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Qualifying Information

Webpage last updated: June 22, 2022

Qualifying Dates

Update June 17, 2022:  Qualifying for the 2022 Election Cycle is CLOSED. The following remains for informational purposes only.

ATTENTION: Recent law (s. 11 of Chapter 2021-11, Laws of Florida) requires a person seeking nomination as a candidate of a political party to be a member of that political party for the 365 days BEFORE the beginning of the applicable qualifying period. Additionally, the law requires a person seeking to qualify for office as a candidate with no party affiliation to not be a member of any political party for the 365 days BEFORE the beginning of the applicable qualifying period. Therefore, the last day for such person to make the applicable change is April 24, 2021, for the first qualifying period and June 12, 2021, for the second qualifying period in order for the person to meet the 365-day requirement.

1^st QUALIFYING PERIOD:  State Attorney (6^th and 20^th Judicial Circuits), Public Defender (20^th Judicial Circuit), Justice of Supreme Court, District Court of Appeal Judge, and Circuit Court Judge

• Noon, Monday, April 25, 2022 – Noon, Friday, April 29, 2022
• Note: The Division will begin accepting qualifying documents on April 11, 2022. See Section 99.061(8), F.S.

2^nd QUALIFYING PERIOD:  U.S. Senator, Representative in Congress, Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture, State Senator, State Representative, and Multi-County Special Districts

• Noon, Monday, June 13, 2022 – Noon, Friday, June 17, 2022
• Note: The Division will begin accepting qualifying documents on May 30, 2022. See Section 99.061(8), F.S.  While state offices are closed on Memorial Day, qualifying documents can still be placed in the secure drop-box  provided just inside the front lobby doors of the R.A. Gray Building located at 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 between the hours of 8 AM – 5 PM on May 30. State offices will reopen at 8 AM on May 31, 2022.

Note: The 2nd qualifying period and pre-qualifying submission period above also applies to COUNTY AND DISTRICT OFFICES. However, the qualifying paperwork must be submitted to the county Supervisor of Elections’ office as the qualifying officer. Please contact your county Supervisor of Elections for more information.

Qualifying In Year of Apportionment

• State Senate Redistricting Memo
• State Representative Redistricting Memo
• Florida Redistricting 2022 (includes information on House and Senate Redistricting Committees and House Congressional Redistricting Committee, Submitted Plans and other resources)
• Florida Supreme Court order approving Florida Legislative Plans 2022

Qualifying Materials

*Materials relating to the 2022 Cycle will be available soon. For 2020 Election Year Handbooks, go to the Publications Archive Page.

• 2022 Qualifying Fees
• 2022 Petition Signature Requirements
• 2022 Candidate Petition Handbook
• 2022 State Qualifying Handbook
• 2022 Federal Qualifying Handbook
• Candidate Oaths
• Candidate Petition Form (DS-DE 104)
  • English PDF
  • Español PDF
• Affidavit of Undue Burden - Candidate (DS-DE 19A)
  • English PDF
  • Español PDF
• Use of Nickname on Ballot
• Qualifying Memo - Supreme Court Justice and District Court of Appeals
• Qualifying Memo - Circuit Court Judge
• Qualifying Memo - Public Defender and State Attorney
• Qualifying Memo – State and Multi-County District Office Candidates
• Qualifying Memo – Candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives
• Qualifying Memo – Multi-County Special District Candidates

Qualifying Office

Below is the name, location and address of Florida’s qualifying office for U.S. President and Vice-President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet, State Senate, State House of Representatives, Judicial (except county judges), multi-county state offices (State Attorney and Public Defender), and multi-county special district candidates:

Department of State, Division of Elections
Bureau of Election Records
R.A. Gray Building, Room 316
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250

Special Election Qualifying

Qualifying information for special elections can be found on our Special Elections page.