2024 Candidate Resources

Overview

Disclaimer: The forms, petitions, handbooks, and law contained in this packet are subject to change without notice, in accordance with State and/or Federal law. It is the responsibility of the candidate/committee to obtain updated information before filing, collecting signatures, etc. Please note that everything you submit is subject to challenge by any elector.

If you have questions on the legality of the forms, petitions, and handbooks, please seek your own legal counsel. The Elections Department cannot give legal advice or answer questions about how to conduct your campaign. All information is subject to public records requests. Printed candidate packets are no longer available for pickup in the Elections Department.  

Select the Candidate type for the Office you want to run for:

  • Partisan Nomination County Office (Democratic or Republican Candidate) and Nomination other than by Primary Election (Independent, No Party Designation, Other or 16-341 Candidate)
  • Non-Partisan Office (Special District)
  • Precinct Committeemen (Democratic, Libertarian, or Republican) 
  • School Board Candidates

Candidate Type & Nomination Procedure

Partisan Nomination County Office

Republican or Democratic candidates will run in the Primary Election and the winners in that election move to the General Election.

Nomination other than by Primary Election candidates known as A.R.S. §16-341 (who are registered Independent, No Party Designation, or Other) will run in the General Election only as they are not nominated by a Political Party.  Nomination procedures and timelines are the same for all County Office Candidates.

  • Step 1 – File a Statement of Interest (PDF) – All Candidates seeking any County, or School District Office must now file a Statement of Interest with the filing officer before collecting petition signatures.  This form may be filed electronically by email.
  • Step 2 – Form a Committee (if required) – Within 10 days after your campaign’s combined receipts and/or disbursements exceed $1,400, the candidate must file a Committee using the Statement of Organization form (PDF).  As long as your campaign’s combined receipts and disbursements do not exceed $1,400, you may skip this step.  Note:  Once you file a committee, you are obligated to filing regular campaign finance reports subject to late fees.
  • Step 3 – Nomination Petitions (pick Partisan Nomination Petition (PDF) or Independent / 16-341 PDF) – Information about who can sign petitions, who can gather petitions for you, and a checklist is included in the Candidate Handbook.  Official signature numbers will not be available until after January 2, 2024, and will be posted here by January 15, 2024.  For comparison purposes, signature requirements from 2020 when these offices were last on the ballot are posted.
  • Step 4 – Nominating Papers (File A, B, and C together) – You may contact our office to set up a filing appointment as these forms cannot be accepted electronically.  Candidates are accepted on a first come first serve basis.  Only nomination papers received by 5:00pm on the last day to file will be accepted, regardless of the postmark date if you choose to mail them.  
  • Step 5 – Campaign Finance Reports (PDF) (Only required if a Statement of Organization was Filed to form a Committee).  Obligations to file reports begin as soon as the Committee is formed.  
  • Step 6 – Termination Statement (PDF) (Only required if a Statement of Organization was Filed to form a Committee).  After the election cycle is complete, Committees may terminate by filing a Termination Statement.  Until terminated, Committees are required to continue filing periodic Campaign Finance Reports.  A final Campaign Finance Report is due upon termination.

Write-In Candidates for Partisan County Offices

Non-Partisan Nomination County Office

Special District Candidates run in the General Election and offices are subject to cancel and appoint if the same number or less than number of candidates than open seats file. All forms must be received in the Elections Department by 5:00pm on the last day to file.  No Statement of Interest is required prior to collecting petition signatures.

  • Step 1 – Form a Committee (if required-rare for Special District Candidates) – Within 10 days after your campaign’s combined receipts and/or disbursements exceed $1,400, the candidate must file a Committee using the Statement of Organization form (PDF).  As long as your campaign’s combined receipts and disbursements do not exceed $1,400, you may skip this step.  Note:  Once you file a committee, you are obligated to filing regular campaign finance reports subject to late fees.
  • Step 2 – Nomination Petitions (Non-Partisan Nomination Petition (PDF) – Information about who can sign petitions, who can gather petitions for you, and a checklist is included in the Candidate Handbook.  Official signature numbers will not be available until after January 2, 2024, and will be posted here by January 15, 2024.  For comparison purposes, signature requirements from 2020 when these offices were last on the ballot are posted.
  • Step 3 – Nominating Papers  – You may contact our office to set up a filing appointment as these forms cannot be accepted electronically.  Candidates are accepted on a first come first serve basis.  Only nomination papers received by 5:00pm on the last day to file will be accepted, regardless of the postmark date if you choose to mail them.  Non-Partisan Nomination Paper (PDF) and Campaign Finance Laws Statement (both are on the same one-page form). 
  • Step 4 – Campaign Finance Reports (PDF) (Only required if a Statement of Organization was Filed to form a Committee).  Obligations to file reports begin as soon as the Committee is formed.  
  • Step 5 – Termination Statement (PDF) (Only required if a Statement of Organization was Filed to form a Committee).  After the election cycle is complete, Committees may terminate by filing a Termination Statement.  Until terminated, Committees are required to continue filing periodic Campaign Finance Reports.  A final Campaign Finance Report is due upon termination.

Write-In Candidates for Non-Partisan County Offices

Precinct Committeeman

Precinct Committeeman Offices are subject to cancel and appointment in the Primary Election if the same number or less than number of seats have candidate filings.  Democratic, Libertarian, or Republican Candidates may file with the Cochise County Elections Department or with their County Party Chairman.  All forms must be received in the Elections Department by 5:00pm on the last day to file.  No Statement of Interest is required prior to collecting petition signatures.

  • Step 1 – Nomination Petitions (Partisan Nomination Petition (PDF) – Information about who can sign petitions, who can gather petitions for you, and a checklist is included in the Candidate Handbook.  Official signature numbers will not be available until after January 2, 2024, and will be posted here by January 15, 2024.  For comparison purposes, signature requirements from 2020 when these offices were last on the ballot are posted.
  • Step 2 – Nominating Paper – You may contact our office to set up a filing appointment as these forms cannot be accepted electronically.  Candidates are accepted on a first come first serve basis.  Only nomination papers received by 5:00pm on the last day to file will be accepted, regardless of the postmark date if you choose to mail them.  Partisan Nomination Paper (PDF) and Campaign Finance Laws Statement (both are on the same one-page form). 

Write-In Candidates for Precinct Committeeman

Candidate Resources

Petition Circulation Information

Nomination Forms - Nomination Paper and Campaign Finance Laws Statement

Financial Disclosure Statement Information