Tarrant County Campaign Filing Links

Note:  The information in this section below are for those candidates that file in Tarrant County only.

Texas law requires that county officeholders and candidates file documents required to comply with campaign and financial disclosure laws.  County Officeholders and Candidates must file a Semiannual (January and July) Campaign Finance Report with the Tarrant County Elections Department in accordance with Title 15 of the Texas Election Code.   View Filing Schedule.

• Campaign Filings (Due Prior to 07/17/2017)
• Campaign Filings Portal (Due on or after 07/17/2017)
• Campaign Treasurer Appointments

In addition, county officeholders and candidates are required to file a personal financial statement in accordance with Chapter 159 of the Local Government Code. 

• Personal Financial Statement     (Personal Finance Statement reports are required to be filed annually by April 30th.)

Becoming a Candidate

Candidates for office must meet certain qualifications and are required to file specific documents in order to qualify to appear on the ballot. These qualifications and requirements may vary slightly depending on whether the office sought is a local office, a county, a statewide office, or a federal office.  

Procedures for Candidates

Voter Registration Requirements for Candidates (House Bill 484) Frequently Asked Questions

Rules regarding how the name can be listed on the ballot (Texas Election Code - Title 5 - Chapter 52 - Subchapter B)

• Form of Name on Ballot (Section 52.031)
• Candidates with the Same or Similar Surnames (Section 52.032)
• Titles Prohibited (Section 52.033)
• Name on Ballot More Than Once (Section 52.034)

Filing for a Place on the Ballot:

• Qualifications for Office (Federal, State, or County)
• * for the Local Offices you must contact the Local Enity (City, ISD, Water District or Municipal Management District) that you as seeking the Office for.
• Important dates for the party conventions, primary election, and general election
• Running for President
• As a nominee for the Democratic/Republican Primary * An individual seeking a Federal, State or County office representing one of the major political parties must file for a place on the ballot at the headquarters of their preferred party.
• As a nominee for Libertarian or Green Party Convention Process  * An individual seeking a Federal, State or County office representing the Libertarian Party or Green Party must file for a place on the ballot at the headquarters of their preferred party.
• As a nominee for a New Party or Party without Ballot Access  * An individual seeking a Federal, State or County office representing a New Party or a Party that received less than five percent of the vote in the last general election.   How to establish a political party in Texas.
  
• As an Independent Candidate  *An individual seeking a Federal, State or County office as an Independent candidate must file for a place on the ballot with the appropriate filing authority. 
  
  • Federal and State level offices
  • County-level offices
• As a Write-In Candidate  *An individual seeking a Federal, State or County office as a Write-In candidate must file for a place on the ballot with the appropriate filing authority. 
  
  • Federal and State level offices
  • County-level offices
• As a candidate for a Local office (City, ISD, Water District or Municipal Management District) * An individual seeking a place on the ballot in a political subdivision other than the County must file with the designated authority in the political subdivision where the office is being sought.

Important Links

• Texas Legislature
• Texas SOS Office - Public Information Request (PDF)
• Tarrant County - Public Information Request - JustFOIA (https://tarrantcountytx.justfoia.com/publicportal)
• Election Forms on the Texas SOS Website
• Texas Ethics Commission
• Texas Ethics Commission Interactive Calendar
• Texas Ethics Commission - Title 15 - Election Code - Regulating Political Funds And Campaigns
• Federal Election Commission
• Election Officials and Officeholders list from the Texas SOS Website
• Important Addresses (State Level)
• Campaign Filing Link for Political Subdivisions Other Than Federal, State and County Offices
• Political Party Web Links Information
  

Campaign Signs Links

Candidates should be aware that the Texas Ethics Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, and many municipalities and schools have rules and ordinances governing the placement of political signs on public property and public right-of-way.  Contact the local municipalities and schools for their rules on signs.

The absence of information does not mean that a unit of government does not have rules in place.  Candidates are also encouraged to be respectful of private property and ask permission from land owners before erecting any political signs.  Electioneering must be allowed at polling places during voting hours, but candidates are also encouraged to limit the number and placement of signs so that they do not constitute a hazard.

• View the Ethics Commission Rules
• View the Texas DOT Rules