Candidate Guide

How to Become a Candidate for Public Office in the State of San Andreas

Published by the San Andreas Department of State
Elections Division

Introduction

Running for public office is one of the most important ways citizens participate in representative government. This guide explains the process for becoming a candidate for statewide, legislative, judicial, county, municipal, and federal offices appearing on the San Andreas ballot.

Although eligibility requirements differ depending on the office sought, the nomination process is generally the same throughout the State.

This guide covers:

• Candidate qualifications

• Campaign finance requirements

• Candidate committee registration

• Filing requirements

• Methods of nomination

• Ballot access

• Important deadlines

Offices Covered

This guide applies to candidates for:

State Offices

• Governor

• Lieutenant Governor

• Secretary of State

• Attorney General

• State Treasurer

• State Senator

• State Representative

• District Attorney

• University of San Andreas Board of Regents

• State Board of Education

• Judicial Retention Elections

Federal Offices

• President of the United States

• Vice President of the United States

• United States Senate

• United States House of Representatives

Note: Federal candidates follow the same ballot access procedures administered by the San Andreas Department of State. Campaign finance for federal candidates is governed by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Nonpartisan Offices

• Municipal offices

• County offices designated nonpartisan

• Local school boards

• Other offices established by law as nonpartisan

Nonpartisan candidates do not participate in political party assemblies and qualify for the ballot only by petition unless otherwise provided by law.

Step 1 — Determine Whether You Are Qualified

Before beginning a campaign, verify that you meet every constitutional and statutory qualification for the office you seek.

Qualifications commonly include:

• Minimum age

• Citizenship

• Residency

• Voter registration

• District residency (when applicable)

• Any additional qualifications established by law

Candidates are responsible for ensuring they satisfy all eligibility requirements before filing.

Step 2 — Become Familiar with Campaign Finance Laws

Every candidate should understand the laws governing campaign finance before beginning a campaign.

Candidates should review:

• San Andreas Constitution

  • Article XXVIII (Amendment 27)

• San Andreas Campaign and Political Finance Rules

• Title I, Article 45, San Andreas Revised Statutes

  • Fair Campaign Practices Act

The Constitution and San Andreas Revised Statutes are available through the official LexisNexis Legal Resources publisher.

Step 3 — Publicly Announce Your Candidacy

A person generally becomes subject to campaign finance laws after publicly announcing an intention to seek public office and subsequently receiving or spending money in support of that candidacy.

Public announcements may include:

• Press releases

• Campaign websites

• Public speeches

• Social media announcements

• News interviews

• Public campaign events

Step 4 — Register a Candidate Committee (If Necessary)

Candidates who intend to receive campaign contributions must register a candidate committee before accepting contributions.

Candidate Committee

Register a committee if you will:

• Accept donations

• Raise campaign funds

• Hold fundraising events

• Receive monetary or in-kind contributions

Standalone Candidate

If you will:

• Spend only your own personal funds

• Accept no campaign contributions

you may campaign as a standalone candidate and are not required to establish a candidate committee.

Step 5 — Receive or Spend Campaign Funds

You officially become a candidate when:

1. You publicly announce your candidacy; and

2. You either:

   • Receive a contribution, or

   • Make an expenditure in support of your campaign.

Candidates using a committee must register that committee before accepting contributions.

Step 6 — File Your Candidate Affidavit

Within 10 days after becoming a candidate, you must electronically file a Candidate Affidavit.

The affidavit certifies that you are familiar with campaign finance laws.

Legal authority:

• Article XXVIII, Section 2(2), San Andreas Constitution

• Section 1-45-110(1), S.A.R.S.

• Campaign Finance Rule 2.3

Voluntary Spending Limits

If you wish to accept voluntary spending limits established by law, you must indicate your acceptance at the time you file your initial Candidate Affidavit.

This decision cannot be made later.

Authority:

• Article XXVIII, Sections 4(3) and 9(1)(c)

Step 7 — File a Personal Financial Disclosure

Within 10 days after filing your Candidate Affidavit, submit your Personal Financial Disclosure Statement.

Deliver by:

• Mail

• Hand delivery

• Email (if authorized)

San Andreas Department of State
3431 Heavner Street
Los Santos, SA 25022

Step 8 — File Campaign Finance Reports

Campaign finance disclosure reports must be filed on the second Monday of every month.

Reports disclose:

• Contributions received

• Loans

• Expenditures

• Debts

• Transfers

• In-kind contributions

Failure to timely file reports may result in civil penalties or other enforcement actions.

Step 9 — Qualify for the Ballot

After satisfying campaign finance requirements, candidates must qualify for the ballot through one of the methods authorized by law.

Partisan Candidates

Candidates affiliated with a political party may qualify through either:

Political Party Assembly

or

Petition

Candidates may choose either method unless prohibited by law.

Nonpartisan Candidates

Candidates for nonpartisan offices—including all local school board offices—qualify only by petition.

Political party assemblies are not used for nonpartisan elections.

Political Party Assembly Route

Political parties hold assemblies before each primary election.

At the assembly:

• Candidates seek support from party delegates.

• Delegates vote to determine which candidates receive the party's nomination.

Candidates receiving the percentage of delegate support required by law become party nominees and advance to the primary election or directly to the general election if no primary is required.

Each political party establishes internal rules governing delegate selection and assembly procedures consistent with state law.

Petition Route

Candidates may instead qualify by petition.

To qualify:

• Obtain the required number of valid signatures from eligible electors.

• Submit petitions before the statutory filing deadline.

• Petitions are reviewed and verified by the Department of State or the appropriate designated election official.

Only candidates whose petitions contain the required number of valid signatures qualify for placement on the ballot.

Certification to the Ballot

After all filing requirements have been completed, the Department of State certifies qualified candidates for placement on the ballot.

Certification includes verification that the candidate has:

• Met constitutional qualifications;

• Properly filed all required documents;

• Qualified by assembly or petition, when applicable;

• Satisfied campaign finance filing requirements.

Only certified candidates appear on the official ballot.

Federal Candidates

Candidates for:

• President

• Vice President

• United States Senate

• United States House of Representatives

follow substantially the same ballot access procedures administered by the San Andreas Department of State.

However, campaign finance for federal candidates is governed by the Federal Election Campaign Act and administered by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) rather than the San Andreas Department of State.

Judicial Retention Elections

Justices and judges standing for retention election do not participate in political party nomination procedures.

Retention elections are governed by the judicial article of the Constitution and applicable election statutes.

Candidate Checklist

☐ Verify constitutional qualifications

☐ Review campaign finance laws

☐ Publicly announce candidacy

☐ Register a candidate committee (if accepting contributions)

☐ Begin fundraising or campaign expenditures

☐ File Candidate Affidavit within 10 days

☐ Accept voluntary spending limits, if desired

☐ File Personal Financial Disclosure within 10 days

☐ File monthly campaign finance reports

☐ Qualify for the ballot through:

• Party Assembly; or

• Petition (petition only for nonpartisan offices)

☐ Receive certification from the Department of State

☐ Appear on the official ballot

Additional Information

Questions regarding candidate filing, ballot access, campaign finance, or election administration should be directed to the San Andreas Department of State, Elections Division.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to begin the qualification process well in advance of statutory deadlines to ensure sufficient time for petition circulation, filing review, and correction of any deficiencies.