Have you considered running for public office, but find yourself intimidated by all the rules and process?
We can help! We have experienced past candidates, and current elected officials, that can train, explain and help you through every step in the process!
If you ran for office before, consider running again, your odds actually go up on the second try!
2025 Primary Election Schedule
Primary Election Day ………………………………………………………………….. May 6, 2025
Filing Deadline (90 days)…………………………………………………. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Deadline for Write-In Candidates (72 days)* ………….. 4:00 p.m., February 24, 2025
Registration Closes (30 days)* ………………………………………………. 9:00 p.m., April 7, 2025
Absentee Opens …………………………………………………………………………………. April 8, 2025
Independent Filing Deadline (Hilliard and Reynoldsburg) …………. 4:00 p.m., May 5, 2025
* In some instances, the statutory deadline falls on a day when the offices of the Secretary of State and boards of elections are closed. In those instances, the deadlines are extended, pursuant to R.C. 1.14, to the next succeeding day when the appropriate office is open for regular business hours. The preceding dates reflect the extended deadline.
FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of Judicial FDS, Notice of Judicial Candidate Seminars,
Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: Special Form 3-I (Franklin County)
Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………Min. 50 – Max. 150
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025 Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition fee and $30.00 OEC fee) Offices to be elected:
Judge, full term commencing 1-1-2026 …………………………………………………… Jodi Thomas
Judge, full term commencing 1-2-2026 ……………………………………………… Jessica D’Varga
Judge, full term commencing 1-3-2026 ………………………………………………..James E. Green
Nominated by petition – these offices do not appear on the primary ballot.
CITY OF COLUMBUS
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt Petition: Special Columbus – Single; Columbus City Council
Signature Requirement (City Attorney, City Auditor) ……………….. Min. 1,000 – No Max.c
Signature Requirement (City Council) ……………………………………….. Min. 250 – No Max.c
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices ……………………………………………………………………………………. City Attorney (Klein)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Kilgore)
………………………………………………………………………………………. Council District 1 (Wyche)
………………………………………………………………………………………. Council District 3 (Dorans)
………………………………………………………………………………………… Council District 4 (Remy)
………………………………………………………………………………………… Council District 7 (Favor)
Non-Partisan ballot. If no more than two candidates are certified for a contest, then no primary election will be held.
Additional Requirements:
Petitions shall contain the names and addresses of five registered electors of the City of Columbus designated in advance by the candidate as a nominating committee (committee members may reside anywhere in the city). Signers of city council petitions must be registered in the district.
BOARD OF EDUCATION – COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: Form 2-V- Board of Education Primary (single candidate)
Petition: Board of Education Special (several candidates)
Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………….Min. 300 – Max. 900
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $30.00 ($10.00 petition fee and $20.00 OEC fee)
Board Member …………………………. Three Seats (six to be nominated) (Cole, Reyes, Vera)
Non-Partisan Primary Election only if there are more than twice the number of candidates as open seats. Columbus City School District candidates are required to file a financial disclosure statement.
CITY OF HILLIARD
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt Petition: Form 2-I
Signature Requirement
Major Party ……………………………………………………………………..Min. 50 – Max. 150
Minor Party ……………………………………………………………………….Min. 25 – Max. 75
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Four Council Seats (Carrier, Cottone, Hale, Teater)
Partisan Primary – In the event the number of candidates from a political party is less than or equal to the number of positions to be filled in the next General Election, then no primary election need be held.
City of Hilliard – INDEPENDENTS:
Petition: Form 3-N
Signature Requirement …………………………………………………………… Min. 156 – Max. 468*
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………………… 4:00 p.m., May 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee) Additional requirements per charter – No group petitions and signers of petitions are restricted to the number of offices to be voted on. Nominating Committee not required.
CITY OF REYNOLDSBURG
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt Petition: Form 2-I
Signature Requirement
Major Party …………………. Min. 50 – Max. 150 (Ward Council Min. 25 – Max. 75)
Minor Party …………………… Min. 25 – Max. 75 (Ward Council Min. 13 – Max. 39)
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices …………………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Cicak)
……………………………………………………………………………………. Three Council-at-Large seats (Baker, Cotner, Johnson)
Partisan Primary – If the number of candidates from a political party is less than or equal to the number of positions to be filled in the next General Election, then no primary election need be held.
City of Reynoldsburg – INDEPENDENTS:
Petition: Form 3-N
Signature Requirement…………… (City Attorney, Council-at-Large) Min. 127 – Max. 381*
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………………… 4:00 p.m., May 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
* Signatures required for independent candidates in the Hilliard and Reynoldsburg municipal elections are based on 1% of the total votes for governor at the 2022 General Election.
CITY OF WHITEHALL
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: “Special – Whitehall”
Signature Requirement………………………………………………………………… Min. 30 – No Maxc
…………………………………………………………………… Ward Council Seats: Min. 15 – No Maxc
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices ………………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Quincel) ………………………………………………………………………………………….. City Council Ward Seats
(Ward 1-Dixon, Ward 2-Heck, Ward 3-Smith, Ward 4-Brown)
Non-Partisan Primary – If the number of persons filing such declaration does not exceed twice the number of offices available for nomination, then no primary election shall be held for such office. Nominating Committee not required.
VILLAGE OF BRICE charter
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: Form Brice Special
Signature Requirement………………………………………………………………… Min. 10 – Max. 30c
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $30.00 ($10.00 petition fee and $20.00 OEC fee)
Offices ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Four Council Seats
Non-Partisan Primary – If the number of persons filing such declaration does not exceed twice the number of offices available for nomination, then no primary election shall be held for such office. Petitions shall contain the names and addresses of five registered electors of the Village of Brice designated in advance by the candidate as a nominating committee.
Source: https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/BOEL-website/media/Documents/Candidate-Requirements/2025-Primary-Schedule-and-Candidate-Requirements.pdf
Franklin County needs energetic people to run for office! Libertarian elected officials get to make policy that reduces the scope of government and increases personal liberty.
We encourage first-timers to run for local offices in odd-numbered years. You must file a declaration of candidacy with the Franklin County Board of Elections, with completed petitions containing the number of signatures required for the office you are seeking.
Local offices include city and village council, township trustees, and school board members. With a term or two of local office, you will have the experience and credibility to run a successful campaign for county, state, or federal office, but if you have the qualifications to run for a different office, we won’t turn you down! Before starting your campaign, take a quick look at our “Candidate Quick Start Guide” video (27 minutes).
Check out Election and Candidate Resources.
We can help you. Please complete this form, and our Political Director will be in contact with you.
