Getting Elected to Public Office in 7 Easy Steps
- Circulate and file nominating petitions to get on the Democratic ballot for the primary. When you file your petitions, you will need to fill out the candidate’s affidavit and statement of financial interest, as well. You can get these forms, and information about submitting them, from the Elections Office inside the courthouse annex. Matt and Thea can answer any questions you may have.
- Recruit friends to help with your campaign. Depending on the office, you might need a campaign manager or treasurer. Remember to comply with campaign finance reporting rules throughout your campaign.
- Promote your candidacy through a press release, social media, yard signs, canvassing, etc. (Work with the Democratic committee.)
- Organize volunteers to work as poll greeters on Election Day.
- Win the Democratic primary!
- Campaign in earnest up to General Election Day and organize poll greeters for as many polls as possible.
- Win the general election!
More Difficult Routes to Office
Candidates who do not successfully file nominating petitions can still launch a “write-in” campaign to win the Democratic primary and, thus, get onto the ballot for the general election. To win a write in campaign, you will need to campaign prior to the primary and you will need poll greeters to cover all of the relevant polls to hand out literature for you. (For votes to count, your name must be spelled correctly!)
Depending on the office, and the competition for it, it may be possible to launch a write-in campaign in the general election.