Candidate Information: Guides, Forms, Links

What is involved? What are the requirements?
Valuable information is provided below!


for considering to run for elected office
and becoming a valued public servant within your community!

The 2025 election cycle brings many races.

Please contact your local county party for specific deadlines
and partisan/non-partisan seats available during the 2025 election cycle.
Petitions and additional information may be available through
your local county board of elections.

Deadline for Petitions:
February 5, 2025 | 4:00pm
Primary Election Day:
Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Deadline for Petitions: 
August 6, 2025 | 4:00pm
General Election Day:
Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Municipal Court Judge
City Commission
Township Trustee
Village Council
State School Board
Local District School Board

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENT GUIDE

Please note that additional information is provided below
specific to judicial candidates.

2025 Candidate Requirement Guide (PDF)
is updated on an annual basis,
contains requirements and guidelines for those
who may decide to run for elected office.
The above publication is available in electronic format only.

For candidates’ forms and petitions, please visit here.

Additional information that may be beneficial:
Campaign Finance Statutes and Administrative Rules

CANDIDATES FORMS AND PETITIONS

For all candidates forms and petitions required to file
as a candidate, please visit here.
Recommendation: Potential candidates should
visit  their local board of elections for all petitions.
The petitions may have specific instructions for each
office that is up for election that the staff
may review with a potential candidate.

IRS EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN)

Candidate Campaign Committee – How to get an IRS EIN Number: Every campaign MUST have an (1) EIN # to be able to (2) setup a bank account, then (3) submit your Designation of Treasurer to appropriate county board of elections or Secretary of State. Once these three steps are completed, candidate may begin to accept contributions!

Before you go to the IRS link, there are a few things to determine and/or note:

  • Make sure you have determined/decided what the name of your campaign/committee committee will be as you will need to provide it on the form.
    • Example: Friends of ____; Committee to Elect _____. It may be a good idea to include year of election at the end of the campaign/committee name.
  • The form will ask for an address. You should use the candidate’s home address; no P.O. Box.
  • The form will ask if you are going to file Form 8871 under Section 527 of the IRS Code. The answer is NO. Your committee is exempt due to being a political committee.

Here is IRS link:

  • Click on APPLY ONLINE NOW box.
  • Click on BEGIN APPLICATION box.
  • Click on VIEW ADDITIONAL TYPES…then continue.
  • Click on POLITICAL ORGANIZATION…then continue.
  • On next page, just click on continue.
  • On next page, click on BANKING PURPOSES…then continue.
  • On next page, you begin to fill in your information.
    • At the bottom of this page, click on I AM RESPONSIBLE…then click on continue.
  • Then just fill in the information. You have a certain amount of time to complete and submit the form. If you do not submit form within the time frame allotted, you just start over again.
  • NOTE: There is a YES or NO question about filing tax return. Local candidates answer this as No. There is an amount you must raise before filing tax returns!
  • When you submit the form, you will receive your EIN #.
    • Make a copy of the page with your EIN # as you will need a copy for the bank to setup your campaign bank account. You should also keep a copy of the form for your own records.

DESIGNATION OF TREASURER

A campaign cannot accept any donations
until a Designation of Treasurer form is completed
and submitted to the appropriate filing entity –
for local candidates or issues, it would be filed with your
local county board of elections.
This form may be filed before petitions are filed or
may be filed at the same time petitions are submitted.

The address for the Campaign Treasurer should be used
on the form as the Treasurer will be receiving
letters reminding of campaign finance reports due dates.

To print out Designation of Treasurer form, please visit here.
For all campaign forms, please visit here.

Any questions, contact your local county board of elections.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT (FDS)

In Ohio, the Ohio Ethics Commission requires an FDS to be filed.
The filing deadline for a Financial Disclosure Statement (FDS)
depends on the filer’s role and the election cycle.
The general deadline is May 15th each year. 

The FDS is required for many people, including:
elected officials, candidates for elected office, public employees,
and appointees to public positions. 
The FDS is a way to increase transparency and confidence in government.
It helps public servants identify potential conflicts of interest and
allows citizens to make informed choices about candidates. 

CANDIDATES APPEARING ON A PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT:
Must file not later than the thirtieth day before the earliest election
at which his or her candidacy is to be voted on.

WRITE-IN CANDIDATES:
Must file not later than the twentieth day before the earliest election
at which his or her candidacy is to be voted on.

Once you review the Ohio Ethics Commission FDS page
and your not sure which statement you need to file
or you have any questions about filing deadline,
please contact the Ohio Ethics Commission: (614) 466-7090.

Visit here for link to Ohio Ethics Commission FDS page.

ELECTIONS CALENDAR

The 2025 Elections Calendar (PDF, 11″ X 17″)
provides dates and information on elections,
campaign finance deadlines and events throughout each year.
Includes Campaign Finance Reporting Dates.
This publication is available in electronic format only.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING CALENDAR

For the 2025 Reporting Calendar with Filing Deadlines,
please visit here.

The Campaign Finance Reporting Calendar contains filing dates throughout the year.
Filing entities submitting reports to a county board of elections
should contact the board for special election dates and other filing deadlines.
See Ohio Revised Code 3517.10 for complete details of the timing
and requirements for most campaign finance reporting.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE FORMS

Click here for Campaign Finance Forms

CAMPAIGN FINANCE HANDBOOK
All chapters revised May 2022

Visit here to view or download the Ohio Campaign Finance Handbook.

The Ohio Campaign Finance Handbook assists all reporting entities
in navigating the various regulatory paths established by Ohio law.
Each of the handbook’s chapters discusses specific entity types or
areas of campaign finance activity and can serve as a map for the reader
to understand each area of regulation and reporting applicable to their circumstance. 
This publication is available in electronic format only.

Local candidates and other political entities may also receive filing information
from your local county board of elections.

FILE REPORTS ONLINE: E-FILING

PLEASE NOTE:
Online Campaign Finance E-Filing with the Secretary of State’s Office
is permitted for those committees that file reports with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Local committees may file all reports with their board of elections OR online.
If you have questions about where you should file your reports,
please contact your local county board of elections.
Here are links for E-Filing:
Campaign Finance E-Filing: Main Page
State E-Filers – File Now
Local/County E-Filers – File Now

CONTRIBUTION LIMIT CHART

The Contribution Limit Chart is adjusted for inflation
in each odd-numbered year.
Current Limit Chart – PDF
EFFECTIVE:
FEBRUARY 25, 2023 – FEBRUARY 24, 2025

JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct provides a page – link is here – containing information and resources for judicial candidates, members of judicial campaign committees, and other individuals involved in judicial campaigns or interested in rules applicable to judicial campaign conduct. Please refer to the following links:

This page contains information and resources for judicial candidates, members of judicial campaign committees, and other individuals involved in judicial campaigns or interested in rules applicable to judicial campaign conduct.

The Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct requires all judicial candidates, including incumbent judges, to attend and complete a two-hour seminar on judicial campaign practices. A judicial candidate is required to complete the two-hour training requirement at least one year prior to, or sixty (60) days after, his or her candidacy is certified by the election authority.

The judicial campaign seminars include instruction on ethics rules applicable to judicial campaign conduct, including participation in campaign activities, the content of judicial campaign advertisements, and campaign fundraising activities. The seminar also addresses state law requirements on disclaimers and campaign finance reporting.

The seminars are a collaboration among the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, the Ohio Judicial College, and the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.

Judicial candidates are encouraged to bring their campaign treasurer and volunteers to the seminar. The seminars are offered at no cost to attendees, and no preregistration is required. Judges and attorneys attending the seminar receive two hours of continuing legal education credit.

If you have any questions regarding any of the judicial information above, please refer to the contacts listed below: 

Ohio Board of Professional Conduct
65 South Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3431
614.387.9370

​Questions re: Canon 4 (campaign conduct and fundraising):

​Questions re: Ohio Elections Laws (campaign finance reporting and disclaimers):

  • Erie County Board of Elections
  • Ohio Secretary of State /Campaign Finance Division
  • Heather Moore-Kester
    Deputy Campaign Finance Administrator
    614.696.8759
    HMooreKe@OhioSoS.gov
  • ​Alexxis Palumbo
    Campaign Finance Administrator & Counsel
    614.696.3111
    APalumbo@OhioSoS.gov

QUESTIONS?

If any questions concerning any of the above information,
please contact your local county board of elections
or
the appropriate listed contact as provided above.

Do you have questions about voting?

Check out: www.IWill Vote.com

Ohio Voter Eligibility and Residency Requirements

Voter Registration (Online)
Voter Registration Form (PDF)

Vote From Abroad

Am I registered to vote?
Am I registered at the right address?
Update Your Ohio Voting Address (Online)
Am I registered under my correct name?
Where do I vote?
What do I need to bring with me to vote?

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