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Qualifying Information

Webpage last updated: June 04, 2025

Qualifying Dates

ATTENTION: Section 99.021(1), Florida Statutes, requires:

  • A person seeking nomination as a candidate of a political party to be a member of that political party for the 365 days BEFORE the beginning of the applicable qualifying period.
  • A person seeking to qualify for office as a candidate with no party affiliation to not be a member of any political party for the 365 days BEFORE the beginning of the applicable qualifying period.

Therefore, the last day for a person to make the change before the applicable 2026 qualifying period was April 20, 2025, for the first qualifying period, and June 8, 2025, for the second qualifying period. 

1st Qualifying Period for 2026:  Federal (U.S. Senator, Representative in Congress), State Attorney (Judicial Circuit 20th only), Public Defender (Judicial Circuit 20th only), Judicial Offices (i.e., Justice(s) of the Supreme Court, District Court of Appeal Judges, Circuit Court Judges, and County Court Judges*)

  • Noon, Monday, April 20, 2026 – Noon, Friday, April 24, 2026
  • Note: The Division will begin accepting qualifying documents on April 6, 2026. See Section 99.061(8), F.S.

*Note: Candidates for county court judges qualify with their respective county Supervisor of Elections. All other judicial candidates file with the Division of Elections as the filing officer.

2nd Qualifying Period for 2026:  Governor, Cabinet Offices (Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Chief Financial Officer), State Senators, State Representatives, County Office and Special Districts

  • Noon, Monday, June 8, 2026 – Noon, Friday, June 12, 2026
  • Note: The Division will begin accepting qualifying documents on May 25, 2026. See Section 99.061(8), F.S.  While state offices are closed on Memorial Day, qualifying documents can still be placed in the secure drop-box provided just inside the front lobby doors of the R.A. Gray Building located at 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, between the hours of 8 AM – 5 PM on May 25, 2026. State offices will reopen at 8 AM the following day.

Note:  The 2nd qualifying period and pre-qualifying submission period above also apply to COUNTY AND DISTRICT OFFICES. However, the qualifying paperwork must be submitted to the county Supervisor of Elections’ office as the qualifying officer. Please contact your county Supervisor of Elections for more information.

Qualifying Materials

Qualifying Office

Below is the name, location and address of Florida’s qualifying office for U.S. President and Vice-President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet, State Senate, State House of Representatives, Judicial (except county judges), multi-county state offices (State Attorney and Public Defender), and multi-county special district candidates:

Department of State, Division of Elections
Bureau of Election Records
R.A. Gray Building, Room 316
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250

Special Election Qualifying

Qualifying information for special elections can be found on our Special Elections page.

 

Candidates & Committees

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