The starting date for Candidate Filing varies depending on the contest and whether the candidate participates in specific steps of the filing process. Click here for a detailed election calendar which outlines key deadlines. Select the applicable election, and then click on the calendar to view key candidate filing dates.
Check the election calendar on the Registrar of Voters' website for all deadlines.
The general qualifications for all candidates include:
- Must be at least 18 years old by the election date;
- Must be a citizen of the State of California;
- Must be a registered voter at the time nomination papers are issued and, unless otherwise provided, qualified to vote for the office;
- Must be eligible to take the Oath of Office and able to be bonded in the amounts required by law; and
- Must not have been convicted of disqualifying crimes as specified in the California Constitution and state law.
Additional qualifications may apply depending on the specific office.
Refer to the "What’s on the Ballot" section of the Registrar of Voters' website for this information. Select the applicable election, and then click on What’s on Ballot.
You may find this information here or by calling or visiting the Registrar of Voters’ office, 1300 South Grand Avenue, Building C, Santa Ana, CA; 714-567-7600. A Candidate's Handbook is also available upon request.
Residency requirements depend on the contest.
- For United States Representative, you do not need to reside in the district to be a candidate.
- For State Assembly, State Senate, County Board of Education, and County Central Committee, you must reside in the district at the time nomination papers are issued.
- For county offices other than Board of Supervisors, you must reside in Orange County.
- For County Board of Supervisors, you must be registered in the district for at least 30 days preceding the deadline for filing nomination documents.
- For Judge of the Superior Court, you do not need to reside in Orange County.
There is a candidate log on our website which is updated daily, or you can call our office at 714-567-7600.
If the incumbent does not file for re-election but is eligible to file, the contest will be extended for five days after the filing period has closed for any candidate other than the incumbent.
The Declaration of Intention is a written document that all Judicial candidates must sign and file stating his/her intention to become a candidate for the office of Judge of the Superior Court.
No, the number is assigned for election purposes only and is based on the alphabetical listing of the incumbents.
For most offices, there is a Filing Fee that must be paid in order to obtain Nomination Papers. There is no Filing Fee required for Member of the County Board of Education, Member of the County Central Committee, Member of the Green County Council, Board Member of a local school district, and Director of a special district.
The Filing Fee must be paid before Nomination Papers can be issued. However, if you collected enough signatures on the Signatures-In-Lieu of Filing Fee Petitions to satisfy the nomination signature requirement, then you will not need to circulate Nomination Papers; in this case, the Filing Fee must be paid before you complete your Declaration of Candidacy.
Signatures-in-Lieu of Filing Fee Petitions are papers for obtaining signatures to lower the cost of a candidate’s Filing Fee. The signatures may also be used towards nomination signature requirements.
No. This is an optional process. By not circulating and filing Signatures-in-Lieu of Filing Fee Petitions, you will need to pay your Filing Fee in full.
You may obtain these petitions from the election official’s office in your county of domicile or from any county within the district.
You must file the petitions at the election official’s office in the county from which the signatures were obtained.
A circulator must be 18 years of age or older. The circulator does not need to be a registered voter, be affiliated with the same political party as the candidate or reside in the district in which the candidate will be voted on.
The circulator section of the Signatures In-Lieu Petition or nomination papers must be completed by the circulator only. If there are any errors or corrections needed, only the circulator may make those corrections. Please refer to the circulator information section in the Candidate’s Handbook for additional details.
Yes, if you choose to circulate your own Signatures In-Lieu Petition or nomination papers, you must meet all circulator requirements, and the circulator section must be completed by you.
No. The signers do not need to be registered with the same political party as the candidate.
Yes. The signers need to reside in the district in which you are running the Signatures In-Lieu of Filing Fee Petitions.
No. A voter may sign only one signature in-lieu of filing fee petition per contest. However, if more than one position is to be filled for the same contest, the voter may sign for more than one candidate.
Yes. You may submit your signatures in lieu of filing fee petitions at different times during the filing period.
For Primary Election contests, candidates do have a nomination signature requirement. For General Election contests, there is not a nomination signature requirement.
You must obtain your Nomination Papers and Declaration of Candidacy from your county of domicile.
You must file the Nomination Papers and Declaration of Candidacy at the election official’s office in the county from which the signatures were obtained.
No. The voter does not need to be registered with your political party. The only exception is that signers of Nomination Papers for County Central Committee Members must be affiliated with the same political party as the candidate.
Yes.
The number of signatures required depends on the office:
- United States Senator: 65–100
- Statewide offices (e.g., Governor, Attorney General): 65–100
- Representative in Congress, State Senate, and State Assembly: 40–60
- Judge of the Superior Court, County Board of Education, County Board of Supervisors, and other county offices: 20–40
For signature requirements for County Central Committee and the Green Party Council, please refer to the Candidate’s Handbook on the Registrar of Voters’ website.
Yes. You may withdraw nomination documents for any office other than a statewide office that you delivered for filing to the county elections official by 5:00 p.m. on the 88th day before the primary election by submitting a statement of withdrawal to the county elections official. Please note that filing fees are nonrefundable. Candidates may refer to the Candidate’s Handbook or contact the Registrar of Voters for additional information.
No. The Filing Fee is non-refundable.
A ballot designation is a description of no more than three words of your principal profession, vocation or occupation. A ballot designation may also be a current elected position title (no word limitation), the word “Incumbent”, or if appointed, the words “Appointed Incumbent”. You may access the Candidate Handbook to review the Ballot Designation Guidelines.
That information may be found in the Candidate’s Handbook, or by visiting or calling the Registrar of Voters’ office at 1300 South Grand Avenue, Building C, Santa Ana, CA 92705; 714-567-7600.
Yes, but only if Candidate Filing has not closed. A new Ballot Designation Worksheet must be completed.
Yes. A written request must be submitted at least 98 days prior to the General Election. A new Ballot Designation Worksheet must be completed.
Yes. You may challenge someone’s ballot designation during the Nomination/Declaration of Candidacy period by submitting a written statement outlining the reasons for the challenge to the Registrar of Voters. After Candidate Filing ends, there is a 10-day public review period during which a ballot designation may be challenged in Superior Court.
For specific deadlines and procedures for filing a challenge, please contact the Registrar of Voters’ office.
Yes. You may have a Candidate’s Statement printed in the Voter Information Guide if you are a candidate for United States Representative, State Assembly, State Senate, County Board of Supervisors, county offices, County Board of Education, Judge of the Superior Court, board member of a local school district, or director of a special district.
If you are running for United States Senator or a statewide constitutional office, you must file your Candidate’s Statement with the Secretary of State’s office. Please note that a fee is associated with the Candidate’s Statement. For details, refer to the Candidate’s Handbook.
A Candidate’s Statement is a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications, and makes no reference to another candidate’s qualifications, character, or activities.
You will need to refer to the Candidate’s Handbook on the Registrar of Voters' website or contact the Registrar of Voters’ office at 1300 South Grand Avenue, Building C, Santa Ana, CA; 714-567-7600 for the cost of your statement. The cost of Candidates’ Statements varies depending on the contest.
The Candidate’s Statement amount is based on the Voter Information Guide printing costs, translations costs, labor, and overhead.
The Elections Code allows the Registrar of Voters to require each candidate filing a statement to pay in advance his/her pro rata share as a condition of having his/her statement included in the Voter Information Guide.
The intent of the Candidate’s Statement charges is to determine the actual cost of putting the Candidate’s Statement in the Voter Information Guide. The actual costs are calculated based on labor and overhead; the cost to translate into Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese; and the cost to print the Candidate’s Statement in the Voter Information Guide.
No. You may not include any of the elements in your statement. In addition, you may not make reference to another candidate’s qualifications, character, or activities.
No. You will need to file the Candidate’s Statement with each county and pay the fee to each county in which you would like your statement to appear in the Voter Information Guide.
The number of words varies depending on the contest:
- United States Representative: 250 words;
- State Senate and State Assembly: 250 words;
- County and Judicial offices: 200 or 400 words;
- Board Member of a local school district and Director of a special district: 200 words (May do a 400-word statement if the district authorizes).
Yes. You must withdraw your Candidate’s Statement but it must be done no later than 5:00 p.m. on the next business day after Candidate Filing ends.
Yes. You will receive a refund 30 days after the election.
No. A Candidate’s Statement may be withdrawn, but it cannot be changed once it has been filed, unless a court order is issued.
Yes. There is a 10-day public review period after candidate filing has ended during which time a person may file a writ of mandate or injunction to require the candidate's statement to be amended.
Yes. You may use the same Candidate’s Statement; however, you must resubmit the statement during the filing period for the General Election. A new fee is required, and the amount will be the same as the fee paid for the Primary Election.