There are many different rules for qualifying for elective office. Information can be found in Divisions 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13 of the California Elections Code.  The Elections Department prepares a helpful candidate guide for the nomination process for each election, if there are additional questions, a candidate consultation appointment is recommended.

The filing period for candidates is only 25 days, starting 113 days before the election and ending 88 days before the election. We encourage candidates to start the process early in the filing period to meet the filing deadline.

Attention Candidates: San Benito County Integrated Waste Management has developed an Campaigning Sustainability Toolkit designed to significantly diminish waste within the county. This comprehensive resource offers a collection of five impactful tips aimed at waste reduction. The toolkit empowers individuals to generate QR codes, obtain voter data for electronic campaign outreach, repurpose campaign signs, select environmentally conscious paper suppliers, and opt for sustainable giveaways.