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Federal Candidates: Qualifying for the Ballot Table of Contents

Click on the title to navigate to a section or toggle to access related resources.

🗳️ Two Options to Qualify: Petition or Fee:

• Qualifying by Petition
• Qualifying by Fee

☑️ Requirements for Qualifying:

• File For Office
• Complete the Candidate Oath
• Write a Check to the DOE
• Deliver Paperwork

👋 Additional Resources:

• Countdown to Qualifying Training
• Qualifying Guide
• Federal Qualifying Handbook

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Now that you’ve filed, you’re officially a candidate - Congratulations! But your work has only just begun. Candidates are required to meet one of two qualification thresholds to officially get their name on the ballot. Whether you plan to qualify by submitting petitions or paying the qualifying fee, you need to start working now. Review our Qualifying for the Ballot Guide to plan your qualifying strategy.

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🗳️ Two Options to Qualify: Petition or Fee

All Federal candidates must decide to qualify either by paying a fee or by petition and submit qualifying documents to the appropriate qualifying office by June 12, 2026. Candidates may turn in qualifying documents as early as May 25th*, 2026**. For additional information about qualifying dates visit the* Division of Elections Qualifying Information page.

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Qualifying By Petition - Deadline March 23rd, 2026

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Qualifying By Petition (Congress) - Deadline May 11th, 2026

*Due to the special session for Congressional Redistricting called for April 2026, the qualifying deadline for Congressional candidates has been moved from March to this date.

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Qualifying By Fee (US Senate) - Deadline April 24, 2026

• Deadline for turning in qualifying paperwork: Friday April 24, 2026 @ 12:00pm.
  • The Division of Elections will begin accepting qualification paperwork on Monday, April 6, 2026.
• This includes: Federal (U.S. Senator), State Attorney (Judicial Circuit 20th only), Public Defender (Judicial Circuit 20th only), Judicial Offices (i.e., Justice(s) of the Supreme Court, District Court of Appeal Judges, Circuit Court Judges, and County Court Judges*).
• Qualifying fee for US Senate candidates is $10,440, State Attorney and Public Defender candidates have different fees and can find theirs here.
• You can check out our fundraising page & finance page for fundraising resources. </aside>

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Qualifying By Fee (Congress) - Deadline June 12, 2026*

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☑️ Requirements For Qualifying

1️⃣ File for office

For more information, check out Federal Candidates: Filing For Office .

2️⃣ Complete the Federal Candidate Oath with Party Affiliation:

All candidates, regardless of qualifying method, must turn in this document by the qualifying deadline. For additional guidance on completing the oath, see this recording and the **Federal Qualifying Handbook.**

🏠 The address listed on your candidate oath must match your voter registration. Campaign office addresses, PO boxes, etc. will not be accepted.

✒️ Florida Law prohibits an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) from performing notary services for you. To avoid delays in qualification and to avoid challenges, we recommend that your notary does not share the candidate’s last name.

3️⃣ Write a check to the Florida Division of Elections for $10,440

If you have met the requirement to qualify by petition, no check is required, but candidate oath must still be submitted.