Candidate Filing

This page is used to provide forms and information to candidates for elected offices, including what forms are needed for specific types of offices. The information and forms are provided as a convenience for candidates, and it is up to the individual filing for an elected office to ensure they have the correct forms and file with the correct agency.

Candidate Filing Procedures

Candidates must come to our office in person to pick up documents for filing for office. If applicable, filing fees must be paid prior to receiving nomination documents. Candidates must come to our office in person, during normal business hours, to file their documents with original signatures, and take their oath prior to the filing deadline. Office hours are M-F from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., excluding holidays. Contact us for questions, or more details, during normal business hours at (707) 565-6800.

Where to File

To run for state, county, and most school or special district offices, file at the Registrar of Voters Office. To run for city offices, file with your City/Town Clerk.

Cloverdale	Cotati	Healdsburg
Petaluma	Rohnert Park	Santa Rosa
Sebastopol	Sonoma	Windsor

District Lookup

Click here to check which district you live in (use your residential address). Most offices require you to live in the district.

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines are election-specific and can be found on the Timeline Calendar of each election page. In addition, a more detailed Campaign Guide and Calendar of Events is made available approximately three months prior to Election Day for the following three types of elections:

Odd-year Uniform District Elections
Even-year Primary Elections
Even-year General Elections

Candidate Filing Matrix

Required Documents

Document Names	US Senate	US Rep (Congress)	State Legislative	Judicial	School Gov Board	County	City / Town	Special District	Central Cmte
Campaign Statements (Forms 470, 501, 460 &/or 410)*			x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700)			x	x	x	x		x
Declaration of Candidacy (in office only)	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Candidate Information Sheet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Declaration of Intention (in office only, after payment of fees)				x
Statement of Qualifications (Optional) (State / Local)		x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Ballot Designation Worksheet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Nomination Petition (in office only, after payment of fees)	x	x	x	x		x	x		x
Code of Fair Campaign Practices (Optional)			x	x	x	x	x	x	x

Additional Documents Provided

Document Names	US Senate	US Rep (Congress)	State Legislative	Judicial	School Gov Board	County	Special District	Central Cmte
GC §84305 notice	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Campaign Guide (see specific Election page for guide)	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Local Campaign Ordinance						x

* Required campaign statements depend on the amount of money a candidate plans to raise or spend (excluding personal funds used for the filing fee and/or fee for the Statement of Qualifications)

Raising/Spending $0: Form 470 (except central committee candidates)
Raising/Spending $0.01 - $1,999.99: Form 470 & Form 501
Raising/Spending $2,000.00 or more: Form 410 & Form 501 (as well as Form 460 by reporting deadlines -- see FPPC filing schedule)

See Campaign Finance page for more information

Candidate Filing Documents

Campaign Finance Statements
- Required campaign statements depend on the amount of money a candidate plans to raise or spend (excluding personal funds used for the filing fee and/or fee for the Statement of Qualifications)
- Form 470 Officeholder and Candidate Campaign Statement — Short Form and Form 470 Supplement(PDF)
  - Raising/Spending $0 (except central committee candidates)
  - Raising/Spending $0.01 - $1,999.99
- Form 501 Candidate Intention Statement(PDF)
  - Raising/Spending $0.01 - $1,999.99
  - Raising/Spending $2,000.00 or more
- Form 410 Statement of Organization Recipient Committee(PDF)
  - Raising/Spending $2,000.00 or more
- Form 460 Recipient Committee Campaign Statement (PDF)
  - Raising/Spending $2,000.00 or more
  - On FPPC Filing Schedule
Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700)
- FPPC Instructions and current form
Declaration of Candidacy (in office only)
Candidate Information Sheet
Declaration of Intention (in office only, after payment of fees)
Statement of Qualifications (Optional)
- Local Offices(PDF: 232kB)
- State / Federal Offices(PDF: 227kB)
Ballot Designation Worksheet(PDF)
Nomination Petition (in office only, after payment of fees)
Code of Fair Campaign Practices (Optional) (PDF: 45kB)
Government Code 84305 Notice(PDF)
Campaign Guide
- Specific to each election
Local Campaign Ordinance – Sonoma County (PDF)
- See City / Town for applicable local campaign ordinance

Office Terms

Office	Date	Term / Term Limits	Code Section
President	January 20th at noon	4 year / 2 term maximum	U.S. Const. Amendment XX, § 1
State Assembly – 80 members (Legislative Office)	First Monday in December following election	2 year / Members elected to the legislature or their first time in 2012 or later may serve a total of twelve years in either house, or a combination of the two houses. A person may serve all twelve years in either the Assembly or the Senate, or split between the two houses.	CA. Const. Art. IV §2 & 3
State Senate – 40 members (Legislative Office)	First Monday in December following election	4 year / Members elected to the legislature or their first time in 2012 or later may serve a total of twelve years in either house, or a combination of the two houses. A person may serve all twelve years in either the Assembly or the Senate, or split between the two houses.	CA. Const. Art. IV §2 & 3
Representative in Congress	January 3rd	2 years / none	U.S. Const. Amendment XX, §2
U. S. Senators – 2 from each state	January 3rd	6 years / none	U.S. Const. Amendment XX, §1
Special Districts	First Friday in December at noon following election	4 years / none	E. C. §10554
School Districts	Second Friday in December following election	4 years / none	Ed. Code §5017
Superior Court Judges	First Monday after January 1 following election	6 years / none	CA. Const. Art. VI §16
Statewide Offices (Governor, Secretary of State, etc)	First Monday after January 1 following election	4 years / 2 terms	CA. Const. Art. V
County Offices	First Monday after January 1 following election	4 years / none	Gov. Code §24200
County Supervisors	First Monday after January 1 following election	4 years / none	Gov. Code §24200