Candidate Filing Nomination Packet – March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election

The following is a list of the Candidate Filing Nomination documents in the nomination packet which is available during the 1) County Central Committees and County Council nomination period from September 29, 2023 through December 8, 2023 and 2) the nomination period for all other offices from November 13, 2023 through December 8, 2023.

If you fill out and print the documents to bring to your candidate filing appointment, please print the documents DOUBLE-SIDED. The documents will be stamped with the issue date when you submit the pre-printed documents. Otherwise, the nomination packet will be available for you at your appointment.

Candidate Filing Appointment Scheduler

Candidates or their authorized representative MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT to obtain and/or file nomination papers with the Candidate Filing Appointment Scheduler or by calling our office at (530) 666-8133.

Yolo County Elections Office Candidate Guide – March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election

[Posted 11/09/2023] The Candidate Guide for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election is intended to provide general information for candidates and committees and does not have the force or effect of law, regulation, or rule. It is distributed with the understanding that the Yolo County Elections Office is not rendering legal advice. Therefore, the guide is not a substitute for legal counsel for the individual, organization, or candidate using it.

Candidate Filing Receipt

A number of documents must be filed at the local county elections office and also at the Secretary of State’s office, in order to qualify as a candidate for office in the primary election. The Candidate Filing Receipt is an overview and checklist of the required documents for candidates running for office.

Candidate Preliminary Information Form

The Candidate Preliminary Information Form is the first step to starting the candidate filing process. Starting on the first day of the nomination period, November 13th, prospective candidates must complete the form prior to receiving candidate filing documents. The form is used to verify the qualifications of the candidate.

Letter of Authorization

A candidate may designate a specific person to obtain and/or file nomination papers and/or a Declaration of Candidacy form on behalf of the candidate. A Letter of Authorization Form must be properly completed and signed by the candidate prior to their designated agent either obtaining or filing the nomination papers for the candidate.

Yolo County March 5, 2023, Presidential Primary Election Calendar

[Updated 11/09/2023] Election Calendar with important dates and deadlines for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. The calendar is also included in the Candidate Guide.

Summary of Qualifications and Requirements

The Summary of Qualifications and Requirements webpage lists each office and the required documents to be filed with the county of residence's elections office or the Secretary of State to qualify as a candidate. The excerpt from the Candidate Guide is also available for reference.

Petition In-Lieu of Filing Fee Form

For all contests requiring a filing fee, candidates may obtain the optional petition form from county election officials for circulating petitions to secure Signatures In-Lieu of all or a portion of the filing fee. Valid signatures submitted on the signatures in-lieu petitions are also be applied to the nomination signature requirements for that office. Candidates will be notified of any deficiency within 10 days of filing the petition. The petition form must be issued from the county elections office.

Contests with filing fees for candidates include United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, Member of the State Assembly, Superior Court Judge, and County Supervisor. The Petition In-Lieu forms must be submitted to the Yolo County Elections office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

Declaration of Intention — For Judicial Offices Only

Candidates for judicial office are required to file a Declaration of Intention with the county elections official. The filing fee must be paid at this time and is non-refundable. Signatures In-Lieu of filing fee will not be accepted after the Declaration of Intention is filed. The Declaration of Intention Period is from October 30, 2023 through November 8, 2023.

If an incumbent does not file the Declaration of Intention by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the Declaration of Intention Period is extended for all candidates, except the incumbent, through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2023.

Declaration of Qualifications for Office

The candidate signs the Qualifications for Office Form under penalty of perjury declaring the candidate meets the qualifications established for service for the office that are listed in the Summary of Qualifications and Requirements. 

Ballot Designation Worksheet — (Not applicable for Write-in Candidates)

The purpose of the Ballot Designation Worksheet is for the candidate to give information to substantiate his or her Ballot Designation to appear on the ballot under the candidate's name. It must be completed in its entirety. The candidate signs this worksheet under penalty of perjury that the Ballot Designation and the provided backup information are accurate.

The ballot designation describes the current principal profession, vocation, occupation, or incumbency status of the candidate that will appear on the ballot under the candidate’s name.

The listing of a designation on the ballot is OPTIONAL. Ballot designations become public record once the information is filed on the Declaration of Candidacy. Ballot designations cannot be changed after the final date to file nomination documents.

Declaration of Candidacy and Oath of Office — (Not applicable for Write-in Candidates)

The Declaration of Candidacy is the document on which the candidate indicates how the candidate wants the candidate’s name to appear on the ballot, what Ballot Designation the candidate desires, if any, and what contact information the candidate wants published on the Candidate Filing List of Candidates webpage. The document also contains the Oath of Office. The Declaration of Candidacy must be issued from the county elections office.

Character-based Name Form — (Not applicable for Write-in Candidates)

At the request of a candidate who has completed the Character-based Name Form, the elections office will publish a translation or transliteration of a candidate's name in Chinese, Korean, or Punjabi characters. Candidates with character-based names by birth, or who identify with a character-based name, may use that name on the ballot next to the English name, instead of a translation or phonetic transliteration.

Nomination Petitions

The number of sponsors needed to qualify as a candidate for voter-nominated offices, county nonpartisan offices, and Partisan County Central Committees and County Councils is listed in the Candidate Filing Fees, Signatures In-Lieu Offsets and Nomination Signature Requirements webpage. School districts candidates do not have nomination sponsor requirements. The Nomination Paper petition document must be issued in the county elections office.

Partisan County Central Committees and County Councils Nomination Petitions — (Not applicable for Write-in Candidates)

Candidates for Member of Partisan County Central Committees and County Councils are required to submit signatures from registered voters in their district who are affiliated with their qualified party preference.

Voter-nominated and County Nonpartisan Nomination Petitions — (Not applicable for Write-in Candidates)

Offices with an annual salary and filing fee are required to submit signatures from registered voters in their district. If a candidate has submitted Petitions In-Lieu signatures, those validated signatures have been applied to the required number of sponsors. 

Candidate Statements — (Not applicable for County Central Committee, County Council, or Write-in Candidates)

Candidates for Constitutional Offices, State Senate, and Member of the Assembly who accept expenditure limits may receive a candidate statement in the State Voter Information Guide or county voter information guide.

State Candidate Statement Guidelines and Forms - State Voter Information Guide Only — (Not applicable for Write-in Candidates)

The State Candidate Statement Guidelines shall be used for candidate statements submitted to the Secretary of State’s office for inclusion in the state Voter Information Guide for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. The forms in the guidelines and maximum 250-word candidate statement must be submitted to the Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

The State Voter Information Guide is for all federal and state candidates, including the United States Senator, Full Term and Partial/Unexpired Term, but with exceptions. Please note that any candidates that plan to run for both the partial/unexpired term and the full term for the United States Senate office will need to submit a full candidate statement package for each office sought in order to have both statements printed in the California State Voter Information Guide.

The exceptions are the U.S. Representative in Congress, State Senate, and Member of the Assembly candidate statements which are included in the County Voter Information Guide.

County Candidate Statement - Yolo County Voter information Guide Only — (Not applicable for County Central Commitee, County Council or Write-in Candidates)

The Yolo County Candidate Statement Guidelines (also found in the Yolo County Candidate Guide) shall be used for candidate statements submitted to the Yolo County Elections office for inclusion in the county Voter Information Guide for the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. The maximum number of words and paragraphs for a candidate statement are listed on the Estimated Cost of Yolo County Candidate Statements webpage for eligible candidate offices. The Yolo County Candidate Statement form must be submitted to the Yolo County Elections office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023, whether the candidate is submitting a statement or declining to submit a statement.

Statement of Write-In Candidacy and Oath of Office

[to be posted January 8, 2024] Every person who desires to be a write-in candidate and have his or her name written on the ballot by the voter and counted for a specific office shall file a Statement of Write-in Candidacy Form. The form also contains the Oath of Office. The Write-In Candidate filing period is from January 8, 2024 through February 20, 2024.

Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Campaign Finance Forms and Manuals

FPPC Forms, Campaign Manuals, Candidate Toolkits, and Filing Schedules with mandatory filing deadlines are available on the FPPC website www.fppc.ca.gov. Candidates are encouraged to learn more about campaign finance filing obligations:

Some campaign finance information for Yolo County is also available on our website under the Candidate Services section. Electronic filing for FPPC campaign financial disclosure forms is available for candidates who file with the Yolo County Elections Office. Refer to our eCampaign Electronic Filing section for more details.

Code of Fair Campaign Practices

At the time an individual is issued his or her declaration of candidacy, nomination papers, or any other paper evidencing an intention to be a candidate for public office, the elections official shall give the individual a blank form of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices and a copy of this chapter. Subscription to the code is voluntary.

Election Cybersecurity

As part of the ongoing process to protect our elections, the California Secretary of State’s Office of Election Cybersecurity has developed an “Election Cybersecurity” document.

As the nonpartisan, official election source in the state of California, the California Secretary of State’s Office works around the clock to ensure every vote is safe and secure. Through the continuous investment in new tools, systems and infrastructure, the Office of Election Cybersecurity serves California with the sole purpose of keeping every Californian’s vote safe from online interference, especially the spread of mis and disinformation. The Office of Election Cybersecurity works to make sure every Californian is equipped with the accurate information they need to vote and trust that their vote counts. Visit Cybersecurity.sos.ca.gov for more information.