How to Navigate the Election Process Like You Already Belong There
You’ve decided to run for office. That takes courage.
The part that stops too many good candidates comes next: filing deadlines, compliance forms, campaign finance reports, petition signatures. Most of these requirements aren’t actually complicated once you understand them. They’re steps you can learn.
This guide covers the entire process. You’ll learn which office to run for, how to file paperwork correctly, how to organize your campaign, and how to prepare for election day. You’ll know what to expect and when to act.
Why Understanding the Election Process Matters
Voters can tell when candidates understand the mechanics of running for office. Smooth filing, proper compliance, and organized campaign setup signal competence in the actual job.
Early Mistakes Create Lasting Problems
Missing a filing deadline or making a compliance error can derail your campaign. Understanding requirements upfront means you spend time talking to voters instead of fixing preventable problems.
Process Knowledge Enables Better Planning
When you know the timeline and requirements, you control your schedule. You’re not reacting to surprise deadlines.
Organization Attracts Support
Supporters and volunteers join campaigns that feel organized from the beginning. Competence attracts the help you need.
Step 1: Choose the Right Office for Your Goals
Different offices handle different responsibilities. Match your skills and motivation to the right role.
Know What Each Office Actually Does
School Board members focus on education policy, budgets, and supporting students and teachers.
City Council members work on local development, municipal services, public safety, and how cities grow.
County Commissioners handle regional issues like infrastructure, health services, and coordination across communities.
Mayors manage complex operations and serve as the public face of their city. This role typically requires more experience.
Research the Daily Work
Look past campaign promises. Understand what the job involves day-to-day.
How often does the board meet? What budget decisions will you make? How much time does constituent service require? Which staff or departments will you work with?
Study Your Local Race
Ask practical questions. How long has the current officeholder served? What were the margins in recent elections? Which issues matter most to voters right now? Who might support your campaign?
RunTogether’s Platform Builder connects your values to specific issues, making it easier to see where you’ll make the strongest impact.
Step 2: Master Filing Requirements Before Deadlines Arrive
Filing requirements vary by location and office. Start researching at least six to eight weeks before deadlines.
Contact Your Local Election Authority
County clerks typically manage local elections. Secretary of state offices oversee state-level races. Municipal clerks may handle city-specific requirements.
Call them and ask about specific filing deadlines, required forms, filing fees and payment methods, petition signature requirements, and residency rules.
Prepare Your Documentation
Collect everything before filing periods open.
You’ll likely need proof of residency, voter registration, and identification. Have your campaign name ready, along with treasurer details and preliminary budget estimates. Some jurisdictions require financial disclosure forms.
File Early
Submit paperwork with time to spare. If something’s wrong, you’ll have time to fix it.
Double-check every form. Review signature requirements carefully. Confirm fee amounts before you pay.
Step 3: Set Up Your Campaign Legally
Once you file, you’re officially a candidate. Establish proper campaign operations.
File Your Statement of Organization
This document makes your campaign official. You’ll typically provide your campaign name and contact information, personal information and office sought, treasurer and deputy treasurer names, bank account details, and a registered agent for official correspondence.
Open Campaign Bank Accounts
Keep campaign money completely separate from personal finances. Open a dedicated checking account for all campaign funds. Track every donation and expense. Use accounting software or detailed spreadsheets. Keep receipts for everything.
Establish Record-Keeping Systems
Organize documentation from the start.
Track all donations with donor information, dates, and amounts. Document every expense with receipts and vendor contracts. Archive campaign emails and preserve social media content. Keep copies of all advertising materials. Manage volunteer and supporter information in one system.
Step 4: Build Your Campaign Timeline
Work backward from election day to create a realistic schedule.
Six to Eight Months Before Election Day
Complete your candidate research. Build early supporter relationships. Develop your platform and key messages.
Four to Six Months Out
File candidacy paperwork. Build your website and basic materials. Start organized fundraising and recruit volunteers.
Two to Four Months Out
Intensify voter outreach. Launch advertising campaigns. Attend community events. Focus on voter registration. Have supporters put your yard signs out.
Final Two Months
Contact voters directly through calls, texts, and doors. Finalize advertising and materials. Prepare for election day operations and get-out-the-vote activities.
RunTogether’s Campaign Planner adapts to your specific timeline, breaking down these phases into manageable tasks that match your race and resources.
Step 5: Understand Campaign Finance Requirements
Campaign finance laws keep elections transparent. Learn the rules for your race.
Know Contribution Limits
Find out maximum individual donation amounts for your office. Learn corporate and organizational contribution restrictions. Understand rules about anonymous contributions and how to value in-kind donations.
Meet Reporting Deadlines
Most jurisdictions require pre-election reports filed before election day, post-election reports after the race ends, and ongoing disclosure if you keep fundraising. Know the amendment procedures for correcting errors.
Track Everything
Keep detailed records. Document every donation with donor information. Save receipts for all expenses. Maintain bank statements and reconciliations. Store vendor contracts and payment documentation.
Step 6: Follow Advertising and Communication Rules
Campaign materials need proper disclaimers and must follow content rules.
Include Required Disclaimers
Most campaign communications need “Paid for by” statements on all materials, candidate approval language on broadcast ads, disclosure on websites and social media, and identification on direct mail and printed materials.
Understand Content Restrictions
Know the rules about truth in advertising and fact-checking, coordination between your campaign and outside groups, using public resources for campaign activities, and timing restrictions on certain communications.
Stay Current
Election laws change, especially around digital advertising. Subscribe to updates from your election authority. Join local candidate networks. Consult experts when questions arise. Document your compliance decisions.
Step 7: Organize Your Campaign Team
You don’t need a huge staff. Clear roles matter more than numbers.
Essential Positions for Local Campaigns
Your Campaign Manager oversees daily operations and strategic decisions. Your Treasurer handles finances and compliance reporting. A Communications Coordinator manages your website, social media, and media relationships. A Volunteer Coordinator organizes outreach and voter contact.
Consider Advisory Support
Depending on your resources, you might benefit from legal counsel for compliance questions, accounting support for financial management, marketing help for design and messaging, or technology assistance for digital tools.
Set Clear Budget Priorities
Be realistic about what you can raise and spend. Research typical spending for similar races. Prioritize essential expenses first. Plan fundraising around your actual community. Keep contingency funds for unexpected needs.
Most local campaigns allocate 10-15% for compliance and legal costs, 40-50% for communications and outreach, 15-25% for operations and staff, and 15-20% for contingencies.
Step 8: Prepare for Election Day
Election day requires planning and coordination.
Develop Your Get-Out-The-Vote Plan
Focus on turning out your supporters. Use phone banks for voter reminders. Send text messages with voting information. Do door-to-door contact in strong support areas. Run digital ads promoting voting.
Coordinate Election Day Operations
Organize poll monitoring with trained volunteers. Arrange voter transportation for those who need help. Set up communication systems for quick problem-solving. Make yourself available for media interviews.
Plan for Multiple Outcomes
If you win, prepare a celebration event, victory speech, and transition plan. Thank your supporters and begin preparing for office.
If you lose, write a gracious concession speech and congratulate the winner. Resolve any campaign debts and complete final compliance reporting. Thank your team and maintain relationships for future opportunities.
Complete Post-Election Requirements
File final financial reports. Close campaign accounts. Retain required documents. Resolve any outstanding obligations.
RunTogether’s Website Builder and Brand Builder help you create professional campaign materials quickly, so you spend more time on the relationships and conversations that actually win elections.
Your Path Through the Election Process
Understanding how elections work means claiming your place in democracy with competence.
Meeting requirements professionally shows voters you’re ready for the job. Managing deadlines effectively demonstrates organizational skills. Fulfilling compliance obligations proves you can work within systems while pursuing change.
The election process tests your ability to organize, prioritize, and follow through. That’s exactly what governing requires.
Start building your campaign with the structure and tools that help you manage the process while staying focused on what matters most: connecting with the people you want to serve.
Navigate the election process with confidence.
RunTogether guides you through every filing deadline, requirement, and milestone so you can focus on connecting with voters. Explore the platform →
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