Are you thinking of running for office?
Do you know someone who would be
a GREAT candidate?
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!
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 24, 2021 – FEBRUARY 24, 2023
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:
- 2023 Judicial Candidate Seminar Schedule
- 2023 Judicial Candidate Handbook
- 2023 Judicial Candidate Seminar Presentation – Board of Professional Conduct
- 2023 Judicial Candidate Campaign Finance Presentation – Ohio Secretary of State
- Judicial Campaign Conduct and Finance Rules – Includes all provisions effective as amended as of October 15, 2020
- The U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, has effectively established an additional exception to the general prohibition against the solicitation of campaign contributions by judicial candidates. See Rule 4.4(A), Code of Judicial Conduct, and AFSCME v. Brunner, et. al., 912 F.Supp. 556 (S.D. Ohio 2012) (Rule 4.4(A) is unconstitutional as applied to judicial candidates who personally solicit campaign contributions from immediate family members).
- Contribution Limits for Judicial Candidates – Effective for 2021 Election Cycle and Subsequent Election Cycles
- Campaign Conduct; Enforcement and Sanction Rules
- Judicial Campaign Misconduct Case Summaries
- Advisory Opinions Relative to Judicial Campaign Conduct and Fundraising
- Ohio Elections Commission Advisory Opinions
- Statutory Requirements for Newly Elected or Appointed Judges – Oaths, Bonds and Required Documentation
- Financial Disclosure for Judges, Magistrates, and Judicial Candidates
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):
- Richard A. Dove, Esq., Director
rick.dove@bpc.ohio.gov
614.387.9370 - D. Allan Asbury, Esq., Senior Counsel
allan.asbury@bpc.ohio.gov
614.387.9370
Questions re: Ohio Elections Laws (campaign finance reporting and disclaimers):
- Erie County Board of Elections
- 419.627.7601
- E-Mail: erie@OhioSoS.gov
- Ohio Secretary of State /Campaign Finance Division
- General E-Mail: Contact Us
- Shanda Behrens,
Campaign Finance Administrator & Public Integrity Counsel
SBehrens@OhioSoS.gov
614.696.8874 - Heather Moore-Kester
Deputy Campaign Finance Administrator
HMooreke@OhioSoS.gov
614.696.8759
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.
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