, under
oath, that they have been a registered member of the party whose nomination as a
candidate they are seeking for 365 days before qualifying begins.
• Candidates who wish to run for a partisan office with No Party Affiliation (NPA) will be
required to affirm in writing, under oath that they have not been a registered member of
any political party for 365 days before qualifying begins.
• These requirements do not apply to non-partisan offices such as judicial seats, school
board seats and special districts.
Filing Qualifying Papers
Qualifying is the final step that allows a candidate to have his or her name on the ballot.
Qualifying must be finalized during the assigned dates. Qualifying for office in Duval County
begins at noon of the 71
st
day prior to the primary or first election but not later than noon of the
67
th
day prior to the date of the primary or first election. Qualifying for federal and judicial seats
begins at noon on the 120
th
day prior to the primary election, but not later than noon of the 116
th
day prior to the date of the primary election.
Changing Designation of Office
Yes, permitted under 106.021(1)(a), Florida Statutes, you may change your mind and run for a
different office after becoming a candidate, providing that you:
• File a new Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository,
(DS-DE 9), designating the new office;
• Submit a signed, written statement indicating the change with the filing officer.
• File the new appointment prior to the end of qualifying
• This includes changing seats, districts, or groups
• Within 15 days of filing the new DS-DE 9, notify in writing all contributors and offer to return
their contributions pro rata. The candidate must include (with the notice) a copy of Form
DS-DE 86, Request for Return of Contribution
• If the contributor returns DS-DE 86 within 30 days of receiving the notice, the candidate
must return a pro rata share of all contributions given in support of the original office.
• The DS-DE 9 and the signed, written statement may be faxed or email to the filing officer.
5
2022 ELECTION DATES
ELECTION
ELECTION DAY
BOOK CLOSING
Primary Election
August 23, 2022
July 25, 2022
General Election
November 8, 2022
October 11, 2022
ON THE BALLOT IN 2022
The following offices will qualify with the Duval County Supervisor of Elections.
County & Special District Offices
School Board, Districts 2, 4, & 6
County Court Judge Groups 4, 5, 10, & 15 & 16*
Soil & Water Conservation District Groups 1, 3, & 5
Special Districts (To Be Determined)
*Subject to change
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
School Board
Nonpartisan Office,
4 Years Term
Judicial
Nonpartisan Office
6 Year Term
Soil & Water
Conservation District
Nonpartisan Office,
4 Year Term
Special District
Nonpartisan Office
4 Year Terms
Candidate must
reside and be
registered voter in
district 183 days prior
to date of qualifying.
Candidates must
reside and be a
registered voter in
the district for which
they are qualifying
at the time of
assuming office.
Registered voter in
Duval County
Candidates must
reside in the district
for which they are
qualifying at the time
of qualifying.
6
UNITARY ELECTIONS
In 1992, Jacksonville voters passed a referendum to hold unitary elections for their consolidated
government. The first election is held with a single ballot for all voters within each electoral
district, regardless of political party affiliation. Candidates appear on the ballot with party labels
and campaign as party candidates. Any candidate winning a majority of votes in the primary is
elected; if no candidate for a position wins a majority, the general election serves as a runoff
between the top two winners, regardless of party affiliation.
2023 ELECTION DATES
ELECTION
ELECTION DAY
BOOK CLOSING
First Election
March 21, 2023
February 20, 2023
General Election
May 16, 2023
April 17, 2023
ON THE BALLOT IN 2023
The following offices will qualify with the Duval County Supervisor of Elections.
County Offices
Mayor of Jacksonville
Sheriff
Supervisor of Elections
Property Appraiser
Tax Collector
City Council Districts 1-14
City Council At Large Group 1-5
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
Mayor
Partisan Office, Term 4
Years
Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections,
Property Appraiser, Tax Collector
Partisan Office, Term 4 Years
City Council
Partisan Office, Term 4
Years
Candidate must reside
and be registered voter in
district 365 days prior to
date of qualifying.
Candidate must reside and be a
registered voter in the county or
district 183 days prior to date of
qualifying.
Candidate must reside and
be registered voter in
district 183 days prior to
date of qualifying.
7
FILING FORMS
DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depositor
DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate
DS-DE 83 Judicial Statement of Candidate (for judicial candidates only)
• Form DS-DE 9 must be filed with the filing officer prior to opening the campaign account, prior
to the candidate accepting any contributions or making any expenditures or authorizing
another to accept contributions or make expenditures on the person’s behalf and prior to
obtaining signatures on a DS-DE 104, Candidate Petition.
• Candidates can file these forms at any time before qualifying week. They can also be filed
during the week of qualifying. Once the DS-DE 9 is filed, a candidate may open their
campaign banking account, collect contributions, make expenditures, or circulate petitions. It
is not considered “filed” upon mailing.
• It is recommended that a candidate appoint him or herself treasurer or deputy treasurer. Only
appointed treasurers may sign campaign checks. A good practice is to have a campaign
treasurer and at least one deputy treasurer.
• A candidate may file as a write-in candidate. Their name will not be on the ballot. A line will
appear on the ballot for the office the candidate is running for. Voters must write the name of
the write-in candidate on the blank line. A write-in candidate will appoint a treasurer, open a
bank account and submit financial reports.
Exception: Special district candidates who do not collect contributions and whose only expense is the signature
verification fee for the petition method or qualifying fee are not required to file the DS-DE 9 (99.061(3). An Affidavit of
Intention is signed instead.
After Filing Your Forms
• You will be given a copy of your DS-DE 9 form(s) that you have filed. Take your copies to the
financial institution when you open your campaign account. Check the Candidate & Campaign
Treasurer Handbook for information on what is required to be on your campaign checks.
• Campaign Treasurer reports are required once you have filed. You will be given a calendar of
reporting dates. It is recommended that the candidate and treasurer record the due dates with
reminders prior to the due date, to ensure that reports are timely filed.
• Review with your treasurer(s) how records of contributions and expenditures will be
maintained to ensure you have all the information needed to complete your reports and to
ensure you are following the law.
DO NOT OPEN YOUR CAMPAIGN BANK ACCOUNT UNTIL YOU FILE THE DS-DE 9 FORM WITH OUR OFFICE,
APPOINTING A CAMPAIGN TREASURER AND DESIGNATING YOUR CAMPAIGN DEPOSITORY.
8
QUALIFYNG BY PETITION METHOD
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. You may not collect petitions until you file the DS-DE 9 with our office.
It is recommended that you plan to collect more petitions than the requirement. Candidates who
fail to qualify by the petition method will be required to pay the full qualifying fee.
Note: Candidates for school board may collect from any registered voter in Duval County.
2022 Petition Requirements
Note: In 2022, candidates for school board may collect from any registered voter in Duval County
because of redistricting.
Deadline to submit petitions
Judicial March 28, 2022, before noon
County, District May 16, 2022, before noon
2023 Petition Requirements
Deadline to submit petitions
December 12, 2022, before noon
Office
Petitions
Soil & Water 2 & 4
25
CDDs
25
Special Taxing Dist.
25
Office
Petitions
County Judge
6,642
School Board Dist. 2
949
School Board Dist. 4
949
School Board Dist. 6
949
Office
Petitions
Mayor
6,558
Sheriff
6,558
Supervisor of
Elections
6,558
Property Appraiser
6,558
Tax Collector
6,558
Office
Petitions
City Council District 1
426
City Council District 2
518
City Council District 3
504
City Council District 4
407
City Council District 5
454
City Council District 6
525
City Council District 7
441
City Council District 8
457
City Council District 9
389
City Council District 10
435
City Council District 11
506
City Council District 12
461
City Council District 13
543
City Council District 14
492
At-Large Groups 1-5
6,558
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QUALIFYING BY FEE
Any candidate, who does not obtain a Petition Certification, must pay the qualifying fee to the
Supervisor of Elections by the end of the qualifying period. The total amount of the fee is based
upon a percentage of the annual salary of the office sought. A filing fee of 3% and an election
assessment fee of 1% must be paid by all candidates for county office who qualify by the fee
method. Partisan candidates pay an additional 2% party assessment fee. Special districts pay
$25.00. Write-in candidates pay no fee and are not required to obtain the petition certification.
A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account and signed by the
campaign treasurer must be used to pay the qualifying fee.
What’s My Qualifying Fee?
2022 Qualifying Fee
Fees are based on the authorized salary as of July 1, 2021.
2023 Qualifying Fee
Fees are based on the authorized salary as of July 1, 2022.
Office
Term
Nonpartisan
County Judge
6 yrs.
$6,072.88*
School Board 2, 4 & 6
4 yrs.
$1,783.88*
Soil & Water 1, 3 & 5
4 yrs.
$25.00
CDDs
4 yrs.
$25.00
Special Taxing Dist.
4 yrs.
$25.00
Office
Term
Partisan
NPA
Mayor
4 yrs.
$13,800.96
$9,200.64
Sheriff
4 yrs.
$13,221.54
$8,814.36
Supervisor of Elections
4 yrs.
$11,070.60
$7,380.40
Property Appraiser
4 yrs.
$11,070.60
$7,380.40
Tax Collector
4 yrs.
$11,070.60
$7,380.40
City Council
4 yrs.
$3,408.24
$2,272.16
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QUALIFYING PERIODS
Candidates for county offices and special districts must file their qualifying paperwork and pay the
qualifying fee (if required) at the Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office. If mailed, items
required for qualifying must be received by the end of the qualifying period.
❖ 2022 Qualifying
Local Judicial Candidates Qualifying Period
Noon, April 25, 2022 – Noon, April 29, 2022
Local Candidates Qualifying Period (Excluding Judicial)
Noon, June 13, 2022 – Noon, June 17, 2022
❖ 2023 Qualifying
Noon, January 9, 2023 – January 13, 2023
What Do I Need to File During Qualifying?
Pursuant to Section 99.061(7), Florida Statutes, all items required for qualifying must be received
in CORRECT and COMPLETE order by the end of the qualifying period, otherwise you will not be
deemed a qualified candidate.
A candidate may also qualify as a write-in candidate. Write-In candidates run without party
affiliation and their name does not appear on the ballot. Candidates for nonpartisan offices who
run as a write-in will be placed on the primary election ballot. No qualifying fee or petitions are
required by a write-in candidate. In the 2023 Unitary Election, write-in candidates are placed on
the first election ballot.
In addition to the forms required for filing, these forms are required to qualify to be placed on the
ballot. The Supervisor of Elections office may receive these forms and the qualifying fee only
during the qualifying period, or 14 days prior to the start of qualifying.
Candidate Oath
Financial Disclosure
Petitions or Fee
File one of these forms:
DS-DE
303JU
Candidate Oath -
Judicial Office
DS-DE
304SB
Candidate Oath -
School Board
Nonpartisan Office
DS-DE
302NP
Candidate Oath -
Nonpartisan Office
DS-DE
301A,
301B or
301C
Candidate Oath –
State and Local
Partisan Office
A financial disclosure form, either
Form 1 or 6 depending upon the
office sought. This will be for the
year preceding the qualifying
period.
Form 1 (special districts)
Form 6 (county offices)
Petition Certification
▪ 2022 Election
Petition submission
deadline is March 28, 2022
for Judicial & May 16, 2022
for all others.
▪ 2023 Election
Petition submission
deadline is December 12,
2022.
OR
Qualifying Fee
Check drawn on campaign
bank account in correct
amount.
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PARTISAN CANDIDATES
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 that they have 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. Any person seeking to qualify for office as
a candidate with no party affiliation shall, at the time of subscribing to the oath or affirmation,
state in writing that he or she is registered without any party affiliation and that he or she has not
been a registered member of any political party for 365 days before the beginning of qualifying
preceding the general election for which the person seeks to qualify. Section 99.021, Florida
Statutes
JUDICIAL CANDIDATES
County judges are elected for six-year terms. Judicial candidates appear on the primary ballot. A
candidate must win 50% plus 1 vote of the votes cast to be elected. If no one is elected in the
primary, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be placed on the general
election ballot. All registered voters in Duval may vote for this office – without regard to political
party affiliation.
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
School board members are elected for four-year terms. Candidates appear on the primary ballot
without party affiliation and campaign without party affiliation. A candidate must win 50% plus 1
vote of the votes cast to be elected. If no one is elected in the primary, the candidates receiving
the highest number of votes shall be placed on the general election ballot. Our county is divided
into seven school board districts which is comprised of two city council districts. The school board
districts do not correspond to school districts.
SPECIAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES
Special District candidates who DO NOT wish to collect contributions or make expenditures need
only to complete an Affidavit of Intention to become a candidate.
Special district candidates may also file DS-DE 9, Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and
Designation of Campaign Depository, if they intend to accept contributions or make expenditures
for anything other than the qualifying fees or petition signature verification fees (Section 99.061,
F.S.). A special district candidate can file the DS-DE 9 form at any time if they want to begin
accepting contributions and making expenditures, even after the qualifying period ends.
Soil & Water Conservation District candidates are required to file a notarized affirmation
statement in addition to other required forms.
WRITE-IN CANDIDATES
A write-in candidate must file the DS-DE 9 before accepting contributions and spending money
on their campaign. A person seeking to qualify for election to office as a write-in candidate must
file the appropriate candidate oath and financial form during the official qualifying period. Write-in
candidates must comply with the residency requirements of the office sought. Any person who is
seeking election as a write-in candidate shall not be required to pay a filing fee, election
assessment, or party assessment. A write-in candidate is not entitled to have his or her name
printed on any ballot; however, space for the write-in candidate’s name to be written in must be
provided on the general election ballot. In Unitary Elections, a line for a write-in candidate’s name
is placed on the First Election ballot. A person may not qualify as a write-in candidate if the
person has also otherwise qualified for nomination or election to such office.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
After filing the DS-DE 9 form, candidates will begin filing campaign finance reports of
contributions and expenditures and will be subject to all provisions of Chapter 106 of the Florida
Statutes. A reporting schedule is given to the candidate and reports must be filed before the
deadlines or fines may be incurred. The Supervisor of Elections provides an online reporting
system that helps with the reporting process.
Candidates and their campaigns must meet specific legal requirements regarding campaign
advertising, campaign financing and sign laws. A candidate handbook will be given to the
candidate once they have filed their DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and
Designation of Campaign Depository.
Potential candidates are encouraged to consult with their employer and/or their employer’s
attorney, the agency’s attorney for the office being sought, and/or their personal attorney prior to
filing qualifying documents. Below are resources that can be used by both potential candidates
and candidates to determine if a conflict of interest exists; if a candidate is subject to Florida’s
resign-to-run law; or if a person may be precluded by the federal Hatch Act
Conflict of Interest
Florida Commission on Ethics
Virlindia Doss, Executive Director
P. O. Drawer 15709
Tallahassee, Florida 32317-5709
Phone: 850.488.7864
http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/
Florida Resign to Run Law
Office of General Counsel
Florida Department of State
R.A. Gray Building 500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: 850.245.6536
E-mail: [email protected]
Federal Hatch Act
Hatch Act Unit
United States Office of Special Counsel
1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218
Washington, D.C. 20036-4505
Phone: 800.854.2824 or 202.254.3650
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.osc.gov/hatchact.htm
Please call or stop by the Elections Office if you have questions. We are here to help.
Lana Self 904-255-3429
Brenda Byles 904-255-3416
