Election Information

Become a Candidate

To become a candidate, the following documents must be filed with the Town of Surfside Town Clerk PRIOR to opening a campaign account, receiving contributions, or making any expenditures:

DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates: DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates(PDF, 40KB)

• Must be filed prior to opening the campaign account and prior to accepting contributions or making expenditures on the person's behalf.
  
• A candidate may be his / her campaign treasurer or deputy treasurer, but anyone designated must also be a registered voter of the State of Florida.
  
• Your campaign depository must be a bank, savings and loan association or credit union authorized to do business in the State of Florida. The campaign account must be separate from any personal or business accounts.
  
• All monetary contributions must be deposited in the campaign account within five (5) business days of receipt.
  
• Only the campaign treasurer or the deputy campaign treasurer may sign campaign expenditure checks.
  

DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate: DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate(PDF, 17KB)

• This form states that the candidate has been provided access to read and understand the requirements of Chapter 106, F.S.

AFTER filing the appropriate paperwork with the Town Clerk, candidates may then open a campaign account and begin to accept contributions and make expenditures.

Qualify to be Placed on the Ballot

Running for Office in the Town of Surfside

If you are seeking to run for office in the Town of Surfside, below, please find a listing of the documents you will need:

• DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates(PDF, 40KB) - (if not already on file)
• DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate(PDF, 17KB) - (if not already on file)
• DS-DE 302 NP Candidate Oath
  (PDF, 216KB)
• Nominating Petition for Mayor or Commissioner – Petition must be sign by no less than twenty-five qualified electors.
• Sworn Statement of Qualification - You must provide required documentation.
• Voluntary Declaration and Statement of Fair Campaign Practices
  (PDF, 56KB)

• FORM 1 Statement of Financial Interests - Effective January 1, 2024, elected members of the governing body of a municipality, as well as candidates for such offices, will be required to file an annual Statement of Financial Interests (Form 1) ELECTRONICALLY via the Florida Commission on Ethics Website: Electronic Financial Disclosure Management System  If you have an annual filing requirement AND are running for office, you will complete your disclosure in EFDMS and submit your filing electronically to the Commission, then print a copy of your disclosure to file with your Qualifying Officer or print a verification/receipt of efiling your form.  If you are a Candidate who does not currently hold an office or other position requiring disclosure, you will complete your disclosure in EFDMS via the “I am a Candidate” link and print it for filing with your Qualifying Officer.  You will not submit your disclosure to the Commission electronically.

Qualifying Fee - In accordance with the Town Charter, a fee in the amount of $25.00, payable to the Town of Surfside, from the Candidate's Campaign Account must be submitted.

Qualifying Period

Candidates shall qualify with the Town Clerk between January 12, 2026, and no later than 12:00 noon on February 2, 2026.

Please be advised that if you intend to seek election to the Mayor or Commissioners office, be sure to arrive at the office of the Town Clerk with the necessary completed qualifying papers and fees in a sufficient period of time before the 12:00 p.m. expiration of the qualifying period so that your qualifying papers may be timely filed with the Town Clerk prior to the end of the qualifying period.

NOTE: The qualifying period takes place during regular business hours (Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). No documentation will be accepted after business hours, or after the qualifying period has ended.

Below are some more informational resources:

• Candidate and Campaign Treasurer Handbook
  (PDF, 1MB)
• A Compilation of The Election Laws of the State of Florida
  (PDF, 2MB)
  

For a complete listing of all forms required to qualify for office, please visit the Florida Division of Elections.

Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections

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