Many lawyers consider running for public office because they are often in positions of power in the government. But before deciding to run, there are important things to consider. Before a candidate can accept money or spend it for their campaign, they need to fill out a form appointing their campaign treasurer and designating a bank for their campaign funds. They can’t use their own money for the campaign until this form is filed.
They also need to make sure they have enough money in their campaign account before they spend any of it. Even if they don’t bounce any checks or pay their bills on time, they can still get in trouble if they spend more money than they have in their account.
Lastly, they need to be careful about how much money they accept from one person. They can only accept up to $500 per person for each election. If someone wants to give them more than that, they have to wait until after the first election to give them the rest. Also, if someone writes a check from a joint bank account, it counts as a donation from the person who signed the check, even if someone else’s name is on the account. There are rules about how much money people can give to a candidate’s campaign. For example, kids under 18 can only give $100, and if you pay with cash or a cashier’s check, you can only give $50. Candidates have to report the money they get and spend, and if they’re late, they can get fined. If someone spends a lot of money to support or oppose a candidate, they have to report it. Also, things like free services or donations for things like website hosting have to be reported too. Lastly, candidates have to follow rules when they make political ads, like including a disclaimer. If they don’t follow these rules, they can get in trouble. All political ads for a candidate should have a disclaimer, including their name and the office they’re running for. The Florida Elections Commission and Division of Elections regulate election laws in the state. The FEC enforces specific laws, and the governor appoints its members. They also appoint an executive director to oversee the staff. The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) and Department of Elections (DOE) have different roles in overseeing elections. The FEC doesn’t give advice or handle how elections are run, while the DOE helps with election laws and provides guidance for candidates. Candidates should follow the DOE’s rules, and if they have questions, they can ask for help. If someone thinks a candidate broke election rules, they can file a complaint with the FEC, but it needs to be signed and based on real information, not just rumors. Candidates should follow election rules, ask for help when they need it, and make sure to report their campaign finances on time. Running for public office is a good thing, but candidates need to know Florida’s election laws to avoid breaking them. You can’t contribute more than $500 to a candidate, and candidates have to file their reports with the Division of Elections. Also, candidates can’t accept contributions from anyone under 18. In 2010, there were 62 cases of political advertising violations in Florida. Rosanna Manuela Catalano is the executive director of the Florida Elections Commission. She used to work at Florida State University and as an assistant attorney general.
Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/top-10-things-you-should-know-before-you-run-for-public-office/
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