Candidates interested in running for an office on the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary ballot must file candidate nomination documents during the filing period from Nov. 11 to Dec. 6.
The following offices are on the March 3, 2020 ballot:
- 18th and 20th Congressional Districts
- 17th State Senate District
- 29th and 30th State Assembly Districts
- County Supervisors: 1st, 2nd and 5th Districts
- 7 Superior Court Judges
Also, on the ballot are candidates running for local political party Central Committees and County Councils. Filing for those offices opened Sept. 27 and closes on Dec. 6.
During this filing period, candidates file the following documents:
Nomination Papers. Candidates must file a specified number of valid signatures on a Nomination Petition in order to have their name on the primary ballot.
Declaration of Candidacy is filed after the candidate satisfies their nomination signature requirement.
Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications to be printed in the County Voter Information Guide and/or posted online at www.votescount.com is optional.
Candidates for Superior Court Judge and Board of Supervisors – 200 words or less and must be filed and paid for at the time they file their Declaration of Candidacy.
Candidates for State Senate or State Assembly — 250 words or less if they have agreed to adhere to the spending limits on Form 501. Must be filed by 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
Candidates for Congress – 250 words or less — must be filed by 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
Candidates for Central Committee or County Council are not eligible to file a candidate’s statement of qualifications.
Fair Political Practices Form 700 Conflict of Interest Statement.
Filing fees for the various offices up for election are based on 1 or 2 percent of the annual salary. Fees range from $2,000.42 for Superior Court Judge to $1,104.59 for State Assembly Member.
A “Candidate’s Handbook” detailing deadlines, forms, candidate filing requirements, and election processes for the March 3, 2020 Primary Election is available from the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department at 701 Ocean St., Room 310, Santa Cruz. Candidate’s handbooks are also available online at www.votescount.com.
In addition, a daily update of candidates who have taken out papers or have filed is available online at www.votescount.com as well as other important information regarding the March Primary.
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For more information, please call 831-454-2060, visit us online at www.votescount.com or email us at [email protected].