What is involved? What are the requirements to be a candidate?

Are you thinking of running for office?
Do you know someone who would be
a GREAT candidate?

The 2023 election cycle brings many local races:
City, Township, Village Council
City Ward (Vermilion)
Fiscal Officer
County Board of Education
District Board of Education
The Erie County Board of Elections has petitions available for candidates.

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

Thank You for considering to run for elected office
and becoming a valued public servant within our community!

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!

  • Make sure you have determined/decided what the name of your campaign committee will be as you will need to provide it on the form.
    • Example: Friends of ____; Committee to Elect _____.
  • 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.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENT GUIDE

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

The 2023 Candidate Requirement Guide (PDF)
is updated on an annual basis,
contains requirements and guidelines for those
who may decide to run for elected office.
This publication is available in electronic format only.

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

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 the
Erie County Board of Elections.
Any questions, contact the Erie County Board of Elections.
To print out form, please visit here.
For all campaign forms, please visit here.

ELECTIONS CALENDAR

The 2022 Elections Calendar (PDF – 12″ X 18″)
The 2023 Elections Calendar (PDF – 11″x17″)
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 2022 Reporting Calendar with Filing Deadlines,
please visit here.
For the 2023 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 their local county board of elections.
To contact the Erie County Board of Elections:
419.627.7601 | E-mail: erie@OhioSoS.gov

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 the Erie County Board of Elections: 419.627.7601.
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:

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):

QUESTIONS?

If any questions concerning any of the above information,
please contact the Erie County Board of Elections
2900 Columbus Avenue, Room 101, Sandusky 44870
419.627.7601 | erie@OhioSoS.gov
or
the appropriate contact provided above for Judicial candidates.

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

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Update Your Ohio Voting Address (Online)
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