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State Legislature Candidates Table of Contents

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Want to learn about the functions and responsibilities of State Legislative Officials? Check out About State Legislative Office

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Before You File , make sure you meet the voter registration, age, and residency requirements to run for this office. Check here.

Filing Requirements:

The following information is not intended to be legal advice, candidates are encouraged to contact their qualifying officer for more information on requirements and deadlines. Refer to the Division of Elections Treasurer Handbook for specific requirements, which can be found here.

1️⃣ Complete the filing paperwork

All Candidates will need to complete a Candidate Depository (Form DS-DE 9) & Statement of Candidacy (Form DS-DE 84), but qualifying officers vary by office level.

2️⃣ Obtain An EIN

The IRS requires that political committees obtain a tax ID number, otherwise known as an EIN. Candidates or their appointed treasurer can apply for the EIN by completing the IRS **Form SS-4** by fax, telephone, or online.

The EIN is NOT the same number as your Candidate ID number.

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All candidates must appoint a campaign treasurer before opening a campaign account, you will do this by filing **Form DS-DE 9** with the Division of Elections or the appropriate qualifying officer.

🚨Within ten days of filing DS-DE 9, candidate must then file DS-DE 84, a Statement of Candidacy, with the Division of Elections or the appropriate qualifying officer.

To learn more about appointing a Campaign Treasurer, check out General Financial Compliance

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3️⃣ Open a Campaign Bank Account

Political committees must open a bank account, which will be opened using their EIN. The name and address of your bank will be required to complete your Form DS-DE 9.

Your account must be at one of the following:

🚨We strongly recommend calling your bank of choice before opening an account.

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For more information about opening and maintaining your Non-Federal bank account, visit the FEC **Bank Accounts of Political Party Committees.**

For a step by step instructional guide on opening a bank account click **HERE.**

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Methods to Qualify

All Non-Federal candidates must decide to qualify either by paying a fee or by petition and submit qualifying documents to the appropriate qualifying officer by June 12th, 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.

👋 For a comprehensive overview of the Qualifying process check out our Qualifying For The Ballot Guide!

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The fee amount for State Legislature candidates is $1,781.82

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☑️ Requirements To Qualify

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The qualifying deadline is strict. Candidates who turn in paperwork or have unresolved issues after the 12 PM deadline will be disqualified from candidacy. Do not wait until the last minute to turn in your paperwork.

Even if a candidate submitted the required number of petitions by the petition deadline, they will still turn in the qualifying paperwork (minus the qualifying fee).

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1️⃣ File for office:

For more information check out, Non-Federal Candidates: Filing for Office

2️⃣ Complete the Required Paperwork:

All candidates, regardless of qualifying method, must turn in this document by the qualifying deadline. For additional guidance on completing this, check out our Qualifying For The Ballot Workshop Recording. The document varies by office so please select and complete the correct form for the office you are running for:

➡️ If you are using a nickname on the ballot, make sure to complete the Affidavit of Nickname on the Oath form.

🏠 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 Submit the Form 6 Financial Disclosure Submission Verification Receipt.

Learn more on our Non-Federal Candidates: Form 6

4️⃣ Write a Check to Qualifying Officer.

For county-level and municipal offices, check with your Supervisor of Elections, City Clerk, or appropriate qualifying officer to confirm fee amount. If you have met the requirements to qualify by petition, no check is required, but candidate oath must still be submitted.

📝 Only checks are accepted, no cash or money orders. Check must be signed by the campaign’s listed treasurer and be from an official campaign bank account.

NOTE for Bank Accounts and Temporary Checks: Some candidates may not open a campaign bank account with enough time to receive official campaign checks to qualify. Candidates should contact banks before opening an account to ensure the branch provides temporary checks. If you pay the qualifying fee using a temporary check, candidates should provide proof of account with official bank documentation when submitting their qualifying papers to the DOE.

❌ Bank of America, Regions, and TD Bank DO NOT provide temporary checks.

✅ Truist DOES provide temporary checks.

5️⃣ Deliver Paperwork (and check, if applicable) before the deadline.

Paperwork will need to be submitted to your qualifying officer. We highly encourage delivering qualifying paperwork through FedEx and UPS with tracking information.

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