Candidate and Elected Official Information

This page contains information on local candidates and elected officials, as well as information on how to file and run for office.

Elected Officials and Local Candidates Filed to Run for Office

• List of current elected officials representing Leon County
• List of local candidates in Leon County - 2024 Election Cycle

---

Filing and Qualifying Information

For a summary of how to become a candidate, read our How to Run for Local Office webpage. 

For information on offices up for election, how to file and qualify, petition requirements, and deadlines, read our Candidate Election Information Sheet (not yet available for 2024 Election Cycle).  

For information on filing and qualifying as a statewide or multi-county candidate, please visit the Division of Elections’ Candidates and Committees webpage.

---

Key Qualifying Dates - 2024 Election Cycle

Party Change Deadline 

A person seeking nomination as a candidate of a political party must be a member of that political party for the 365 days before the beginning of the qualifying period. (Section 99.021(1)(b), Florida Statutes)

A person seeking to qualify for office as a candidate with no party affiliation cannot be a member of any political party for the 365 days before the beginning of the qualifying period. (Section 99.021(1)(c), Florida Statutes)

Party change deadlines for candidates qualifying to run in 2024:

• Judicial candidates: 4/23/2023
• Local candidates: 6/11/2023

Petition Deadline

In order to be verified, petitions must be received in our office by these deadlines:

• Judicial Candidates: Noon on 3/25/2024
• Local Candidates: Noon on 5/13/2024

Qualifying Period

In order to qualify for office, candidates must file their qualifying paperwork with our office during the qualifying period.

• Judicial Candidates: From noon on 4/22 to noon on 4/26/2024
  • Starting on 4/8/2024, 14 days before the beginning of qualifying, we can accept and hold qualifying documents. The documents will not be processed until qualifying begins.
• Local Candidates: From noon on 6/10 to noon on 6/14/2024
  • Starting on 5/27/2024, 14 days before the beginning of qualifying, we can accept and hold qualifying documents. The documents will not be processed until qualifying begins.

Residency Requirements for Leon County Candidates

• County Judge – Must be a resident of Leon County at the time of assuming office. (Division of Elections Advisory Opinion 78-31)
• Constitutional Officers (Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Clerk of the Court, Supervisor of Elections, and Superintendent of Schools) – Must be a resident of Leon County at the time of assuming office. (Art 10, Sec 3, Florida Constitution)
• Leon County Commissioners (Section 2.2(1), Leon County Charter)
  • For district seats: Must be a resident of the Leon County district for which they seek election at the time of qualifying.
  • For at-large seats: Must be a resident of Leon County at the time of qualifying.
• School Board Members – Must be a resident of the School Board district at the time of qualifying. (Section 1001.361, Florida Statutes)
• Tallahassee Mayor and Commissioners – Must be a resident of the City of Tallahassee at the time of qualifying. (Section 7-5(a-b), City of Tallahassee Charter)

---

Resources

Forms

• Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (DS-DE 9)
• Statement of Candidate (DS-DE 84)
• Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office (DS-DE 83)
• Candidate Petition Form (DS-DE 104)
• Undue Burden Oath (DS-DE 19a)

Publications

• Candidate Petition Handbook
• Candidate and Campaign Treasurer Handbook
• Election Laws of the State of Florida - 2022 Version
• 2024 Election Cycle Calendar - PDF

Visit the Division of Elections’ Publications webpage to obtain copies of additional publications for candidates.

Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Data

Candidates can access information on voters who have requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot. To access these files, visit our Public Records and Voter Data webpage.